Snaefell Mine Disaster

One of the Isle of Man's most shocking and devastating events happened on 10 May 1897; the Snaefell Mine Disaster.

After a fire broke out inside the mine over the weekend, the miners descending the shaft at 6am on Monday morning, 10 May 1897, had no idea they were descending into carbon monoxide, and that 20 of them would not to emerge alive...

We visited the mine with Manx historian, Andrew Scarffe, of the Laxey & Lonan Heritage Trust, to learn more about how the accident happened, the heroic rescue operation that followed, and something of the haunting space it leaves in Manx hearts still today.

Andrew Scarffe is the author of 'The Snaefell Mine Disaster,' published in 2022 and now available from all good Manx bookshops.

A video tour of the Snaefell Mine site by Andrew Scarffe is also available here: Snaefell Mine Tour.