The Gresford disaster occurred on September 22, 1934 at Gresford Colliery, near Wrexham, when an explosion and underground fire killed -266 men. Gresford is one of Britain's worst coal-mining disasters --- a controversial inquiry into the disaster did not conclusively identify a cause. Further public controversy was caused by the decision to seal the colliery's damaged sections permanently, meaning that only 11 of those who died were recovered.
The actual causes were threefold --- Firstly, underground mine ventilation in some districts of the mine was probably inadequate. Secondly, working conditions were always uncomfortably hot. Thirdly, it was alleged there were also numerous breaches of safety regulations, leading to the mine being in an unfit condition to operate.
After the disaster's inquiry, the mine owners were find a paltry £150 plus costs for inadequate "recordkeeping." No job monetary remuneration for victims occurred. The evidence obtained at the inquiry was used to argue for nationalization of the coal industry, which occurred in 1947.