Mining in the Victorian Age
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Interpreter demonstrating the work of Sir Humphry Davy
© National Coal Mining Museum for England (Photo: National Coal Mining Museum for England)
© National Coal Mining Museum for England (Photo: National Coal Mining Museum for England)
Sir Humphry Davy is credited by many people with inventing the first miners' flame safety lamp, although people in the North East of England believe that the mining engineer George Stephenson was the first. Today people often call safety lamps, 'Davy lamps' even though many other inventors have added their ideas to the original design.
Following an accident at Felling Colliery in Tyne and Wear on 25 May 1812, Davy was asked by the Society for the Prevention of Accidents in Coal Mines to develop a safe method of lighting underground workings. By November 1815 he had invented his flame safety lamp.
Following an accident at Felling Colliery in Tyne and Wear on 25 May 1812, Davy was asked by the Society for the Prevention of Accidents in Coal Mines to develop a safe method of lighting underground workings. By November 1815 he had invented his flame safety lamp.