Wrexham Pays Tribute to Men Lost in 1934 Gresford Disaster 2026

Key Points

• Commemorations of the 92nd anniversary of the Gresford Colliery tragedy have taken place in Wrexham.
• An explosion and fire took place on the day of September 22, 1934, resulting in 266 casualties.
• The vigil organised every year by the Wrexham Miners Project started at 6pm, the same time the deadly shift was scheduled to begin.
• The MP of Wrexham Andrew Ranger took part in the event and lit a candle in memory of the dead.
• Plaid Cymru made a tribute on this occasion too.
• A lot of victims were residents of Wrexham and nearby settlements, which left many families in sorrow.
• The Gresford tragedy is a part of North Wales’ industrial history and gets commemorated through vigils, memorials, education and miners’ hymn “Gresford”.

Wrexham (Wales Times) September 22, 2026 – Communities across the area have marked the 92nd anniversary of the Gresford Colliery disaster, remembering the 266 men and boys who died after an explosion and fire struck the mine on September 22, 1934.

The anniversary has again brought residents, political representatives and community organisations together to honour those who never returned home from the colliery. The annual remembrance reflects the continuing significance of the disaster for uk/local/wrexham/">Wrexham and surrounding villages, where many families were directly affected by the deaths.

As reported by The Leader, the tragedy began in the early hours of Saturday, September 22, 1934, after an explosion in the Dennis section of Gresford Colliery. Hundreds of miners had started their shift the previous evening without knowing that the underground workings would become the scene of one of the darkest events in Welsh industrial history.

The explosion was followed by a fire, creating dangerous conditions below ground. Rescue efforts were severely hampered as teams attempted to reach miners trapped underground. Rescuers placed their own lives at risk while trying to find survivors in the mine.

Only a small number of bodies were recovered. Many of the victims remained entombed beneath the ground, adding to the grief and uncertainty experienced by relatives and communities after the disaster.

When was the Gresford anniversary vigil held?

The Wrexham Miners Project held its annual vigil on Monday evening at 6pm. The timing carried particular significance because it corresponded with the time the doomed shift began 92 years earlier.

Candles were lit during the event as a mark of remembrance. The vigil provided an opportunity for people to reflect on the lives lost and on the effects the disaster had on families across Wrexham and nearby villages.

The commemoration also connected the present-day community with the miners and relatives whose lives were changed by the disaster. Although Gresford Colliery has long disappeared from the landscape, the event demonstrates that its history remains part of the area’s public memory.

What did Wrexham MP Andrew Ranger say at the vigil?

Wrexham MP Andrew Ranger attended the vigil and described it as “a privilege” to light a candle at the remembrance event.

In a tribute shared after the vigil, Ranger referred to the fact that the gathering began at 6pm, the same time the shift started in 1934. He said the loss of 266 lives was “forever etched on our collective memory here in Wrexham”.

Ranger concluded his tribute with the words: “We remember them always. Cofiwch Gresffordd.”

The Welsh phrase “Cofiwch Gresffordd”, meaning “Remember Gresford”, has become closely associated with commemorations of the disaster. It expresses the continuing responsibility to remember those who died and the communities that endured the consequences.

The MP’s attendance placed the anniversary within the area’s ongoing civic remembrance. His comments focused on the importance of preserving the memory of the victims rather than treating the disaster as a distant historical event.

How did Plaid Cymru mark the disaster?

Plaid Cymru also commemorated the anniversary with a statement remembering the 266 men and boys who died in the Gresford Colliery disaster.

The party said: “Cofiwn Gresford,” meaning “We remember Gresford”. It then stated: “Today, we remember the 266 men and boys lost in the Gresford Colliery Disaster in 1934.”

The statement formed part of wider tributes across Wales. The anniversary continues to attract remembrance from political organisations, community groups and local residents because of the disaster’s lasting influence on Welsh mining communities.

Why does the Gresford disaster remain significant in Wrexham?

The disaster remains significant because its impact extended far beyond the mine itself. Many of those killed came from Wrexham and surrounding villages, leaving families bereaved and entire neighbourhoods affected.

The loss of 266 men and boys also became part of the social history of North Wales. The disaster shaped the experiences of generations and contributed to wider discussions about safety in coal mining.

Gresford’s legacy includes its influence on improvements in mining safety. The disaster is also remembered through annual commemorations, educational projects and memorials.

For local families, the tragedy is not remembered only through the number of victims. Each number represents a miner, son, father, brother or neighbour whose death affected people connected to the colliery and the communities around it.

The remembrance events therefore combine historical commemoration with local identity. Wrexham’s annual vigil enables present-day residents to recognise the human cost of the disaster and the role it played in shaping the area.

What is the significance of the miners’ hymn “Gresford”?

The tune “Gresford”, commonly known as “The Miners’ Hymn”, has become synonymous with remembrance of the men and boys who died.

The hymn is associated with commemorative events and forms part of the cultural memory surrounding the disaster. Its continued recognition demonstrates how the tragedy has been preserved not only through written records and memorials but also through music and public ceremony.

The song helps connect successive generations with the history of Welsh mining communities. It is a reminder that the Gresford disaster remains a living part of regional heritage rather than an event remembered only in textbooks or archives.

How has Wrexham preserved the memory of Gresford?

Wrexham has preserved the memory of the disaster through several forms of public remembrance. These include the annual vigil organised by the Wrexham Miners Project, tributes from public representatives, educational projects and memorial activities.

The anniversary is also marked through community events and library-related programmes. Such activities give residents opportunities to learn about the disaster and its consequences while ensuring that younger generations remain aware of the people who died.

The colliery itself no longer occupies the landscape as it did in 1934. However, the names and stories of the 266 victims continue to be recalled through ceremonies and local historical work.

The continuing commemorations also help preserve the experiences of families who lost relatives. Public remembrance acknowledges that the disaster affected multiple generations and that its consequences did not end when the rescue efforts concluded.

What happened at Gresford Colliery in 1934?

The Gresford disaster began after an explosion in the Dennis section of the colliery on September 22, 1934. A subsequent fire made the underground conditions even more dangerous and obstructed rescue attempts.

Miners were trapped below ground, while rescue teams tried to reach those who might still be alive. The dangers faced by the rescuers restricted the operation, and only a small number of bodies were recovered.

In total, 266 men and boys died. Many remained underground, and their families were left to cope with the loss without the recovery of their loved ones’ remains.

The disaster became one of the defining tragedies of Welsh industrial history. Its effects were particularly deep in Wrexham and the nearby villages, where the victims had lived and worked.

Background: What was the Gresford Colliery disaster?

The Gresford Colliery disaster took place on September 22, 1934, in the Dennis section of Gresford Colliery near Wrexham. An explosion and fire underground killed 266 men and boys.

The colliery employed miners from Wrexham and surrounding communities. Because the victims came from a wide area, the disaster affected numerous families and neighbourhoods across North Wales.

Rescue operations were conducted in hazardous conditions. The severity of the underground fire and the risks to rescuers meant that most of the victims could not be brought to the surface.

Over time, the disaster became associated with mining safety, industrial remembrance and Welsh working-class heritage. The annual vigil, memorial activities, educational projects and the hymn “Gresford” continue to keep the event in public memory.

Prediction: How could the remembrance affect Wrexham residents and local audiences?

The 92nd-anniversary commemorations are likely to reinforce interest in Wrexham’s industrial heritage and encourage continued participation in local remembrance events.

For residents, the vigil provides a shared civic occasion to honour victims whose families came from the area. For schools, libraries and community organisations, the anniversary creates an opportunity to preserve historical knowledge and explain the human consequences of industrial disasters.

The continuing use of the miners’ hymn, memorial tributes and educational projects may also help younger residents connect with the history of the region. This is particularly important as the colliery itself has disappeared from the landscape and direct memories of the mining era become less common.

For families connected to the victims, annual commemorations can provide an enduring public acknowledgement of their loss. For the wider Welsh audience, the anniversary is likely to keep Gresford recognised as an important part of the country’s industrial and cultural history.