Mining disaster relatives help keep heritage alive

Richard and Robert Tarran say being related to one of the victims of the disaster made them want to get involved in the renovation of Wrexham Miners Rescue Station

The descendants of a miner killed in the Gresford disaster 90 years ago have said they feel "connected" to him after helping to restore a building where men involved in the rescue attempt were trained.

The Miners Rescue Station in Wrexham operated from 1913 until 1986, and has been used as a community and education hub since 2019.

The 266 men and boys who died at the colliery are remembered at the station.

Richard and Robert Tarran said the fact their ancestor, John Tarran, was one of the disaster's victims made their efforts all the more meaningful.

Richard, 55, said he learned about John, his great-grandfather, from his own grandfather, Gilbert.

Gilbert was 21 when his father was killed, and would describe to Richard what a hard life John - who was 60 when he died - had working down the pit, in dangerous conditions.

"He would tell me his dad would come home and sit in the tin bath in front of the fire getting the coal dust off, and he would tell him 'there's going to be a big disaster'," said Richard, from Bradley, Wrexham, who is volunteering at the centre through his employer, Hydro Aluminium.

"He knew what was coming."

The disaster occurred in the early hours of 22 September 1934, when a huge explosion took place about 1.3 miles (2.1km) from a shaft.

Six miners managed to escape but by the evening of the next day three rescue workers had also been killed.

Only 11 bodies were ever recovered.

John Tarran, second from right, with his wife and nine children, including Richard's grandfather Gilbert, centre

The family history meant Richard, and his son Robert, who work together, jumped at the chance to be involved at the rescue station, involved in jobs like creating a garden space, and removing and restoring bricks.

Robert, 21, said taking part in the project helped provide a strong link to his great-great-grandfather, making the stories he had been told about him come alive.

"I like being here and seeing all the pictures of when it all happened," he said, "And it's nice to help out and give something back for the future as well."

The Miners Rescue Station hosts school groups, among others, who can see a range of mining related artefacts and displays

Another Tarran man in the line is Richard's father, and John's grandson, Kenneth Tarran, who only recently visited the rescue station.

Kenneth, 81, saw his grandfather's tile on the wall commemorating the Gresford disaster for the first time, describing it as "emotional".

He added he was "extremely proud" that his son and grandson were involved in the restoration work, keeping the thread running through the generations.

"When you think of who's passed through these doors, and been trained and were involved in that disaster... it's amazing to think they were here at that time.

He added that renovation "gives everyone in this area a sense of pride".

"Future generations can see what their ancestors went through in those dark days."

Michael Hett was a miner for about eight years years and wants people to understand the coal mining heritage

Over the past six years, the Wrexham Miners Project which looks after the rescue station, has brought about half of the building back to use, creating a café, museum, arts and events space, as well as the memorial wall.

Michael Hett, a trustee of the project, said the centre aims to bring mining history alive.

One feature includes a "hot and humid chamber", to give children and other visitors some experience of what the conditions were like down the pit for the rescuers and the miners.

"Wrexham was built on coal... we want to give children an idea of the heritage of the mining industry.

"Some of them have never touched or even seen coal before. They have so much enthusiasm, they always want to know more," he said.