Mine tragedy find goes on display

The tapestry includes a poem about 15-year-old Peter Jones

A tapestry found in a charity donation bag telling the story of an explosion in 19th Century Wrexham is to go on display at the town's museum.

It is embroidered with a poem about a 15-year-old boy, Peter Jones, who was killed in the blast at Brynmally colliery in Moss on 13 March, 1889.

Staff at Claire House children's hospice in Bromborough found the tapestry in a donated bag of clothes.

It can be seen at Wrexham County Borough Museum's Collections Centre.

Initially, staff at Claire House, which provides 24-hour care for children and young people with terminal illnesses, did not know much about the history behind the tapestry.

An appeal was launched through local newspapers for information and readers were able to identify Peter Jones as a Bye-man who worked at Brynmally colliery.

The museum decided the tapestry would be of interest to people living in the area and made a donation of £100 to Claire House in return for putting it on display.

The tapestry reads in part:

In loving remembrance of Peter Jones who lost his life at Wrexham explosion March 13 1889

Good bye mother good bye father

These were the words poor Peter said

As he left his home one morning

To go and earn his daily bread

Now he is standing for the pit mouth

Welcome both by great and small

Some are saying come on Peter

You are welcome by us all

Councillor Bob Dutton, Wrexham council's lead member for communities and performance, said people would be able to see the tapestry at the museum until the end of December.

It will then be conserved for subsequent display in a special exhibition on Coal Mining in North Wales, opening at Bersham Heritage Centre in Wrexham on 3 April 2009.

"The tapestry has a very sad but interesting past, which unfortunately tells a tale of how dangerous life was for colliers during this period of Wrexham's history," he said.

"The museum is very proud to take possession of it to add to our heritage."

Brynmally Colliery was sunk in 1770 and in 1849 was owned by Thomas Clayton and Co.

The explosion that killed Peter Jones happened on 13 March 1889 and killed 20 men and boys. The colliery closed in 1935.

The tapestry can be seen at the museum's Collections Centre on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 1400-1600 GMT, until the end of the year.