In the 1600s coal was gathered mainly from shallow mine workings. By the 1700s  the search for coal had forced men women and children deeper below the earth.

Ventilation was difficult and a new hazard confronted them: An invisible flammable gas that seeped from the coal seams and filled the workings. The smallest flame from a candle would cause a terrible explosion and loss of life. Gasses had not yet been discovered, so they called this invisible enemy “Fire Damp”.  We now know that it was methane.

Mine owners and engineers tried many ways to minimise the risk from 'Fire Damp'.

The lowering of Fire baskets into the mine shaft was popular and burning coal at the bottom of a pit was used to increase ventilation

'Firemen' were employed to enter the mine and ignite pockets or  gas with a candle on a long pole. These fireman were often called 'Penitents' because they looked like Monks. They wore  a water soaked thick linen cloak and cowl to protect them from the fiery explosions they set.

Stone dams were constructed to seal off parts of the mine where the gas was  known to be highly concentrated and pipes were laid from there to the surface where the gas was ignited and burnt.  Saltom pit was one of the first pits to pipe  'Fire Damp'.  They offered it to Whitehaven town for street-lighting – but the town refused.