An explosion at a water pumping station cause catastrophic damage and claimed the lives of 16 people.
It was May 23 1984 when officials were taking people on a tour of Abbeystead Station, just north of the village, to convince them that it wasn’t responsible for flooding. While they were inside, underground methane ignited. Thirty-six of the 44 visitors to visit the Abbeystead plant that night were from St Michael’s. Among the dead were three of the NWWA officials who were acting as guides.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive revealed that the siting of the Abbeystead pumping station underground, and close to seams of coal, had made it vulnerable to build-ups of methane gas estimated to be 20,000 years old. The station had also been unused for several weeks before the visit, and the gas had accumulated in the water pipe leading into the valve chamber.
On the 30th anniversary, survivor Pat Kaylor spoke to the Lancashire Post recalling that fateful day. She said: “My clothes were practically all burned off and my skin was just in tatters, and I could hear everybody inside crying and screaming.” A service was held at St Michael’s on Wyre Church on Sunday, May 19 to commemorate the disaster.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive revealed that the siting of the Abbeystead pumping station underground, and close to seams of coal, had made it vulnerable to build-ups of methane gas estimated to be 20,000 years old. The station had also been unused for several weeks before the visit, and the gas had accumulated in the water pipe leading into the valve chamber.
![Abbeystead Disaster - the scene after the explosion which destroyed the pumping station. The Duke of Westminster.](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjcxZTA1NDUzLTRlMWQtNDdkMi04NWYyLWFiODFkMzNhYzc1YzowNjgwN2U4OS03ZDhlLTQyNGUtOTFmNC0yYjU0ZmI0YzAyMGY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. Abbeystead disaster
Abbeystead Disaster - the scene after the explosion which destroyed the pumping station. The Duke of Westminster. Photo: Nigel Slater
![The memorial at Abbeystead pumping station, scene of the disaster.](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjZkMWQwOGQ0LTA1YjYtNGNhZi1iYjY4LTYxYTk4MWYwNThlZTo2YzI0NGQ1OS0yYTk4LTRjMmEtYWVkNi1kNzI3OTQ4YmE3YTc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. Abbeystead disaster
The memorial at Abbeystead pumping station, scene of the disaster. Photo: NEIL CROSS
![Abbeystead Disaster - specialist equipment was used at the scene after the explosion which destroyed the pumping station in 1984.](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmI3MzFlYzQyLWVmODUtNGY0OS04YmE3LTgxMzIzZTBhNjFmYzplN2E2MTU0ZS1jZWQ3LTQ5ZDgtYmYxNy03MjA0YzE5NjU3YTQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
9. Abbeystead disaster
Abbeystead Disaster - specialist equipment was used at the scene after the explosion which destroyed the pumping station in 1984. Photo: Submit
![Abbeystead disaster - The Duke of Westminster at the scene after the explosion which destroyed the pumping station.](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmUxNmIxNDllLTIxNDgtNDU2Yy04NmZlLTE4ZDg2YTdlMjJkMjphOWY1NmI5OC1kNTRiLTRmZDgtYTVjZC0xMjBmZGRkYTMxZTg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
10. Abbeystead disaster
Abbeystead disaster - The Duke of Westminster at the scene after the explosion which destroyed the pumping station. Photo: Nigel Slater
![Abbeystead Disaster - The Duke of Westminster walks in the ruins of the pumping station which was destoyed in an explosion.](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmUwMzc4N2Y2LTI3NDgtNGYzZS1iYmQ1LWViMzUzYjIwZjc0ZTo0YzM3MWUwZC1hZjA5LTRlYTAtOGQ0ZC1lNDdhNzIyZDY4NjI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
11. Abbeystead disaster
Abbeystead Disaster - The Duke of Westminster walks in the ruins of the pumping station which was destoyed in an explosion. Photo: Nigel Slater
![Abbeystead disaster - The Duke of Westminster, police and reporters at the scene after the explosion which destroyed the pumping station.](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjE2NjU0OTZlLWMyZjctNDM2Zi1iYjAzLTJjZDhhM2IzZmI3YzpjNzBhYjQ4Yy04NTg3LTQ5NDktODY4Ny00Nzg3ZmM2NjY4OTA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
12. Abbeystead disaster
Abbeystead disaster - The Duke of Westminster, police and reporters at the scene after the explosion which destroyed the pumping station. Photo: Nigel Slater