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  Adelaide Colliery  Index  Adelaide Colliery  

Adelaide Colliery


  Description Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Location: Bishop Auckland
10 miles [16 km] SSW of Durham
Map Ref: (Sheet 93) NZ218277, 54° 38' 38" N, 1° 39' 44" W
Maps: 1898 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
1928 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
Opened: 1830
Closed: 1925
Pits: Jane Pit, locn: (Sheet 93) NZ222274
  Shaft details for Jane Pit
Owners: 1850's - Joseph Pease, Joseph Whitwell Pease, & Joseph Pease & Co.
1860's - Joseph Pease & Partners
1880's - J. W. Pease & Partners
1880's - Pease & Partners Ltd.
1900's - West Durham Wallsend Coal Co. Ltd.
1920's - Pease & Partners Ltd.
Output: 1873 - Coal.
1888 - Coal.
1914 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1921 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1923 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household, Steam.
1924 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household.
1925 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household.
Employment:
Year Pit  Total Below Above
1854Working
190220317924
191441435757
192144237270
192341934475
192440031288
1925Closed 07/24
  Colliery Management (prior to 1955)
Seams Worked: 1894 - Busty, Harvey
1914 - Five Quarter, Harvey, Hutton, Low Main, Three Quarter
1921 - Busty, Five Quarter, Harvey, Hutton, Low Main, Three Quarter
1923 - Busty, Harvey, Low Main
1924 - Busty, Harvey
1925 - Busty, Harvey [Closed 07/24]
    Catalogue of plans of abandoned mines for Adelaide Colliery
Notes:

1889 - Brockwell seam abandoned - Coal worked out

1932, 11 Oct - Busty, Harvey, Hutton, Low Main, Main, Five Quarter, Three Quarter seams abandoned



  Summary Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Description

Here [St. Andrew's Auckland Township] is the Adelaide Colliery, Messrs. Joseph Pease & Partners, at which are worked the "Busty," 2 ft. 6 in., at the depth of 150 fathoms, and the "Harvey," 3 ft. 6 in., at 126 fathoms. There are 139 coke ovens. The annual output is 150,000 tons, and the average number employed is 520. The Deanery Colliery, which was formerly worked in connection with this, was laid in some twenty years ago. The Woodhouse Close Colliery, also in this township, was laid in about eighteen years ago, but at present the "Hutton" seam of 2 ft. 4 in., at 28 ft. from the surface, is being worked by a drift by Mr. William Wilkinson.

Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham


  Summary Description Names Local Collieries Credits  

Disasters (5 or more killed)

None Found


  Summary Description Disasters Local Collieries Credits  

Names of those killed at this colliery

Please note that this collection of names is by no means complete!

      

Alderson, John, 02 Feb 1858, aged 14, Hooker on, Crushed by tubs through incline chain breaking

      

Allen, Thomas, 31 Aug 1868, aged 14, Driver, crushed by tubs

      

Barnes, David Ridley, 23 Jan 1881, (accident: 20 Oct 1880), aged 24, Collier, injury to back by fall of roof at a small fault

      

Bussey, Thomas, 28 Oct 1890, aged 24, Hewer, fall of stone from an unseen slip in the roof

      

Butler, Thomas, 12 Jul 1904, aged 49, Attending Coal Cutter, a fall of stone from the roof occurred after the coal cutter had passed owing to a slip in the roof running to feather edge and displaced the timber set under it; it caught and killed these two men [More information ...]

      

Byrne, Thomas, 14 Nov 1887, aged 15, Driver, supposed his head was caught by a plank and he fell off limbers in front of set of empty tubs, and was run over

      

Carnegie, William, 24 Apr 1889, aged 56, Joiner, was descending with Kell in the same cage ; he fell some distance with the cage, bit was not thrown out, he died from the shock about two hours later [More information ...]

      

Chalder, John, 04 Apr 1888, aged 46, Stoneman, while engaged renewing timber, some side stone came over, knocking out some props, causing a large fall of stone

      

Clark, Thomas, 16 Aug 1866, aged 28, Stone Worker, by an explosion of fire damp at a shot used for blasting stone, in the 4 feet or Harvey seam [More information ...]

      

Cowan, James, 06 Aug 1858, aged 21, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

      

Davison, Robert, 16 Aug 1866, aged 34, Stone Worker, by an explosion of fire damp at a shot used for blasting stone, in the 4 feet or Harvey seam [More information ...]

      

Douglas, John, 01 Mar 1839, aged 39, accidentally falling down the pit shaft, left a pregnant wife and three children

      

Fowler, James, 16 Jul 1874, aged 12, Driver, run over by full tub, tub got off way and he fell in front of it

      

Hogg, Robert, 12 Jul 1871, aged 37, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

      

Holmes, David, 08 Dec 1887, aged 30, Hewer, fall of stone while turning a bord out of winning headway

      

Hunter, Theodore, 12 Jul 1904, aged 22, Attending Coal Cutter, a fall of stone from the roof occurred after the coal cutter had passed owing to a slip in the roof running to feather edge and displaced the timber set under it; it caught and killed these two men [More information ...]

      

Jefferson, Stephen, 13 Jul 1884, (accident: 10 Mar 1884), aged 40, Horse Driver, severe injuries to leg by being knocked down and run over by a truck on the branches

      

Kell, William, 24 Apr 1889, aged 49, Shifter, while descending in a cage in back shift it struck on a bunton at Busty hanging-on, then fell away, and Kell was thrown out and fell to the bottom of the pit, about 40 yards, Buried: South Church Churchyard [More information ...]

      

Lambert, Thomas, 29 Jul 1892, 10:00 a.m., 6th hour of shift, aged 24, Hewer, while ascending he dropped his lamp in the cage, and on attempting to recover it he fell down the shaft, a distance of 260 yards [More information ...]

      

Lives, William, 03 Apr 1865, aged 39, Hewer, fall of stone in broken

      

Maitland, James, 16 Aug 1866, aged 33, Stone Worker & Hewer, by an explosion of fire damp at a shot used for blasting stone, in the 4 feet or Harvey seam [More information ...]

      

Morrow, Robert, 16 Aug 1866, aged 39, Stone Worker & Hewer, by an explosion of fire damp at a shot used for blasting stone, in the 4 feet or Harvey seam [More information ...]

      

Parker, Michael, 16 Dec 1873, (accident: 12 Dec 1873), aged 14, Signal Boy, crushed by tubs running away

      

Pattinson, William, 11 Nov 1885, aged 18, Putter, fall of side stone while sitting under a side wafer

      

Pattison, William, 05 Sep 1907, aged 14, Stone picker, caught by a truck, which was being pushed up the sidings, and fatally injured [More information ...]

     

Pattison, William, 11 Feb 1916, he died suddenly at the colliery; at the inquest a verdict of death from heart failure was returned

      

Pratt, George, 11 Jan 1869, aged 27, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

      

Pratt, Thomas, 11 Jan 1869, aged 35, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

      

Richardson, John, 30 Sep 1863, aged 34, Onsetter, killed by falling part way down the shaft by cages getting out of the guides while ascending [More information ...]

      

Richardson, Thomas, 07 Aug 1887, aged 34, Hewer, supposed to have committed suicide by drowning in a pit pond

      

Rickerby, Stephen, 04 Nov 1882, aged 16, Onsetter, while engaged at shaft bottom he fell before two tubs, the onsetter was pushed into cage, crushing his head

      

Ritson, James, 30 Sep 1863, aged 35, Deputy, killed by falling part way down the shaft by cages getting out of the guides while ascending [More information ...]

      

Shaw, Richard, 24 Dec 1880, aged 18, Mason, fall of brick walling while engaged in repairing some lining in the upcast shaft; he was knocked off the cradle and fell about 38 fathoms to the bottom of the pit

      

Simpson, William, 30 Sep 1863, aged 58, Back Overman, killed by falling part way down the shaft by cages getting out of the guides while ascending [More information ...]

      

Sowerby, Ben, 19 Dec 1914, aged 42, Hewer, Deceased was working in the face of a skirting when a large stone, 7 feet long, 4 feet at the widest part and 1 foot 7 inches at the thickest part, fell from the roof on to him, canting out two props set under the edge of it. In place this stone, the surface of which was like glass, was most dangerous. Its treacherous nature could not be detected before the accident.

      

Stainthorpe, William, 08 Feb 1892, aged 27, Hewer, died on pit bank while waiting his turn to descend to his work [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a colliery accident]

      

Stephenson, John, 14 Nov 1910, aged 16, Driver, He was found in a half sitting position with his head crushed down in front of the tub. The pony was standing quietly hooked on to the tub which was on the way, and had one wheel dregged. It was his custom to ride on the limbers, and probably as he was getting on the pony started away causing him to slip and fall in front of the tub. He was well accustomed to the work and there was ample room, Buried: South Church Cemetery

      

Thompson, Thomas, 30 Sep 1863, aged 13, Driver, killed by falling part way down the shaft by cages getting out of the guides while ascending [More information ...]

      

Todd, John, 08 Mar 1889, aged 39, Deputy, fall of roof whilst drawing out a broken jud

      

Vickers, Thomas, 16 Jul 1874, aged 13, Driver, run over by full tub ; tub got off way, and he fell in front of it

      

Williamson, John, 04 Mar 1888, aged 54, [Not Employed], tramp, scalded to death by the bursting of a steam pipe while sleeping near to the coke ovens; no one knew he was there

      

Young, William, 31 Oct 1864, aged 32, Sinker, fell part way down sinking pit upon two shots [More information ...]

 
  42 names found

If you know of any fatalities missing from the above list then please contact us with the details and we will add them to our database.

Some of the names of mining fatalities on this web site have been kindly provided by Jim Grainger from his research into early newspapers (primarily the Durham Advertiser and Durham Chronicle) and are marked with .

  more information on some of the fatalities shown above


  Summary Description Disasters Names Credits  

Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)

  a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of Adelaide Colliery

  list of collieries/pits etc. near to Adelaide Colliery


  Summary Description Disasters Names Local Collieries  

Credits

Sources:

  • 1854 List of mines by T. Y. Hall, published in Vol II (1853-4) of the Transactions of the North of England Institute of Mining Engineers
  • 1858 Mines Inspectors Report
  • 1863 Mines Inspectors Report
  • 1864 Mines Inspectors Report
  • 1865 Mines Inspectors Report
  • 1866 Mines Inspectors Report
  • 1868 Mines Inspectors Report
  • 1869 List of Mines
  • 1869 Mines Inspectors Report
  • 1871 Mines Inspectors Report (C 456)
  • 1873 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1056)
  • 1873-4 List of Mines
  • 1874 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1216)
  • 1880 List of Mines
  • 1880 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2903)
  • 1881 Mines Inspectors Annual Report
  • 1882 Mines Inspectors Report (C 3621)
  • 1884 List of Mines
  • 1884 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4429)
  • 1885 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4760)
  • 1887 Mines Inspectors Report (C 5450)
  • 1888 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1888 Mines Inspectors Report (C 5779), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1889 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6015)
  • 1890 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1890 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6346), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1892 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6986), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1902 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1904 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2506)
  • 1907 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 4045), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines
  • 1909 List of Mines - from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
  • 1910 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 5676)
  • 1914 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1914 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 8023)
  • 1919 List of Mines - from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
  • 1921 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1923 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1924 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1925 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • An Account of the strata of Northumberland & Durham as proved by Borings & Sinkings, Volume A-B, published by the North of England Institute of Mining & Mechanical Engineers, 1878
  • Banners of the Durham Coalfield, Norman Emery, 1998, Sutton Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-7509-1708-3
  • Contributions by members of the Public
  • History, Topography, and Directory of the County Palatine of Durham by Francis Whellan. Second edition published in 1894.

  Summary Description Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Related Links:

On this site
 Newspaper articles
 Evidence given to the 1842 Children's Employment Commission

Further Reading:

  • Banners of the Durham Coalfield, Norman Emery, 1998, Sutton Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-7509-1708-3, provides a brief history of the colliery along with the history of the associated Miners Lodge Banner

Further Research:

  Research Notes for Adelaide Colliery

Mail:
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Page last updated: 01 Jan 2008


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