| Byermoor Colliery | Index | Byermoor Colliery | ||
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Byermoor Colliery
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| Location: | Byermoor 6 miles [9 km] SW of Newcastle |
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| Map Ref: | (Sheet 88) NZ187571, 54° 54' 32" N, 1° 42' 25" W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maps: |  1928 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide |
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| 1951 map from the Guide to the Coalfields (Colliery Guardian) |
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| Opened: | 1860 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closed: | 02 Feb 1968 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pits: | Shaft details for Byermoor Colliery |
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| Owners: | 1860's - Marley Hill Coal Co. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1880's - John Bowes & Partners Ltd. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1947 - National Coal Board (N.C.B.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Output: | 1882 - Coal. Fireclay. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888 - Coal. Fireclay. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1890 - Coal. Fireclay. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1896 - Coal: Coking, Steam. Fireclay. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1902 - Coal: Coking, Steam. Fireclay. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1914 - Coal: Coking, Steam. Fireclay. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1921 - Coal: Coking, Steam. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1930 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Steam. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1947 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Steam. (116,000 tons) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1950 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Steam. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1955 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Steam. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1960 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Steam. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1964 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Steam. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employment: |
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| NCB Employment Figures
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| Colliery Management (prior to 1955)
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| Seams Worked: | 1894 - Brockwell, Busty | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1914 - Brockwell, Busty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1921 - Brockwell, Busty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1930 - Brockwell, Busty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1950 - Brockwell, Busty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1955 - Brockwell, Three Quarter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1960 - Brockwell, Busty, Three Quarter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1964 - Brockwell, Busty, Three Quarter, Tilley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Catalogue of plans of abandoned mines for Byermoor Colliery |
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| Notes: | 1938, 18 Jul - Brass Thill seam abandoned |
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| Miscellaneous Notes and Incidents for Byermoor Colliery |
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Description
There are now three large collieries in this parish worked by John Bowes & Partners, Limited. At Marley Hill the following seams are worked :- Main Coal, 4 feet thick, at a depth of 35 fathoms ; the Busty, 5 feet 6 inches, 72 fathoms ; and the Brockwell, 3 feet, 86 fathoms, worked by two shafts. The average daily output is about 700 tons. There are 330 coke ovens, in which two thirds of the output is converted into coke. The total number of men and boys employed is about 520. Nearly one mile west is the Byermoor Colliery, working the Busty and Brockwell seams, having and output of 500 tons per day. Here are 156 coke ovens ; the number employed is 380. Andrews House Colliery, situated about one mile south of Marley Hill, was commenced in 1843 ; here the Main coal is only worked, giving employment to 170 men and boys ; the output averages 340 tons per day.
Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham
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Disasters (5 or more killed)
None Found
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Names of those killed at this colliery
Please note that this collection of names is by no means complete!
Boyd, John, 08 Aug 1904, aged 59, Stoneman, Caused by the premature explosion of a shot in the sandstone roof of a coal seam charged with 2½ lbs. of compressed gunpowder. The mode of firing was to light a piece of greased paper stuck under the sulphur covered end of a patent squib inserted in the hole left by the withdrawal of the pricker. Deceased lived three-quarters of a hour after the accident, and stated that on lighting the greased paper it flared up and the shot exploded. The Local Inspectors reported "it has been a pure accident" | ||||||
Harrison, Edward, 30 Oct 1878, aged 49, Hewer, killed by a fall of coal | ||||||
Henderson, William, 16 Jan 1894, 2:00 a.m., 8th hour of shift, aged 29, Shifter, These men were bottom cutting, and had just about finished their work when a large fall of post stone took place, killing them on the spot. According to the evidence the place was well timbered, and it is surmised that they had undermined the props, six of which were afterwards found under the stone [Inspection made & inquest attended] [More information ...] | ||||||
Knott, George, 13 Jan 1875, aged 12, Driver, Chester Ward Coroner's Inquest, place: Byer Moor, cause: run over by coal tub (DRO Ref: COR/C/2/210) | ||||||
Layton, William, 12 Jul 1898, aged 27, Blacksmith, Some iron ladders were being put into a staple, and deceased, who was guiding the last one, which was suspended from a rope, into its place, is supposed to have clutched one of them which had not been securely fastened fell with it to the bottom a distance of 23 feet [Inspection made & inquest attended] | ||||||
Pickering, Thomas, 27 Sep 1899, aged 62, Deputy, While engaged in drawing timber out of a "broken jud." a large stone unexpectedly fell from slips. Deceased was an experienced man and appeared to have exercised ordinary care [Inspection made & inquest attended] | ||||||
Sylkie, James, 16 Jan 1894, 2:00 a.m., 8th hour of shift, aged 47, Shifter, These men were bottom cutting, and had just about finished their work when a large fall of post stone took place, killing them on the spot. According to the evidence the place was well timbered, and it is surmised that they had undermined the props, six of which were afterwards found under the stone [Inspection made & inquest attended] [More information ...] | ||||||
Taylor, W., 18 Jan 1948, (accident: 14 Jan 1948), aged 66, Stoneman, runaway set | ||||||
Turnbull, Wallas, 17 Mar 1905, (accident: 10 Mar 1905), aged 16, Driver [More information ...] | ||||||
| 10 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.
more information on some of the fatalities shown above
The following unnamed fatalities are listed in the Mines Inspectors Reports, once again this collection is not complete!
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Inspectors Remarks |
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| 08 Jan 1862 | – | – | – | – | 2 | 2 | boiler explosion |
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Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)
a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of Byermoor Colliery
list of collieries/pits etc. near to Byermoor Colliery
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Credits
Sources:
- 1869 List of Mines
- 1870 Mines Inspectors Report (C 124)
- 1875 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1499)
- 1878 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2321)
- 1881 Mines Inspectors Annual Report
- 1888 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
- 1890 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
- 1894 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7667), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
- 1896 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, also available online at Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd
- 1898 Mines Inspectors Report (C 9264), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
- 1899 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 134), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, 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)
- 1905 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2910)
- 1909 List of Mines - from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
- 1914 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
- 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
- 1930 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
- 1940 Colliery Year Book and Coal Trades Directory published by Louis Cassier Co. Ltd.
- 1945 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
- 1947 The Colliery Year Book and Coal Trades Directory. Published by The Louis Cassier Co. Ltd., from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
- 1950 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
- 1955 Guide to the Coalfields published by the Colliery Guardian
- 1960 Guide to the Coalfields published by the Colliery Guardian
- 1964 Guide to the Coalfields published by the Colliery Guardian
- An Account of the strata of Northumberland & Durham as proved by Borings & Sinkings, Supplement, published by the North of England Institute of Mining & Mechanical Engineers, 1910
- Banners of the Durham Coalfield, Norman Emery, 1998, Sutton Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-7509-1708-3
- History, Topography, and Directory of the County Palatine of Durham by Francis Whellan. Second edition published in 1894.
Pictures:
- Colliery picture from old postcard
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Related Links:
| On this site | |
| | Pictures in the Gallery section of Byermoor Colliery |
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 Byermoor Colliery
