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  Browney Colliery  Index  Browney Colliery  

Browney Colliery


  Description Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Location: Brandon
2½ miles [4 km] SW of Durham
Map Ref: (Sheet 93) NZ249390, 54° 44' 43" N, 1° 36' 47" W
Maps: 1928 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
1951 map from the Guide to the Coalfields (Colliery Guardian), although closed by 1951, Browney Colliery is shown on the displayed map just below and to the right of Brandon A.
Opened: 1871
Closed: Jul 1938
Pits: No. 3 Pit, locn: (Sheet 93) NZ250388
  Shaft details for No. 3 Pit
Owners: 1871 - Bell Brothers Ltd.
1923, Apr - Dorman, Long & Co. Ltd.
Output: 1873 - Coal.
1888 - Brockwell - Coal.
1888 - Busty - Coal.
1896 - Brockwell - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1896 - Busty - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing. Fireclay.
1896 - Hutton - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1902 - Brockwell - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1902 - Busty - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1902 - Hutton - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1914 - Brockwell - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1914 - Busty - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1914 - Hutton - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1921 - Brockwell - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1921 - Busty - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1921 - Hutton - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1923 - Coal: Coking, Household.
1924 - Coal: Coking, Household.
1925 - Coal: Coking, Household.
1927 - Coal: Coking, Household.
1929 - Coal: Coking. Fireclay.
1930 - Coal: Coking. Fireclay.
1934 - Coal: Coking, Steam.
Employment:
Year Pit  Total Below Above
1896Brockwell25917683
1896Busty19412173
1896Hutton22117843
Total674475199
1902Brockwell29021179
1902Busty23115972
1902Hutton27218983
Total793559234
1914Brockwell26218676
1914Busty30421490
1914Hutton38628898
Total952688264
1921Brockwell17611066
1921Busty302201101
1921Hutton429310119
Total907621286
1923659485174
1924733561172
1925721551170
1927515378137
1929645499146
1930471353118
1934755605150
  Colliery Management (prior to 1955)
Seams Worked: 1914 - Brockwell - Brockwell
1914 - Busty - Busty
1914 - Hutton - Hutton
1921 - Brockwell - Brockwell
1921 - Busty - Busty
1921 - Hutton - Hutton
1923 - Brockwell, Busty, Hutton, Low Main
1924 - Brockwell, Busty, Hutton, Low Main
1925 - Brockwell, Busty, Hutton
1927 - Brockwell, Busty, Hutton
1929 - Busty, Hutton
1930 - Busty, Hutton, Low Main
1934 - Busty, Harvey, Low Main
    Catalogue of plans of abandoned mines for Browney Colliery
Notes:

1931, 07 Dec - Brockwell seam abandoned

1933, 15 Dec - Hutton seam abandoned

1934 - Brockwell, Busty seams abandoned

1938 - Closed due to flooding

1938, 31 Oct - Low Main, Harvey, Busty seams abandoned



  Summary Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Description

Browney is the name of another colliery village, occupied by the employees of Messrs. Bell Bros., Limited, colliery and coke ovens.

The Browney Wesleyan Chapel was built in 1887, to seat 270, and cost £400. The ground is held by a rent of 1s. per year to the colliery owners.

Browney British School was built in 1881 by the colliery owners, and consists of mixed and infants, with accommodation for 407 in all, the average attendance being 309 in 1892.

The Browney Colliery Reading Room and Library was provided by the owners of the colliery. The library comprises over 1000 books, and the reading room is well supplied with the usual papers, &c.

Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham


The Browney Colliery produces 900 tons a day from the Low main, Busty and Harvey seams, the last two being only 1 ft. 9 in. thick. The whole of the smalls is sent to Dean & Chapter colliery for washing. At Browney 2,000 galls. of water per min. is being pumped from a depth of 404 ft.

Iron & Coal Trades Review 1937


  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!

     

Allison, William, 24 Jan 1921, (accident: 01 Jan 1921), aged 71, Cokeyard Labourer, On New Year's morning, after lighting the lamps, Allison was crossing the rails when he was struck by a tub, and sustained a compound fracture of the leg. He later died in Durham Hospital. [Inquest date: 24 Jan 1921]

      

Anderson, Thomas, 22 Apr 1903, aged 61, Water Leader, died when in lamp cabin from heart disease; no inquest held

      

Barker, John, 04 Nov 1910, (accident: 17 Mar 1910), aged 53, Hewer, While hewing, a small piece of coal struck him in the eye. He continued to work till the 9th April, but was under medical care from 22nd March. He died on November 4th, and an inquest was held on November 8th by Deputy Coroner Badcock. The verdict of the jury was :— "In accordance with medical evidence. — The primary cause being the injury which the man received, the secondary cause being Sarcoma following on the injury received."

      

Barker, T., 25 May 1937, aged 46, Filler, killed by a fall of stone

      

Bendelow, John William, 09 May 1902, (accident: 08 May 1902), aged 14, Driver and Spare Incline Lad, de was travelling in-bye on a self-acting incline as a full set was coming out, and it by some means caught him [More information ...]

     

Bennet, Peter, 10 Aug 1915, aged 58, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

      

Blizzard, William, 07 Feb 1875, aged 18, Sinker, fell out of kibble while ascending shaft

     

Bloomfield, Stephen, 01 Feb 1897, aged 69, Labourer, Unloading, with two other men, a truck of clay and rubbish, and while doing so, staggered and fell over the side. He was quite dead when one of the men got to him, Buried: Brandon Cemetery

     

Briggs, Thomas, 16 Apr 1888, aged 17, Locomotive Fireman, fell of the front end of a truck and was run over, while it was being shunted into coke yard, Buried: Brandon Cemetery

      

Carrol, William, 13 Jan 1891, 6:00 a.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 24, Hewer, fall of roof from a slip in face of place

     

Collingwood, Thomas, 21 May 1913, (accident: 16 May 1913), aged 26, Putting Hewer, whilst deceased was pushing his tub outbye he joined another putter at a twin, and received fatal injuries, Buried: Meadowfield Cemetery

      

Coulson, Benjamin W., 13 Nov 1925, (accident: 26 Jul 1925), aged 35, Stoneman, committed suicide as the result of injuries received to his hand through a fall of stone

      

Crozier, George, 07 Oct 1878, aged 48, Shiftman, fall of stone in a stow-bord while he was drawing a prop

      

Cummings, John, 16 Jul 1903, aged 61, Deputy, after examining some side stone on a waggon-way, where some arching was to be put in, he commenced to work under it, and it fell and killed him, Buried: Brandon Cemetery

      

Daglish, George, 26 Oct 1912, aged 34, Waiter-on, the shaftmen having come out of the upcast shaft on the top of the cage at the close of their shift., deceased was left to close two fall-to doors; shortly afterwards he was missed, and it was discovered he had fallen down the shaft

      

Dawson, R., 02 Mar 1942, (accident: 09 Aug 1933), aged 32, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

     

Deans, William, 07 Jun 1887, aged 32, Hewer, fall of stone in a narrow place after a shot had been fired which laid open a slip, Buried: Brandon Cemetery

      

Dodds, John, 11 Feb 1891, 3:00 p.m., 9th hour of shift, aged 15, Screen Boy, run over by trucks under the screens [More information ...]

      

Evans, David, 10 Sep 1880, (accident: 08 May 1880), aged 21, Wood Leader, injury to foot, from which he recovered, leg afterwards sprained by pushing tram

      

Halliday, Albert, 09 Nov 1910, (accident: 03 Nov 1910), aged 15, Driver, He left the flat with a load of four full tubs, and was sitting as usual in the first tub, there being ample height. Some hewers on their way inbye found him lying over the rails immediately in front of the first tub, and the pony kicking him. The first two tubs were off the way. When rescued he was unconscious, and he died on November 9th. There was ample room at the place, and the way and tubs were in good running order. The pony was a timid one. An inquest was opened and adjourned to enable the doctor to certify the cause of death. The jury returned a verdict that the cause of death was haemorrhage on the brain and fracture of the skull, due to the injury of November 3rd, 1910

      

Hannaby, Richard, 28 Feb 1925, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone

      

Healey, Martin, 06 Jan 1910, aged 52, Hewer, The section of the seam in which this accident occurred was as follows :— Top coal 2 feet, band 2 feet and bottom coal 2 feet. The man was working in a head-ways 8 feet wide. The bottom coal had been removed for the full width and he was engaged in wedging down the band stone. This had been taken down for part of the width and he was working at the remaining portion when a large piece of top coal, like a cauldron bottom, fell from a clayey parting on to him

      

Heathwaite, Thomas, 05 Apr 1921, (accident: 18 Sep 1916), aged 24, Putter, killed by a fall of stone

     

Herdman, Henry, 03 Sep 1896, aged 29, Hewer, While hewing in a place in pillar workings a fall of stone took place from the roof and killed him, Buried: St. Stephen's Churchyard/Willington Cemetery

      

Jackson, Thomas, 11 Mar 1904, (accident: 07 Mar 1904), aged 44, Heapkeeper, he was clearing away some loose coals under screens when an empty wagon was being lowered by another man; the wagon was moving very slowly, and plenty of warning was given, but he failed to get out of way, and was crushed between buffers of two wagons, died on the 11th instant

     

Jeff, Leslie, 21 Apr 1927, aged 16, Rope boy, died suddenly while working in the Busty Seam. Address: Frederick Street, Meadowfield

      

Jennings, Thomas, 22 Dec 1913, aged 31, Hewer, deceased was commencing the last lift of a pillar, when a fall occurred of some roof stone overhanging the coal face; this should have been either timbered up, or taken down

      

Johnson, Joseph, 22 Apr 1903, aged 64, Shifter, when he was wedging down some stone in a road to make height, a piece fell from a slip and killed him

     

Joyce, John, 29 Jan 1918, aged 50, killed by a fall of stone in the Brockwell Seam, the stone was 8 feet long and estimated to weigh 1½-2 tons

      

Kenny, Dan., 04 Aug 1905, (accident: 18 Jan 1901), aged 26, Hewer, fall of stone, 18th January, 1901, spine injured; died 4th August, 1905

      

Knowles, Moses Mowbray, 05 Aug 1910, aged 24, Hewer, Deceased and his marrow were working in a broken lift 6 yards wide, and as the former was stooping down near the fast side to pick out some stones from amongst his coals a large stone fell on to him from the roof. The stone was bounded on its four sides by slips all inclined towards each other. The timbering distance was 4½ feet, but as it was a very bad roof and full of slips the timber should have been set much closer

      

McNamara, Thomas, 20 Jul 1893, aged 43, Hewer, Took ill in the pit while at his work, and died from heart disease.

     

Milner, Joseph Reavley, 03 Apr 1935, aged 29, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Meadowfield Cemetery

      

Moran, William, 21 Mar 1911, aged 22, Hand Putter, this accident was entirely due to wilful disregard of Special Rules and notices posted up on the haulage road; he was walking outbye along the side of a self-acting incline having a gentle gradient, when he apparently got on to a set to ride down the incline; on reaching a portion of the incline where there was only a clearance of 6 inches between the tubs and the roof he was crushed against two girders and balks and killed

     

O'Donnell, Stephen, 06 Feb 1915, aged 49, he told his wife that he had hurt his side by falling on a shovel, and complained of pain in his ribs; death was due to heart failure resulting from pneumonia of the right lung

      

Smith, James, 26 May 1881, aged 23, Miner, killed by a fall of coal

     

Tipling, William, 19 Nov 1923, aged 49, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Meadowfield Cemetery

      

Turner, Joseph, 13 Aug 1874, aged 42, Deputy, fall of stone while drawing timber

      

Ward, James, 04 Oct 1900, aged 14, Driver, Found between first and second tub of pony set, which he was driving outbye. Place 11 ft. wide by 6 ft. high. Died same day.

 
  39 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.

Those names marked with , have a web page providing individual details of the accident, the page may also include a photograph of the deceased. Click on the symbol next to the name to see the web page.

For those names marked we have a digital photograph of the tombstone, see the information page for further details.

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 Browney Colliery

  list of collieries/pits etc. near to Browney Colliery


  Summary Description Disasters Names Local Collieries  

Credits

Sources:

  • 1873-4 List of Mines
  • 1874 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1216)
  • 1875 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1499)
  • 1878 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2321
  • 1880 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2903)
  • 1881 Mines Inspectors Annual Report
  • 1881 Mines Inspectors Report (C 3241)
  • 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.
  • 1890 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1891 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6625), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1893 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7339), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, from a 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
  • 1896 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8450), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1897 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8819), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1900 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 536), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, 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.
  • 1902 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1590)
  • 1903 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2119), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, 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
  • 1910 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 5676)
  • 1911 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 6237), Durham District (No. 3) by A. D. Nicholson, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1912 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 6983), Durham District (No. 3) by A. D. Nicholson, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1913 Mines Inspectors Report
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 1927 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1929 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.
  • 1934 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.
  • Tombstone(s) in Brandon Cemetery
  • Tombstone(s) in Meadowfield Cemetery

Pictures:

  • Colliery picture from old postcard

  Summary Description Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Related Links:

On this site
 Newspaper articles
 Pictures in the Gallery section of Browney Colliery
External sites
 Brandon & Byshottles Parish Archive

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
  • The Coal Mining and Ironstone Mining Properties of Dorman Long, published by Peter Tuffs

Further Research:

  Research Notes for Browney Colliery

Mail:
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Page last updated: 02 Aug 2007


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