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  Derwent Colliery  Index  Derwent Colliery  

Derwent Colliery


  Description Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Location: Medomsley
10 miles [16 km] SW of Newcastle
Map Ref: (Sheet 88) NZ123548, 54° 53' 16" N, 1° 48' 30" W
Maps: 1898 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
1928 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
1933 map from the Colliery Engineer magazine, shows the disposition of pits in the Conset iron Co. Ltd. group and the railway links between them
1951 map from the Guide to the Coalfields (Colliery Guardian)
Opened: 1856
Closed: 21 Nov 1964
Pits: Hunter Pit, opened: 1889
William Pit, locn: (Sheet 88) NZ122546
  Shaft details for William Pit
Owners: 1850's - Edward Richardson & Co.
1860's - Consett Iron Co. Ltd.
1947 - National Coal Board (N.C.B.)
Output: 1873 - Coal.
1888 - Coal.
1888 - Coal.
1896 - Hunter - Coal: Manufacturing.
1896 - William - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1902 - Hunter - Coal: Manufacturing.
1902 - William - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1914 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1921 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1930 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing, Steam.
1947 - Coal: Coking. (123,000 tons)
1950 - Coal: Coking, Household, Steam. Fireclay.
1955 - Coal: Coking, Steam. Fireclay.
1960 - Coal: Coking, Steam. Fireclay.
1961 - Coal: Coking, Steam. Fireclay.
1964 - Coal: Coking, Steam. Fireclay.
Employment:
Year Pit  Total Below Above
1854Working
1896Hunter21016842
1896William54847870
Total758646112
1902Hunter26321350
1902William52946267
Total792675117
1914881763118
19211,1741,042132
19301,095917178
1940740740
1945720611109
1947672565107
1950615496119
195536130061
196032426361
196132426361
196428223448
  NCB Employment Figures
  Colliery Management (prior to 1955)
Seams Worked: 1894 - Busty
1894 - Hutton, Little Coal, Main
1914 - Brockwell, Busty, Hutton, Little Coal, Main Coal, Three Quarter
1921 - Brockwell, Busty, Hutton, Little Coal, Main Coal, Three Quarter, Towneley
1930 - Brockwell, Hutton, Main, Three Quarter, Towneley
1950 - Brockwell, Busty, Hutton, Little, Main, Thick, Three Quarter, Towneley
1955 - Bottom Busty, Brockwell, Hutton, Little, Main, Thick, Three Quarter, Towneley
1960 - Busty, Hutton, Three Quarter
1961 - Busty, Hutton, Three Quarter
1964 - Busty, Hutton, Main Coal
    Catalogue of plans of abandoned mines for Derwent Colliery
Notes:

1900 - Hutton seam abandoned - coal exhausted

  Miscellaneous Notes and Incidents for Derwent Colliery


  Summary Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Description


  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!

      

Angus, George, 17 May 1899, aged 14, Driver, Died to-day of tetanus from injuries received about a fortnight ago to one of his fingers. The nature and date of the accident is uncertain.

      

Austen, William, 07 Apr 1875, aged 14, Driver, Chester Ward Coroner's Inquest, place: Medomsley, cause: crushed by coal tubs at Derwent Colliery (DRO Ref: COR/C/2/233)

      

Bainbridge, William, 04 Feb 1873, aged 47, Hewer, killed by a fall of coal and stone [More information ...]

      

Brown, J. W., 04 Mar 1940, aged 40, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

      

Burnip, Stephen, 08 Jan 1903, aged 33, Hewer, fatally crushed by a fall of stone when taking down some for the purpose of making height

      

Cawthorne, J. W., 27 Feb 1933, (accident: 03 Jun 1932), aged 55, Hewer, fall of stone, died from injuries received

      

Cawthorne, Joseph, 08 Apr 1885, aged 20, Stoneman, while examining a stone after a shot it suddenly fell off at a back and crushed him

      

Charlton, A., 19 Oct 1931, aged 36, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

      

Craig, William, 11 Feb 1922, aged 47, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone

      

Davison, Robert, 15 Feb 1889, aged 44, Hewer, when pushing a tub inbye he slipped, and the tub ran back, crushing him against other tub which was following

      

Dawson, John, 18 Dec 1891, 7:00 p.m., 1st hour of shift, aged 40, Fitter, while engaged repairing some gas pipes at the bottom of the pit he fell into the sump and was drowned [More information ...]

      

Derwent, Henry, 07 Apr 1898, (accident: 01 Feb 1898), aged 24, Driver, he was hewing, when a piece of stone fell from the roof and broke his back

      

Dixon, W., 26 Nov 1942, (accident: 14 Jan 1941), aged 64, Hewer, died from injuries received

      

Doogan, -, 24 Dec 1958, an empty set jumped the points at the landing and hit a full set which then crushed him

      

Edgar, David, 19 Jul 1876, aged 26, Collier, fall of roof while clearing away a fall of roof and side coal

      

Goody, A. E., 08 Oct 1941, aged 49, Pickman, killed by a fall of stone

      

Gordon, T., 20 May 1939, (accident: 13 May 1939), aged 52, Putter, killed by a fall of stone

      

Haldon, Foster, 21 Feb 1881, aged 38, Hewer, fall of a large stone which crushed out the timber set under it

      

Heighway, R., 09 Feb 1947, Timber Drawer, explosion [More information ...]

      

Knox, George, 19 Sep 1893, (accident: 13 Sep 1893), aged 25, Hewer, Died to-day from an alleged sprain to his arm while at work on the 13th instant. A post-mortem examination showed that he died from acute meningitis.

      

Martindale, John, 27 Nov 1891, 8:30 a.m., 3rd hour of shift, aged 21, Shifter, fall of top coal while engaged clearing out an old board

      

Minks, Robert, 21 Dec 1904, aged 50, Master Shifter, committed suicide in the mine by exploding a detonator on his head [More information ...]

      

Monaghan, F., 09 Feb 1947, aged 44, Stoneman, explosion [More information ...]

      

Newton, W. J., 20 Oct 1932, aged 38, Puller Up, killed by a fall of stone

      

Proud, Ralph, 03 Nov 1892, 3:10 p.m., 10th hour of shift, aged 25, Rolleywayman, while pulling rope ends together with a winch the engine was started by mistake, and the handle reversing, struck deceased violently on the head [More information ...]

      

Quinn, John, 05 Jan 1904, (accident: Oct 1903), aged 39, Screener, he on October last had finished his work and off the colliery premises, when he illegally got on to a set of trucks on private branch railway; in getting off he was crushed between trucks, and so severely injured that he died to-day

      

Richardson, John, 23 Jun 1927, aged 24, Hewer, killed by shot [More information ...]

      

Ridley, Norman Stewart, 22 Apr 1959, aged 27, Stone Tipper, fell into an inch deep pool of rainwater on a shale heap and drowned

      

Seagar, Wilfred, 13 Jan 1921, (accident: 19 Nov 1920), aged 15, Driver, died from injuries received

      

Seymour, William Smith, 21 Dec 1951, aged 50, killed by a fall of stone

      

Slater, John, 17 Apr 1917, aged 38, address: 4 Piels Cottages, Medomsley, Buried: Medomsley Parish Churchyard

      

Southern, William, 29 Apr 1896, aged 23, Hewer, While hewing, a portion of the seam and a stone band it fell away at a slip and killed him

     

Stoker, John, 05 Jan 1867, aged 12, as he was leaving work he ran with his companions to jump on some waggons; he slipped and fell beneath the wheels and his leg was severely crushed; it was later amputated, but the boy never rallied and died the same evening: it was the day of his birthday!

     

Taylor, William, 15 Jan 1845, aged boy, An inquest was held on 15 January into the death of a boy, William Taylor, who had been run over by coal waggons on the Derwent Colliery incline [date of inquest]

      

Teasdale, John, 14 Mar 1884, aged 54, Hewer, fall of top side coal from a breaker in broken

      

Thompson, Joseph, 20 Dec 1906, aged 63, Greaser, When greasing trucks under the screens unknown to the truckman, he was knocked down and run over by three 10-ton trucks which were being brought under the screens. [More information ...]

      

Thompson, Thomas, 27 Nov 1869, aged 44, Hewer, fall of stone (band stone)

      

Waggott, Ralph, 28 Jul 1896, aged 18, Hewer, He was hewing the upper portion of a seam when it gave way at a slip each side, and fell upon his head and killed him

      

Walters, John William, 18 Oct 1900, (accident: 07 Aug 1900), aged 30, Hewer, Part of the middle band under which he was hewing fell away and crushed him badly about hips. He had neglected deputy's orders to put timber before he went under it to hew. Died October 18th.

      

Walton, Joseph Batey, 14 Oct 1902, aged 23, Screenman, while standing on a truck step putting on the brake he was caught by heapstead pillar and so severely crushed that he died instantly

      

Watson, Matthew, 26 Mar 1897, aged 25, Hewer, While hewing in a gateway a fall of roof took place at a jack or joint and killed him

      

Watson, W., 09 Feb 1947, aged 46, Stoneman, explosion [More information ...]

      

White, Thomas, 19 Nov 1896, aged 23, Waggonman, He was riding between two waggons when the locomotive got off the way, and the sudden jerk caused both his feet to be severely injured by the buffers. He was taken to a hospital and both feet were amputated, but he died about two hours afterwards

      

Wilkinson, Edward, 19 Feb 1885, (accident: 23 Jan 1885), aged 57, Deputy, while drawing timber a large prop fell, crushing him against side of place; suppurated peritonitis supervened

 
  44 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


The following unnamed fatalities are listed in the Mines Inspectors Reports, once again this collection is not complete!

Date Inspectors Remarks
15 Oct 1857 11fall of coal

  Summary Description Disasters Names Credits  

Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)

  a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of Derwent Colliery

  list of collieries/pits etc. near to Derwent 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
  • 1869 List of Mines
  • 1869 Mines Inspectors Report
  • 1873 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1056)
  • 1873-4 List of Mines
  • 1875 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1499)
  • 1876 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1734)
  • 1880 List of Mines
  • 1881 Mines Inspectors Annual Report
  • 1881 Mines Inspectors Report (C 3241)
  • 1884 List of Mines
  • 1884 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4429)
  • 1885 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4760)
  • 1888 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 1898 Mines Inspectors Report (C 9264), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
  • 1899 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 134), 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)
  • 1906 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 3449), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
  • 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
  • 1927 Mines Inspectors Report
  • 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
  • 1961 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, Volume C-E, published by the North of England Institute of Mining & Mechanical Engineers, 1881
  • 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
 Article from Colliery Engineering (March 1933) — "The Consett Collieries"
External sites
 A description of the Consett Iron Works from 1892 - part of the GENUKI site for family historians
 Derwentdale Local History Society

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 Derwent Colliery

Mail:
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