Museum
Friends of Durham Mining Museum
Events Calendar
e-Books and Books for sale
Photograph Gallery
Document Archive
Master Name Index
Discussion Forums
What's new in the site

Mining History
Colliery Index
Colliery Index
Shaft cross sections
Borings and Sinkings
List of Mines
Colliery Managers
Abandoned Seams
Colliery Maps
Company Overviews
Who's Who
Mineral Information
Managers Certificates
Educational Material
Bibliography
Statistics
Workers/Employee Lists
Notes for Family Historians

Disaster Reports
Names of those killed
Disasters in the 1700s
Disasters in the 1800s
Disasters in the 1900s
Memorials
Awards for Gallantry

Links to other sites of interest
Industrial Heritage Days Out
Former www.pitwork.net site

View our Guestbook

Index to site

Contact and address details


  Dunston Colliery  Index  Dunston Colliery  

Dunston Colliery

also known as Dunston Garesfield Colliery


  Description Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Location: Dunston
2 miles [3 km] WSW of Newcastle
Map Ref: (Sheet 88) NZ228625, 54° 57' 26" N, 1° 38' 33" W
Maps: 1928 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
1951 map from the Guide to the Coalfields (Colliery Guardian)
Opened: 1875
Closed: Dec 1947
Owners: 1890's - John Bowes & Partners Ltd.
1940's - Dunston Garsfield Collieries Ltd.
Output: 1896 - Coal: Gas, Household.
1902 - Coal: Gas, Household.
1914 - Coal: Gas, Household.
1921 - Coal: Gas, Household.
1930 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household, Manufacturing, Steam.
Employment:
Year Pit  Total Below Above
189652546362
190248743354
191477970178
192160051189
19301108426
194028624442
194535729166
1950Pumping
  Colliery Management (prior to 1955)
Seams Worked: 1894 - Brockwell
1914 - Beaumont, Brockwell, Five Quarter, Three Quarter
1921 - Beaumont, Brockwell, Five Quarter, Tilley
1930 - Beaumont, Five Quarter, Stone, Three Quarter
    Catalogue of plans of abandoned mines for Dunston Colliery
Notes:

1875 - The main shaft, Dunston Colliery, was sunk from the surface to the Brockwell Seam.

1926 - Brockwell seam abandoned

1933, 10 Nov - Tilley seam abandoned

1935, 23 Oct - Three Quarter seam abandoned

1945 - Beaumont seam abandoned

1947, 19 Dec - Three Quarter, Five Quarter, Busty, Brockwell seams abandoned

  Miscellaneous Notes and Incidents for Dunston Colliery


  Summary Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Description

Dunston colliery, worked by Jno. Bowes and Partners, was sunk in 1873, but after working for about twelve months, was closed until 1891, when it was reopened. There is only one seam worked at present, the Brockwell, 2 feet 10 inches thick, at a depth of 74 fathoms. The following seams are here, but are not worked, owing to bands, troubles, and post rolls : the Beaumont, 34 fathoms ; the Three Quarter, 67 fathoms ; Six Quarter, 37 fathoms ; and the Busty, 47 fathoms deep. The average output is 500 tons per day, employing 476 men and boys.

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!

      

Bainbridge, Francis, 21 Sep 1906, (accident: 20 Sep 1906), aged 23, Stoneman [More information ...]

      

Barwick, Joseph, 25 Jan 1895, 3:00 p.m., 5th hour of shift, aged 38, Hewer, there is no doubt in this case of a fall of stone that there should have been more timber set, and the deputy stated at the inquest that the men were to do this when the coal was cleared from a shot which had just fired

      

Blench, Ralph, 13 Jul 1900, aged 22, Hewer, A shot had been fired, but failed to bring down the coal, and the deputy had instructed the deceased to hew it down. It is supposed he had improperly started to kirve again without re-setting the sprags. [Inspection made & inquest attended]

      

Boyd, John, 11 Jul 1892, 6:20 a.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 35, Hewer, He was skirting along an old headway, and had gone about two feet, when a stone suddenly came away from a "slip." [Inspection made & inquest attended]

      

Bradley, William, 04 Jun 1897, aged 38, Shot Firer, He had fired a shot but had evidently not given himself time to get away or remained too long, as he waited to put his lamp top on before leaving the canch [Enquiries made]

      

Burton, James, 24 Mar 1896, aged 42, Deputy, He was passing the end of a road when the putter coming out-bye with a tub, crushed him against the wall side [Inspection made & inquest attended]

      

Chapman, John, 29 Jun 1906, (accident: 19 Jun 1906), aged 47, Stoneman [More information ...]

      

Coleman, John, 27 Jul 1897, aged 36, Hewer, He was hewing in a gateway, when a large fall of stone came away at a slip. The stone was in the shape of a "horse-back" [Inquest attended]

      

Cook, J., 26 Apr 1924, aged 44, Hewer, crushed head

      

Costello, M., 31 Dec 1923, aged 38, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

      

Fenwick, Joseph, 24 Dec 1890, 11:50 p.m., 7th hour of shift, aged 34, Hewer, he was in the cage coming to bank when one of the shoes fastened to the guides fell from the surface and went through the cover of the cage, killing deceased

      

Fulthorpe, George, 24 May 1893, 10:00 p.m., 5th hour of shift, aged 19, Putter, Explosion of fire-damp [Inspection made & inquest attended] [More information ...]

      

Herron, J., 31 Dec 1940, aged 17, Banksman, caught in creeper

      

Jordan, William, 28 Apr 1909, aged 18, Helper up, head crushed between tub and prop

      

King, M., 21 Aug 1945, aged 32, Waggonway Man, crushed

      

Lowens, Robert, 24 May 1893, 10:00 p.m., 5th hour of shift, aged 32, Shifter, Explosion of fire-damp [Inspection made & inquest attended] [More information ...]

     

Murray, John William, 15 Sep 1903, aged 31, Shifter, Deceased was travelling along a long wall face, and arrived at the roadhead of a gateway the moment a shot, in the underclay of a coal seam, charged with 15 ozs. of saxonite, was fired by battery by the shot firer, who was down the gateway, 43 yards away., Buried: Boldon Cemetery

      

Pattison, Thomas W., 28 Jul 1876, aged 23, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

      

Pike, William, 01 Dec 1902, aged 41, Hewer, the deceased was kirving in the top of the Brockwell seam in a longwall working, when a large stone suddenly dropped from the roof ; the stone broke close off to the coal, but was bounded by a "jack" on the left side and a feather edge on the right side ; two props set under the feather edge were canted out

      

Postle, Jonathan, 27 Feb 1900, aged 17, Helper-up, The deceased, whilst the hewer was engaged in putting, went under the canch at the face to get a pick, when a large stone fell from slips and canted out some timber. The deputy had examined the place two hours before, and after setting some timber left it, as he considered, safe. [Inspection made & inquest attended]

      

Powers, Samuel, 07 Jan 1907, aged 29, Hewer, killed by a fall of roof [More information ...]

      

Ramsey, J. R., 16 Jan 1930, aged 46, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

      

Readman, Frank, 07 May 1897, aged 24, Shifter, Deceased was pushing a stone kibble from a turn in the longwall workings, and had just got through a canvas door when a stone fell out between two slips and caught him in the back. The road had been examined as usual, but nothing was seen here to indicate any danger [Inspection made & inquest attended]

      

Smith, J. R., 05 Mar 1936, aged 50, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone

      

Strong, John, 25 Oct 1901, aged 22, Hewer, While deceased was pushing an empty tub, it left the rails, and knocking out some timber caused a fall of roof [Inspection made & inquest attended]

      

Summers, Thomas, 01 Dec 1899, aged 25, Hewer, A two-decked cage was loaded with men ; the signal to ascend had been given, when some one shouted that three tubs had broken away from a full set which was landing at the shaft bottom. In spite of the onsetter's remonstrance, some of the men jumped out and Summers and another man were knocked into the sump [Inspection made & inquest attended]

      

Thompson, T., 21 Oct 1940, aged 46, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

      

Tunn, George, 13 May 1902, aged 41, Hewer, while at work at the face of a place in the Brockwell seam, a stone fell from the roof and crushed him down ; his body showed no external marks of injury, and it is supposed he died from suffocation

      

Watson, John Edward, 01 May 1914, (accident: 28 Apr 1914), aged 33, Hewer, The coal was being worked longwall in a step face, the step being 15 yards. An airway is left at the step between the fast side and the pack. Deceased was found under a fall in this airway about 6 yards from the face. The timber had been drawn and deceased had no right there. He had been asking the men in the next place the time. He died on 1st May, 1914.

      

Wilkinson, C., 25 Dec 1945, (accident: 29 Oct 1928), aged 41, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

 
  30 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.

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

  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 Dunston Colliery

  list of collieries/pits etc. near to Dunston Colliery


  Summary Description Disasters Names Local Collieries  

Credits

Sources:

  • 1876 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1734)
  • 1890 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6346), Newcastle District (No. 3) by James Willis, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1892 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6986), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1893 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7339), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1895 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8074), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines
  • 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), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1897 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8819), 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.
  • 1900 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 536), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1901 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1062), 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.
  • 1902 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1590)
  • 1903 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2119), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. B. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1906 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 3449), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. B. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
  • 1907 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 4045), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. B. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines
  • 1909 List of Mines - from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
  • 1909 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 5177)
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 1950 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, 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.
  • Victoria History of the Counties of England – Durham. Published in three volumes in 1907.

Pictures:

  • Colliery picture provided by David Kitching from the John Ryan Collection (©)

  Summary Description Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Related Links:

On this site
 Newspaper articles
 Pictures in the Gallery section for Dunston Colliery

Further Research:

  Research Notes for Dunston Colliery

Mail:
Webmaster

Back

Home
Crown copyright material is reproduced under Class Licence Number C01W0000177
with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland.

Copyright © 1999-2008 by The Durham Mining Museum and its contributors
Registered Charity No: 1110608
Page last updated: 02 Aug 2007


Search

Print