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  Hamsterley Colliery  Index  Hamsterley Colliery  

Hamsterley Colliery


  Description Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Location: Hamsterley
9½ miles [15 km] WSW of Newcastle
Map Ref: (Sheet 88) NZ117565, 54° 54' 11" N, 1° 49' 3" W
Maps: 1928 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
1951 map from the Guide to the Coalfields (Colliery Guardian)
Opened: 1864
Closed: 02 Feb 1968
Owners: 1860's - H. W. Watson
1910's - Hamsterley Colliery Ltd.
1947 - National Coal Board (N.C.B.)
Output: 1882 - Coal.
1888 - Coal. Fireclay.
1890 - Coal. Fireclay.
1902 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing. Fireclay.
1914 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing. Fireclay.
1921 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing. Fireclay.
1921 - Towneley Drift - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.
1930 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household, Manufacturing, Steam. Fireclay.
1930 - Long Close Drift - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household, Manufacturing, Steam.
1930 - Towneley Drift - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household, Manufacturing, Steam.
1947 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household, Manufacturing. (52,000 tons)
1950 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household.
1950 - Towneley Drift - Coal.
1955 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household, Manufacturing. Fireclay.
1960 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household, Manufacturing. Fireclay.
1964 - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household, Manufacturing. Fireclay.
Employment:
Year Pit  Total Below Above
189639831484
1902547437110
1914502395107
1914Towneley Drift9494
1914Towneley DriftStanding
Total596489107
192135829563
1921Towneley Drift17914831
Total53744394
193040431886
1930Long Close Drift40328
1930Towneley Drift1027824
Total546428118
194032124180
1940Forge Drift42402
1940Long Close Drift35305
1940Towneley Drift38353
Total43634690
194525819266
194730624066
195026117982
1950Towneley Drift44
Total26518382
195521117338
196022518540
196424020040
  NCB Employment Figures
  Colliery Management (prior to 1955)
Seams Worked: 1914 - Brockwell, Three Quarter, Tilley, Top and Bottom Busty, Towneley
1921 - Brockwell, Three Quarter, Tilley, Top and Bottom Busty
1921 - Towneley Drift - Towneley
1930 - Bottom Busty, Brockwell, Three Quarter, Top Busty
1930 - Long Close Drift - Towneley
1930 - Towneley Drift - Towneley
1950 - Bottom Busty, Brockwell, Three Quarter, Tilley, Top Busty
1955 - Brockwell, Three Quarter, Tilley, Top and Bottom Busty
1960 - Bottom Busty, Brockwell, Tilley
1964 - Brockwell, Busty, Three Quarter, Tilley
Notes:

1948 - Top Busty & Bottom Busty seams discontinued

  Miscellaneous Notes and Incidents for Hamsterley 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!

      

Anderson, Matthew, 25 Feb 1934, aged 47, Stoneman, affected by fumes from shot firing [More information ...]

      

Anderson, Thomas, 07 Apr 1887, aged 16, Driver, killed by a fall of stone

      

Brown, A., 12 Mar 1935, aged 58, Hewer, fell down shaft

      

Campbell, Philip, 14 Jul 1908, aged 40, Hewer, he hewed the back-end off, and in so doing removed the coal from beneath a cauldron-bottom 3 feet in diameter by 10 inches thick; the deputy had been in the place about two hours previous to the accident, but had not seen any sign of the cauldron-bottom then; the timber was set well up to the face; the seam is thin and water rains down from the roof; these circumstances would render the detection of the cauldron-bottom more difficult than usual

      

Devine, Hugh, 25 Jun 1908, aged 29, Horsekeeper, when walking inbye he was run over by a set which was being hauled outbye; he was well aware of the fact that the set was approaching him, but he failed to take refuge in one of the many manholes provided for the purpose; this accident should not have occurred

     

Dodds, Edward George, 05 May 1923, aged 33, Filler, knocked down, Buried: Christ Church Churchyard, Hamsterley

      

Elliott, Joseph, 24 Jan 1901, aged 13, Pumper, in bringing a tub out of a place, which he should not have done it being no part of his work, his head was caught between the tub and baulk, causing fracture of skull from which he died

      

Fenwick, Thomas, 27 Aug 1894, a verdict of natural causes was returned by the jury in a case where an endeavour was made to attribute his death to injuries received in the pit

      

Gray, Burdis, 10 Sep 1903, aged 43, Hewer, a piece of roof stone, weighing about half a ton, fell out between two "backs" and killed him

     

Green, John William, 09 Jan 1934, aged 19, Buried: Christ Church Churchyard, Hamsterley

      

Jacques, John, 13 Jan 1880, aged 12, Driver, crushed by tubs on rolleyway

      

Johnson, R., 01 Aug 1943, (accident: 31 Jul 1943), aged 16, Banksman, fractured skull

     

Keenleyside, Robert, 08 Mar 1913, (accident: 25 Jul 1911), aged 30, He was at work in the East Brockwell seam when he was caught by a fall of stone. His spine was fractured and he spent the next four months in Newcastle Royal Infirmary. On his return he was able to get about a bit with a moveable chair, but suffered from loss of movement and sensation in both legs. He died on 8th March 1913 from exhaustion following the injury to his back

      

Kelly, Joseph, 08 Nov 1890, 3:30 p.m., 8th hour of shift, aged 13, Driver, knocked down by a hauling rope which had slipped over the sheaves

      

Knight, Samuel, 17 Sep 1884, aged 16, Helper Up, killed by a fall of stone

      

Lawson, William Harold, 26 Dec 1902, aged 18, Putter and Driver, pony ran away and crushed him between tubs and coal side

      

Liddle, Christopher, 11 Jun 1906, aged 61, Hewer, Death from heart failure when walking across the pit yard after finishing his shift.

      

Millwater, J. R., 05 Mar 1944, (accident: 21 Feb 1944), aged 63, Labourer, died from injuries received

      

Moffatt, John, 26 Jan 1926, aged 53, Engineman, killed by set [More information ...]

      

Peacock, Robert, 30 Aug 1873, aged 15, Putter, crushed by tub

      

Powton, Robert, 17 Dec 1903, aged 24, Hewer, a fall of stone at the goaf edge displaced two props, and crushed him to death

     

Robson, Adam Isaac, 31 Jan 1911, aged 18, Putter, he was bringing out a full tub by hand, the gradient of the road being in his favour; he was probably travelling fast, and at a slight turn on the road the tub got off the way and drew out several props; this place was at an old bord end, and the roof stone was lying heavy on the planks; a considerable fall of stone took place, and when found the putter was under a piece 4½ feet by 2 feet by 6 inches thick, and was dead when got out, Buried: Christ Church Churchyard, Hamsterley

      

Scott, Francis Robinson, 04 Jun 1903, aged 46, Labourer, committed suicide by placing his head on a rail and allowing trucks to run over it

      

Spears, Wilfred, 15 Apr 1912, aged 21, Driver, he was coming out with his last set of three full tubs, on a good road having a slight dip outbye; probably he was going rather fast, and owing to the pony crossing out, the limbers got behind a prop and pulled it out; a considerable fall of stone took place, and the deceased, who was lying on the first tub, was crushed and killed

      

Taylor, Thomas, 16 Feb 1893, (accident: 24 Jul 1892), aged 16, Putter, It is said that the boy got his head crushed between a tub and a prop on the night of the 24th July, but he continued at work until the 1st September without complaining. He died on the 16th February 1893, and it is doubtful whether the accident had anything to do with his death.

      

Turnbull, John, 27 Sep 1897, (accident: 25 Sep 1897), aged 50, Horse Driver on branches, He was pulling up a truck to join another, and after loosing the chain, stepped in between the buffers, but was too long in getting through, and was crushed. Died on the 27th [More information ...]

      

White, John, 15 Apr 1873, aged 53, Rolleywayman, killed by a set of tubs on engine plane [More information ...]

      

Whitfield, James, 21 Nov 1898, (accident: 27 Dec 1897), aged 47, Waggonwayman, died to-day from injuries received on December 27th, 1897, by being crushed between the top of a tub and a baulk when riding on a pony set

      

Wilson, George, 20 May 1903, aged 47, Chock Drawer, he was travelling from one district to another on a tram and collided with a tram, with a grease barrel on it, coming the opposite direction, which was being taken in-bye by two men and had got amain, causing fatal injuries [More information ...]

 
  29 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.

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 Hamsterley Colliery

  list of collieries/pits etc. near to Hamsterley Colliery


  Summary Description Disasters Names Local Collieries  

Credits

Sources:

  • 1869 List of Mines
  • 1873 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1056)
  • 1880 List of Mines
  • 1880 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2903)
  • 1881 Mines Inspectors Annual Report
  • 1884 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4429)
  • 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.
  • 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), Newcastle District (No. 3) by James Willis, 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.
  • 1894 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7667)
  • 1896 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, also available online at Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd
  • 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.
  • 1901 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1062), 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.
  • 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.
  • 1908 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 4672)
  • 1909 List of Mines - from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • TOMB_H14

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 Gala section of the Lodge Banner at the Miners' Gala
 Pictures in the Gallery section for Hamsterley Colliery
 Article in the Transactions of the Mining Engineers

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 Hamsterley Colliery

Mail:
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Page last updated: 02 Aug 2007


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