Jarrow Colliery

also known as Temple Main Colliery

Location:	Jarrow 5 miles [8 km] ENE of Newcastle
Map Ref:	(Sheet 88) NZ333655, 54° 58' 59" N, 1° 28' 47" W
Maps:	1807 map from "The Picture of Newcastle Upon Tyne…", published in 1807 by D. Akenhead
	1898 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
Opened:	1803
Closed:
Pits:	Alfred Pit, locn: (Sheet 88) NZ331654, sinking: 29 Jun 1801
	Shaft details for Alfred Pit
	E/Deep Pit, locn: (Sheet 88) NZ331654
	Shaft details for E/Deep Pit
Owners:	1803 - Simon Temple
	1820's - Thomas & Robert Brown
	1840's - Drewitt Brown
	1850's - W. Blackett, N. Wood, Anderson & Philipson
Employment:	1854 - 0 [Working]
	Catalogue of plans of abandoned mines for Jarrow Colliery
Notes:	1801 - Commenced to sink the Alfred Pit, Jarrow Colliery ; sunk from surface to Main Coal Seam.
	1810 - A boring was in progress at Jarrow Colliery to find lower coal seams.
	1821 - E or Deep Pit, Jarrow Colliery, was sunk from the High Main to the Low Main Seam.
	1934 - Bensham seam abandoned

Description

On the south side of the Tyne, Jarrow colliery occupies an important geological situation, being nearly in the centre of the great trough or basin formed by the coal measures, and where they are consequently found at their greatest depth. It is situated about 5 miles from the sea.

A notice occurs of a colliery at Jarrow in an account of the rents, &c., of Durham Cathedral, dated 1618. This was an irregular seam of coal, lying near the surface, in the neighbourhood of Monkton, and which was partially wrought in those days. At the time Gardner wrote his "England's Grievance," about 1655, the Black Staith was the only one marked in the parish. The present pit, the Alfred, was won by Simon Temple, Esq.; and the colliery was opened on September 26, 1803. It is sunk to the Bensham seam, which is found at the depth of 175 fathoms from the surface, and 165 fathoms below high water mark of the river Tyne. The depth to the High Main coal is 128 fathoms, and it is here 6 feet in thickness. The whole of the strata here are broken and dislocated in a most remarkable manner; a circumstance which has rendered it necessary to introduce various drifts and staples to facilitate the workings; and there are two steam-engines employed under ground. In this colliery is remarkably illustrated the growth and progress of the Heworth Band. It begins at the river Tyne a few inches thick, but gradually increases in its passage south until it entirely divides the seam. Beneath the church-yard at Jarrow, the coal was wrought under it, and it is there 30 inches thick; but in the space of a few hundred yards south, it was proved to exceed 20 feet in thickness, and the two parts of the seam are never again united in the southern district.

Views of the Collieries (1844)

Disasters (5 or more killed)

25th Sep 1817 Explosion, 6 lives lost

17th Jan 1826 Explosion, 34 lives lost (Show Names)

15th Mar 1828 Explosion, 8 lives lost (Show Names)

3rd Aug 1830 Explosion, 42 lives lost (Show Names)

21st Aug 1845 Explosion, 39 lives lost (Show Names)

Names of those killed at this colliery

Please note that this collection of names is by no means complete!

						Arnott, William, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Arrowsmith, Ralph, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 24, killed in the 1845 explosion, married [More information ...]
						Atkinson, George, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 11, killed in the 1845 explosion [More information ...]
						Bainbridge, James, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 41, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and family [More information ...]
						Baird, Robert, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 12, killed in the 1845 explosion [More information ...]
						Bamburgh, Joseph, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., killed in the 1845 explosion, young boy [More information ...]
						Bates, William, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 33, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and three children [More information ...]
						Bell, Cuthbert, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 25, killed in the 1845 explosion, married only three weeks [More information ...]
						Bell, George, 15 Mar 1828, 3:00 a.m., killed in the 1828 explosion [More information ...]
						Bell, John, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion, brother of Richard [More information ...]
						Bell, Richard, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion, brother of John [More information ...]
						Bewick, Thomas, 15 Mar 1828, 3:00 a.m., killed in the 1828 explosion [More information ...]
						Bloomer, James, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Bloomer, Joseph (jnr), 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Bloomer, Joseph (snr), 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Brown, John, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Brown, Snowdon, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Burdis, John, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 59, killed in the 1845 explosion, five orphan children [More information ...]
						Burdis, Thomas, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 13, killed in the 1845 explosion, son of John Burdis [More information ...]
						Casper, Robert, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Charlton, John, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 18, killed in the 1845 explosion, son of William Charlton [More information ...]
						Charlton, William, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 46, Deputy, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and several children [More information ...]
						Clark, John, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Clark, Thomas, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Cockburn, James, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 27, killed in the 1845 explosion [More information ...]
						Cockburn, John, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 32, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and 4 children [More information ...]
						Cram, George, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 29, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and two or three children [More information ...]
						Cram, James, 03 Aug 1830, 5:40 a.m., aged 16, explosion of gas [More information ...]
						Cram, Martin, 03 Aug 1830, 5:40 a.m., aged 11, explosion of gas [More information ...]
						Cram, Martin, 22 Jun 1838, suffocated in flue of engine down pit
						Defty, Jacob, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 47, Deputy, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and several children, died during the recovery effort [More information ...]
						Elliot, John, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 20, killed in the 1845 explosion, brother of William Elliot [More information ...]
						Elliot, William, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 14, killed in the 1845 explosion, brother of John Elliot [More information ...]
						Fairgrieve, Robert, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 13, killed in the 1845 explosion [More information ...]
						Fletcher, Richard, 15 Mar 1828, 3:00 a.m., killed in the 1828 explosion [More information ...]
						Fletcher, Robert, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Fletcher, William, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Forster, John, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 20, killed in the 1845 explosion, orphan, brother of Robert Forster [More information ...]
						Forster, Robert, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., killed in the 1845 explosion, orphan, brother of John Forster [More information ...]
						Fowler, Thomas, 15 Aug 1813, aged 16, killed by a fall from the roof of Jarrow Colliery [date of burial], Buried: 15 Aug 1813
						Gibson, John, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Gibson, Thomas, 15 Mar 1828, 3:00 a.m., killed in the 1828 explosion [More information ...]
						Hall, James, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 23, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and one child [More information ...]
						Hills, John, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 44, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and family [More information ...]
						Holland, Thomas, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Hume, William, 03 Aug 1830, 5:40 a.m., explosion of gas [More information ...]
						Jefferson, Thomas, 15 Mar 1828, 3:00 a.m., killed in the 1828 explosion [More information ...]
						Johnson, George, 15 Mar 1828, 3:00 a.m., killed in the 1828 explosion [More information ...]
						Johnson, John, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Ledger, George, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Liddell, Thomas, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 44, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and 6 children [More information ...]
						Love, Thomas, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 48, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and family [More information ...]
						Lowton, John, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						MacLeod, John, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 40, Deputy, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and family [More information ...]
						Miller, Thomas, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Musgrave, John, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 18, killed in the 1845 explosion, son of John Musgrave [More information ...]
						Musgrave, John, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 50, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and family [More information ...]
						Norman, John, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Norman, Robert, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Peel, Peter, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 50, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and family [More information ...]
						Ramshaw, Robert, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 18, killed in the 1845 explosion [More information ...]
						Reed, Thomas, 13 Nov 1831, aged 33, Buried: Jarrow
						Robinson, Benjamin, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 19, killed in the 1845 explosion, married [More information ...]
						Robson, Joseph, 15 Mar 1828, 3:00 a.m., killed in the 1828 explosion [More information ...]
						Scott, Andrew, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Scott, Isaac, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Scott, Stephen, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Scrafton, Joseph, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 21, killed in the 1845 explosion [More information ...]
						Smith, William, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Stewart, James, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 60, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and family [More information ...]
						Stewart, John, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Summerside, Thomas, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Summerson, George, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Tate, William, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Thompson, John, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Wailes, Thomas, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 20, killed in the 1845 explosion, son of Thomas Wailes [More information ...]
						Wailes, Thomas, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 44, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and family [More information ...]
						Walker, William, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 39, killed in the 1845 explosion, married [More information ...]
						Wanless, Joseph, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 41, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and family [More information ...]
						Watson, John, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Weddle, William, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 33, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and family [More information ...]
						Whitfield, Michael, 15 Mar 1828, 3:00 a.m., killed in the 1828 explosion [More information ...]
						Willis, - (jnr), 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Willis, - (snr), 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Willis, George, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 20, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and several children [More information ...]
						Willis, John, 17 Jan 1826, 8:00 p.m., killed in the 1826 explosion [More information ...]
						Willis, Mark, 21 Aug 1845, 1:00 p.m., aged 34, killed in the 1845 explosion, wife and 6 children, one an infant of three weeks [More information ...]

						87 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 page have been kindly provided by Ian Winstanley of the Coal Mining History Resource Centre and are marked with , further details may be obtained by contacting Ian by email at ian.winstanley@blueyonder.co.uk

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
13 Jan 1851	–	–	–	–	1	1	By railway

Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)

a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of Jarrow Colliery

list of collieries/pits etc. near to Jarrow Colliery

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
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
An Account of the strata of Northumberland & Durham as proved by Borings & Sinkings, Volume F-K, published by the North of England Institute of Mining & Mechanical Engineers, 1885
Banners of the Durham Coalfield, Norman Emery, 1998, Sutton Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-7509-1708-3
Contributions by members of the Public
Gateshead Observer
History, Topography, and Directory of the County Palatine of Durham by Francis Whellan. Second edition published in 1894.
Local Historian's Table Book of Remarkable Occurrences Connected with the Counties of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland and Durham by M.A. Richardson. Published in five volumes in 1844.
Local Records or Historical Register of Remarkable Events by John Latimer, Published in 1857
Pigot & Co.'s Commercial Directory of Durham, Northumberland and Yorkshire. Published in 1834
The Times Newspaper
Victoria History of the Counties of England – Durham. Published in three volumes in 1907.
Views of the Collieries in the Counties of Northumberland and Durham by T. H. Hair. First published in 1844.

Pictures:

Views of the Collieries in the Counties of Northumberland and Durham by T. H. Hair. First published in 1844.

Further Research:

Research Notes for Jarrow 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: 21 Apr 2008	Search	Print