South Hetton Colliery

1831, Mar 01 - Commenced to sink the Engine Pit, South Hetton Colliery, from the surface to the Hutton Seam.

1833, Aug 05 - Monday, South Hetton colliery was opened, and a fat bullock was roasted, and distributed among the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. A great concourse of people assembled at Seaham, to witness the first shipping of the first coals. W. Green, of Durham, Esq., as one of the owners, addressed the people, amidst the most deafening cheers. A band of music attended, and in other respects the day was one of great rejoicing. The workmen belonging to the company and to Lord Londonderry, were regaled at the several public houses in the village.

1833, Feb 19 - One of the largest engines ever yet constructed commenced working on this day, at colonel Braddyll's new colliery at South Hetton, Durham. Its power is rated at 240 horses, and its labour was to pump water from the depth of 876 feet.

1835, Nov 23 - Coal was first shipped from South Hetton colliery at Hartlepool, the railway being opened on the main line to that colliery as well as to Thornley. There were from 30 to 40 sail of ships in the harbour at the time.

1836 - Borings were begun from the surface in the neighbourhood of South Hetton Colliery.

1865, Aug 01 - Commenced a boring at South Hetton Colliery below the thill of the Hutton Seam to prove the lower coals.

1891 - A boring was put down at South Hetton Colliery below the thill of the Low Main Seam to prove the Harvey Seam.

Adamson, Thomas, 23 Jul 1859, aged 11, Horse Driver, fall of stone in rolleyway

Armstrong, Thomas, 30 Nov 1877, aged 13, Driver, fell off his set of tubs and was run over on main road

Atkinson, John, Aug 1835, aged 9, [Sunderland Herald reports: accident - 15 Aug 1835 pg 3 col 1]

Atkinson, Ralph, 29 Apr 1884, aged 67, Wasteman, fall of stone which broke over some timber

Barlow, Thomas, 27 Nov 1853, (accident: 17 Nov 1853), aged 40, Deputy Overman, he was drawing timber when a mass of stones fell on him, his right leg and lower part of his bowels were severely crushed, and he died on the 27th

Bell, James, 26 Nov 1906, (accident: 03 Feb 1893), Wasteman, Received an injury to his back on 3rd February, 1893, whilst at work in the mine. Died 26th November, 1906.

Bloxham, John, 15 Sep 1859, aged 59, Labourer, crushed by surface waggon

Bolton, B., 30 Sep 1913, [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 30 Sep 1913 pg 6]

Briggs, John, 01 May 1845, aged 22, On Friday morning, 1 May, John Briggs, 22, was riding on a bogie with several others from South Hetton to Murton Winning, "and when near the second switch one of the men observed that it was in the wrong position and called to the man in charge of the bogie to stop, but others called at the same time to let him go on, and in consequence the bogie was allowed to run, and on reaching the switch was upset, and the men thrown off; deceased had attempted to get off, and his foot having been caught by the wheel the bogie ran over his thigh and broke it, and injured him so severely as to cause his death in almost three-quarters of an hour"

Brown, Robert, 1840, aged 11, by a rolley [approximate date]

Carr, Robert, 08 Jan 1898, aged 45, Deputy, They were drawing a jud, when a large stone 20 feet long by feet wide by 18 inches thick fell away at a slip in the roof, and killed them both. The slip was not visible before the stone fell [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 10 Jan 1898 pg 3; inquest - 11 Jan 1898 pg 2] [More information ...]

Catherine, Richard, 28 Feb 1894, 8:35 a.m., 3rd hour of shift, aged 63, Waggon Wright, While crossing the branches with some timber he was run over by a locomotive engine.

Cattermole, George, 30 Oct 1872, aged 30, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Chevy, Robert, 02 Mar 1859, aged 19, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Clark, Thomas, 29 Sep 1902, aged 60, Hewer, alleged to have died from an injury received while working in the mine by a fall of stone, but post-mortem examination proved that this was not so, and that he died from an injury he received by falling over some disused coal depots by a roadside

Clish, John, 17 May 1889, aged 59, Shifter, died suddenly in the pit, supposed from injuries to his head and brain by a blow from wedge on the 17th April last

Colledge, John George, 23 Jul 1888, (accident: 20 Jul 1888), aged 19, Run Rider, severely crushed between two tubs which ran amain, and met him in the engine landing, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Cook, George, 24 Sep 1919, aged 20, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Coulson, Isaac Morrow, 28 Jun 1924, (accident: 28 May 1924), aged 35, Incline Attendant, he was looking after the coal sets when he slipped and fell while trying to get on a wagon, and was run over; he died in Sunderland Royal Infirmary on 28 June, Buried: Princess Road Cemetery, Seaham

Coulson, John, 23 Sep 1880, aged 53, Deputy, heavy fall of stone which came over the standing chocks while drawing timber in a broken jud

Coulthard, Benjamin, 20 Dec 1916, aged 21, Belt Worker, While working at bank he was caught and crushed between two moving trucks on the waggonway. It was foggy and icy at the time, and it was thought that he had been putting salt on the rails. He suffered compound fractures of his left arm and right leg, loss of blood, and shock. He died before he could be taken to hospital

Coxon, Thomas Heckler, 15 Feb 1906, aged 24, Hewer, When walking inbye be bumped his head against the side of the road, and by doing so dislocated his spine. It was at first thought he had died from natural causes., Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Crangle, John Thomas, 19 Apr 1904, aged 33, Deputy, whilst drawing the innermost of the last three props in a jud, a large fall of stone occurred and killed him

Crowder, John, 21 Dec 1900, aged 34, Platelayer, While working on the railway at a self-acting incline he was run over by some trucks and so severely injured that he afterwards died in Sunderland Infirmary. The place where he was killed is some distance from the colliery.

Cummin, John, 01 Mar 1866, aged 37, Gas Maker, explosion of gas at a refiner, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Cummings, Thomas, 12 May 1875, aged 15, Screener, crushed by a truck under screens

Curley, Hugh, 29 Jan 1944, aged 32, killed by a fall of stone, left a wife and five children

Curry, Reuben, 11 Mar 1906, (accident: 19 Jun 1905), aged 16, Driver, When sitting on the limbers driving his pony, the limbers broke, and he, falling in front of the tubs, had his back broken. He died 11th March, 1906.

Dale, Maurice, 29 Apr 1843, aged 29, Deputy Overman, explosion [More information ...]

Davies, Edward, 14 Aug 1914, aged 14, Driver, deceased was missing, but his pony, coupled to one full tub, stood in the flat; when the tub was moved deceased fell from the side on to the rails behind it; he was dead, his neck being broken; the pony had only moved a few yards; evidently he had fallen off the limbers shortly after the tub started, or was trying to get on to the limbers when the pony was in motion [More information ...]

Davison, John W., 29 May 1877, aged 12, Wagon Greaser, run over by a three ton waggon while lowering it down to screens [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 30 May 1877 pg 2 col 6]

Dawson, William, 10 Sep 1945, aged 47, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Defty, George, 10 Mar 1853, (accident: 08 Mar 1853), aged 39, propping a stone in the roof of the North Pit, when the stone fell on his back and crushed him [The Durham Chronicle - 18/03/1853]

Dickinson, Robert, 26 Sep 1860, aged 34, Hewer, crushed in shaft by cage

Dixon, Henry, 17 Jan 1854, aged 10, Wailer, he was run over and killed by a coal waggon near the screens

Dunn, Thomas, 27 Sep 1850, aged 40, Pitman, while attempting to get on a train of waggons pitman he slipped and fell between them; they passed over his legs, causing severe injuries his left leg was cut off above the ankle, and his right leg above the knee; жhe did not live more than a few minutes after being taken homeЖ

Dunn, William, 01 Jun 1859, aged 13, Greaser, crushed by set of tubs in self acting plane

Elgey, Edward, 30 Apr 1937, (accident: 09 Dec 1936), aged 32, Cutter, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Easington Lane Cemetery

Elliott, Joseph, 20 Dec 1839, Deputy Overman

Elliott, Walter, 21 Apr 1853, aged 4, he was playing жupon the boxes and spouts used for conveying hot water from the boilers at South Hetton Colliery to the engine pondЖ, when he accidentally fell into the spout and was severely scalded, he died the same day

Evans, David, 05 Feb 1952, aged 58, Buried: Easington Lane Cemetery

Fisher, George, 27 Oct 1848, aged 11, Driver, he was run over by two rolleys which he had been taking to the South Hetton shaft

Fisher, L., 17 May 1942, aged 51, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone

Forrester, D., 31 Dec 1945, (accident: 09 Nov 1935), aged 66, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone

Giles, William A. A., 05 Jun 1941, aged 25, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Gleason, Cornelius Alexander, 27 Feb 1874, aged 22, Stoneman, fell from a scaffold in a staple, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Graham, John, 20 Mar 1936, aged 35, Cutter, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Gray, Henry, 22 Jan 1921, (accident: 10 Jun 1916), aged 40, Deputy, killed by a fall of stone

Hall, Daniel, 24 Sep 1913, (accident: 17 Sep 1913), aged 21, Putter, deceased was casting coals back from the face in a longwall working in the Low Main Seam, when a heavy fall of bastard post roof occurred over an area of about 9 feet by 4 feet, and about 1 foot thick; three posts were reeled by the fall, the edge of which struck deceased in the lower part of the back, and caused severe internal injuries from which he died on the 24th of the same month [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 26 Sep 1913 pg 8 col 7]

Hall, N., 28 Jan 1928, (accident: 20 Jan 1928), aged 15, Driver, struck by tubs, died from injuries received

Henderson, Francis, 03 Jul 1878, aged 46, Joiner, while engaged in repairing a "drop" in the pit he took the full tub out at the bottom, then stepped into the empty cage, when it started by some unaccountable means, and crushed him between the cage hoop and flat sheets [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: inquest - 06 Jul 1878 pg 3 col 1]

Heslop, Charles, 06 Sep 1948, aged 18, Buried: Easington Lane Cemetery

Hilton, Matthew, 07 Nov 1923, aged 64, Wasteman, killed by a fall of stone

Hodgson, W., 19 Dec 1934, aged 45, Stoneman, caught by tubs

Holmes, James, 06 Jun 1933, (accident: 28 Jul 1932), aged 66, Wasteman, struck by shovel handle

Howlett, John, 24 Jul 1912, [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 24 Jul 1912 pg 3 col 1]

Hudson, Robert, 01 Aug 1912, aged 39, Deputy, while he was in a stooping position, nailing the last length of plates, a slab of gravelly post fell and completely covered him and dislocated his neck; a hewer who was assisting him also had a narrow escape; the stone had a maximum thickness of 7½ inches, and thinned out on all sides; it broke off next the props on each side and extended nearly to the coal face [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 01 Aug 1912 pg 4 col 2; inquest - 03 Aug 1912 pg 3 col 4]

Hughes, James Martin, 10 Apr 1933, aged 33, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Hughes, John William, 22 Dec 1925, aged 50, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone

Hunter, William, 09 Apr 1851, he was riding to work with several men in a coal waggon to Dutton Colliery, South Hetton, and as he was getting out, fell, and a waggon passed over his thigh and body; he died within 10 minutes of the accident occurring

Hunter, William, 25 Jul 1890, aged 44, Stoneman, while engaged at stonework on rolleyway he fell and suddenly died from heart disease [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a colliery accident]

Hutchinson, William E., 18 Jan 1901, (accident: 02 Jun 1900), aged 16, Driver, alleged to have died from effects of injury received on June 2nd, 1900, by being crushed between tubs; post mortem showed that death was due to natural causes

Ingram, John, 03 Sep 1913, aged 17, Engine-plane Attendant, deceased started to walk outbye along the engine plane at the end of his shift; he was found at a point about two-thirds of the way to the shaft, lying badly injured, on the travelling space at the side of the road; he was able to say that he had lost his light and was run into by the set; at the place he was found there was ample space (nearly 6 feet) at the side of the road, and, although no direct evidence can be obtained, all the facts point very strongly to his having ridden on the set contrary to the rules; he died about eight hours later the same day

Johnson, Harry, Nov 1980, aged 60, killed in a face conveyor accident in the Five Quarter Staple district (High Main)

Kennedy, William Henry, 14 Jan 1909, aged 24, Locomotive Fireman, he was caught between the locomotive and a waggon when about to couple them together [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 14 Jan 1909]

Knox, George, 24 Apr 1857, (accident: 06 Apr 1857), Driver, he hadnЖt fastened the limmers with a cottrel and was thrown down

Lamb, Clement, Jun 1835, aged 11, killed by a rolley [Sunderland Herald reports: accident - 13 Jun 1835 pg 2 col 7]

Lamb, William, 11 Oct 1928, aged 14, Driver, crushed [More information ...]

Longstaff, Cornelius Alexander Gleason, 27 Feb 1874, aged 22, Stoneman, fell from a scaffold in a staple [surname may be Gleason], Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Longstaff, Robert, 20 Dec 1877, aged 17, Putter, ran into west way while set was coming out, instead of waiting in refuge stall with the other boys - as ordered by the rolleyway man

Luccock, Thomas, 05 Nov 1902, aged 17, Putter, in attempting to get past a tub to his pony it is supposed he stumbled and seized hold of the limbers, causing the pony to move away ; he was dragged and fatally crushed between the tub and the timber at the side of the road

Luke, Samuel, 21 Feb 1942, aged 58, Stoneman, Buried: Parish Burial Ground, Shotton Colliery

Makepeace, John George, 12 Oct 1877, aged 22, Waggonman, fell between waggons and was run over while uncoupling them, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

March, Joseph, 1941, aged 29, killed by coal cutting machine

Mason, Edward, 26 Jun 1891, aged 9, [Not Employed], trespassing on railway branches he fell from some trucks and was run over

McCaughey, James, 19 Feb 1894, 8:40 p.m., 3rd hour of shift, aged 16, Driver, Crushed by tubs and neck dislocated. He was coming down an incline without drags.

McDade, Joseph, 17 Jan 1889, aged 27, Joiner, while examining the incline wheel underground on a branch railway the brakesman started without giving notice and he was crushed between the wheel and the framework

Milburn, Robert, 04 Jan 1864, aged 31, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Millington, E. L., 18 Aug 1890, (accident: 16 Aug 1890), aged 19, Putter, internal injuries; pony limbers fell off and he was thrown before a tub and crushed

Monk, James Barker, 24 Apr 1918, aged 17, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Monk, Thomas, 28 Nov 1923, (accident: 13 Aug 1923), aged 20, Putter, crushed by tubs

Moore, William, 16 Mar 1859, aged 12, Greaser, set of tubs in self acting plane

Morrow, Stanley Mayhew, 05 Mar 1935, aged 32, Drawer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Murray, Robert, 12 Mar 1861, aged 18, Coupler, crushed by tubs in engine plane

Newton, James, 14 Jan 1846, aged 14, Driver, was taking two laden waggons drawn by his horse towards the shaft, when he was thrown onto the way after "having imprudently taken out the cottrel by which the limmers are attached to the waggons." One of the wheels passed over his chest, causing severe injuries from which he died soon afterwards

Nicholson, J. W., 11 Jul 1890, aged 19, Putter, fell off screens, where he had no business, and was run over by a set of waggons (trespassing after work) [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 12 Jul 1890 pg 3 col 3]

Nicholson, John, 12 Mar 1845, aged 10, Trapper, Run over by waggons [More information ...]

Noble, William, 29 Apr 1843, explosion [More information ...]

Palmer, John, 31 Jan 1888, aged 14, Driver, head crushed between a tub and a balk of wood while he was unhooking a pony from another tub, a thing he had no right to do

Patton, James, 29 Sep 1913, aged 32, Hewer, whilst deceased was in his working place a fall of roof, 10 tons, came away and killed him; the fall was due to three glassy slips, which could be seen after the accident, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Patton, Thomas, 30 Jul 1936, (accident: 29 Jul 1936), aged 58, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Paul, John, 28 Sep 1866, aged 15, Driver, crushed by tubs

Pearson, Joseph, 16 Jan 1884, aged 22, Railway Guard, run over by waggons while holding a switch on railway [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a colliery accident]

Pierce, William, 11 Feb 1890, aged 44, Hewer, by violating the Special Rules he got into a descending cage and was crushed to death [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 15 Feb pg 3 col 1], Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton [More information ...]

Plumpton, David, 10 Apr 1878, aged 14, Driver, two tubs uncoupled and ran down an incline and crushing deceased who had left refuge stall contrary to orders after the set had left him

Poole, D. Pearson, 04 Sep 1907, aged 58

Poole, Dickenson Pearson, 10 Jan 1908, (accident: 04 Sep 1907), aged 58, Shifter, A fall of stone knocked him down and broke two of his ribs. He resumed work on 21st October, 1907, and continued at work for 9 shifts, when he was found to be strange in his manner, He was taken to the Asylum on 4th November, 1907, and died there on 10th January, 1908 [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 21 Feb 1908]

Preston, John, 07 Sep 1898, aged 72, Wasteman, neck broken by a fall of stone from the roof while engaged clearing away a fall in the return airway; the size of the stone was 6 feet by 3 feet by 3 inches thick

Preston, Samuel, 02 Sep 1875, aged 19, Putter, crushed by tub

Purdy, John, 01 Dec 1893, 10:45 a.m., 5th hour of shift, aged 34, Traffic Manager, While attempting to sprag some waggons on an incline, the sprag flew out, striking him on the head, and dislocating his neck.

Reay, John, 13 Feb 1887, (accident: 07 Feb 1887), aged 59, Stoneman, severely crushed by a fall of stone while drawing a prop and plank to repair road

Reed, William, 05 Mar 1846, aged 45, An inquest was held on 5 March into the death of 45 year old William Reed, who was crushed to death by a large fall of stone at the Isabella Pit, South Hetton [date of inquest]

Richardson, F., 05 May 1946, (accident: 19 Sep 1908), aged 70, Hewer, died from injuries received

Richardson, T. H., 23 May 1940, aged 39, Drawer, killed by a fall of stone

Robinson, Henry, 22 Nov 1921, aged 48, Hewer, tubs amain

Robinson, James, 29 Apr 1843, explosion [More information ...]

Robinson, Thomas, 12 Aug 1859, aged 11, Door Keeper, crushed by train in engine plane

Robinson, Thomas, 29 Jan 1866, aged 27, Fireman, boiler explosion

Robinson, William, 06 May 1859, aged 25, Branch Driver, crushed by surface waggon

Rookes, Reuben, 15 Dec 1931, (accident: 14 Dec 1931), aged 41, Filler, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Routledge, Thomas, 29 Jan 1869, aged 28, Hewer, explosion of fire damp

Rowe, Alfred John, 07 Jan 1915, aged 53, [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 09 Jan 1915 pg 5 col 1; inquest - 04 Feb 1915 pg 6 col 5], Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Scott, James, 08 Oct 1886, aged 35, Deputy, fall of stone while drawing a chock out of a jud

Scurfield, Thomas, 27 Jan 1906, aged 45, Shaftman, When assisting to change a cage he, in trying to get a better foothold, slipped into the shaft, and, falling 18 fathoms, was killed. [More information ...]

Short, Alexander, 08 Jan 1898, aged 38, Deputy, They were drawing a jud, when a large stone 20 feet long by feet wide by 18 inches thick fell away at a slip in the roof, and killed them both. The slip was not visible before the stone fell [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 10 Jan 1898 pg 3; inquest - 11 Jan 1898 pg 2], Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton [More information ...]

Silcock, Frederick, 13 Feb 1879, aged 32, Collier, heavy fall of top coal over chocks and props in a broken jud [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 14 Feb 1879 pg 4 col 2]

Simpson, William, 28 Mar 1916, (accident: 22 Jul 1913), aged 53, Engine Driver, slipped into the pit beneath the engine and strained himself [More information ...]

Skeen, Andrew, 10 Oct 1879, aged 48, Deputy, fall of stone while drawing a jud ; he had got the middle chock out when the roof suddenly fell

Smithson, George, 28 Jul 1847, aged 29, Screenman, George Smithson, a 29 year old screenman, was run over on 28 July by two waggons going down the incline from South Hetton to Murton Pit. It was conjectured Smithson had been intoxicated and laid down on the railway and fallen asleep.

Soppitt, Benjamin Pringle, 06 Sep 1953, aged 44, Buried: Hetton-le-Hole Cemetery

Sowerby, John, 03 Apr 1858, aged 11, Wailer, crushed by apparatus cage on surface

Spooner, William, 06 Jul 1920, aged 32, killed by a fall of stone

Stephenson, Robert, 24 Jul 1912, [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 24 Jul 1912 pg 3 col 1]

Steward, John William, 25 May 1906, aged 16, Tracer, He was leaning over the first tub of a set standing on an inclined road to take out a "cow," when the set ran amain and over him, and caused injuries from which he died the same day. The road dips 3 inches per yard, and when the set is run in by the main rope a mooring chain is coupled to the tub couplings to allow of the main rope being detached. In this case the hook of the mooring chain for some unexplained reason slipped off the tub coupling and the set then ran amain. [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 29 May 1906 pg 3], Buried: St. Saviour's Churchyard, Shotton Colliery

Stewart, G. P., 12 Jan 1949, (accident: 18 Sep 1946), aged 53, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Stoker, John, 26 Jan 1874, aged 70, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone

Stott, William A., 20 Jun 1924, aged 19, Cutter, killed by a fall of stone

Stout, Thomas William, 03 Aug 1900, (accident: 20 Feb 1900), aged 39, Gatewayman, While filling away top stone which had been taken down, another piece fell out at a coal pipe, severely injuring his back and causing paralysis of feet and bladder. Died August 3rd.

Tate, Kenneth, 07 Feb 1945, aged 19, Apprentice Electrician, killed by a fall of stone in the five quarter seam, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton

Thompson, John, 30 Jun 1866, aged 58, Shifter, killed by a fall of stone

Thompson, Robert, 1840, aged 27, Pitman, jammed between a tub and plank [approximate date]

Todd, William, 08 May 1884, (accident: 30 Apr 1884), aged 69, Shifter, severely crushed by a fall of stone while preparing to put in a balk of timber on the rolleyway

Veal, James O., 25 Jul 1874, aged 17, Smiths Apprentice, knocked out of cage while ascending with a tram plate

Veal, Samuel, 07 Feb 1881, (accident: 26 Jan 1881), aged 57, Banksman, leg broken, and otherwise crushed about body, by brakesman starting the cage while he was taking side chains off [More information ...]

Waters, Henry, 12 Feb 1918, [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 12 Feb 1918 pg 4 col 3]

Waters, W. C., 17 Dec 1927, aged 14, Driver, crushed

Watson, James, 13 Feb 1857, he was leaving work at South Hetton Pit when he ran in front of a set of 14 tubs descending a self-acting incline, and was killed

Watson, William, 12 Mar 1845, aged 11, Trapper, Run over by waggons [More information ...]

Webster, Christopher, 29 Jan 1869, aged 24, Deputy, explosion of fire damp

West, Joseph, 04 Jul 1900, aged 45, Timber unloader at shaft bottom, He was standing on the top of the gate bars at the Main Coal Seam, hanging-on, when the cage moved and he took hold of a chain which was round some timber on the cage top and was carried up against the shaft timbering, and this caused him to fall back on to the gate bars and the blow killed him. [More information ...]

White, James, 07 Feb 1867, aged 12, Wailer, crushed by small coal apparatus tub; he ought not to have been in the hole

White, John, 07 Nov 1863, aged 38, Hewer, crushed by tub in self acting plane

Wilde, Jonty, 1979, killed in a haulage accident in the Five Quarter West district (High Main)

Williams, Watkin, 04 Apr 1887, aged 33, Hewer, fall of top stone while working in face of his bord; he had not propped the band stone

Williamson, Thomas, 18 Jun 1901, aged 45, Blacksmith, while punching holes in the angle irons at the top of the new apparatus the scaffold on which he was sitting broke and he fell on to railway branches, a height of 41 feet, causing such injuries that he died at the Sunderland Infirmary five hours afterwards [More information ...]

Wilson, Edward, 25 Dec 1877, aged 33, Changer and Graither, while working in the back shaft he thoughtlessly put his head through a hole in the brattice to look into fore pit, when the cage came up and caught him

Wilson, James, 17 Feb 1882, aged 17, Blacksmith, was said to have received an injury to his side while repairing a tub; he, however, died from "Bright's disease" on the 27th December last

Wood, Benjamin, 23 Feb 1871, aged 15, Engine Plane Boy, crushed by tubs

Woolley, James, 18 Mar 1899, aged 23, Washman, While engaged cleaning the flue way from some Babcock boilers in the Low Main Seam he fell down a staple to the Hutton Seam, a distance of 30 yards, and was instantly killed [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 18 Mar 1899 pg 4] [More information ...]

Woolley, Joseph W., 01 Mar 1906, (accident: 27 Feb 1906), aged 35, Stoneman, He was sent by the shot-firer to guard one entrance to a place where two shots were to be fired. He returned to the place just as the second shot was exploded, and was severely injured. He died two days afterwards. [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 02 Mar 1906 pg 3] [More information ...]

Young, William, 09 Jan 1873, aged 16, Charge of Incline, struck by prop whilst riding in set