St. Helen's Colliery

Location:

St. Helen's Auckland
11 miles [17 km] SSW of Durham

Map Ref:

(Sheet 92) NZ196270, 54° 38' 15" N, 1° 41' 47" W

Maps:

1898 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide

1928 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide

Opened:

1831

Closed:

31 Dec 1926

Pits:

Catherine Pit, locn: (Sheet 92) NZ189273, opened: 1835, sinking: 26 Mar 1835

Shaft details for Catherine Pit

Emma Pit, locn: (Sheet 92) NZ194144, sinking: Oct 1831

Shaft details for Emma Pit

Engine Pit, locn: (Sheet 93) NZ203271, sinking: 24 Mar 1830

Shaft details for Engine Pit

Tindale Pit

Owners:

1850's - Joseph Pease, Joseph Whitwell Pease, & Joseph Pease & Co.

1860's - Joseph Pease & Partners

Output:

1873 - Coal.

1888 - Coal.

1896 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.

1902 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.

1914 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.

1921 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing.

1923 - Coal: Coking, Household, Steam.

1923 - Hutton Seam Drift - Coal: Coking, Household, Steam.

1924 - Coal: Coking, Household, Steam.

1924 - Hutton Seam Drift - Coal: Coking, Steam.

1925 - Coal: Gas, Household.

1925 - Hutton Seam Drift - Coal: Coking, Steam.

Employment:

Year	Pit	Total	Below	Above
1854		Working
1896		386	301	85
1902		399	303	96
1914		696	508	188
1921		605	466	139
1923		652	503	149
1923	Hutton Seam Drift	43	33	10
	Total	695	536	159
1924		667	519	148
1924	Hutton Seam Drift	38	35	3
	Total	705	554	151
1925		168	117	51
1925	Hutton Seam Drift	Closed 07/24
	Total	168	117	51

Colliery Management (prior to 1955)

Seams Worked:

1894 - Brockwell, Harvey

1914 - Brockwell, Busty, Harvey, Hutton, Low Main

1921 - Brockwell, Busty, Harvey, Hutton, Low Main

1923 - Busty, Harvey

1923 - Hutton Seam Drift - Hutton

1924 - Harvey, Shaft Busty

1924 - Hutton Seam Drift - Hutton

1925 - Harvey

1925 - Hutton Seam Drift - Hutton [Closed 07/24]

Catalogue of plans of abandoned mines for St. Helen's Colliery

Notes:

1828 - A series of borings was started on Sir P. Musgrave's estate, near Saint Helen's Auckland, from surface, proving the Main Coal or Brockwell Seam.

1830, Mar 24 - Commenced to sink the Engine Pit at Saint Helen's Auckland Colliery from surface to the Brockwell Seam.

1831 - Sunk the Emma Pit, Saint Helen's Auckland Colliery, from the surface to the Yard Coal or Harvey Seam.

1835, Mar 26 - Commenced to sink the Catherine Pit, St. Helen's Colliery, Auckland, from the surface to the Main Coal or Brockwell Seam.

1847 - A series of boring operations from the surface was in progress in the neighbourhood of St. Helen's, Auckland, and on Burnhope estate.

1858 - Sunk a staple in the Engine Pit, St. Helen's, Auckland, Colliery, below the thill of the Brockwell Seam.

Miscellaneous Notes and Incidents for St. Helen's Colliery

Description

The colliery of St. Helen's Auckland is one of those which would never have been called into existence, but for the formation of the Darlington and Stockton Railway. It is said that when the estate passed from the Milbanke family to the Musgraves, the coal was not valued. It is now the property of Sir George Musgrave, Bart., and a portion of the royalty belongs to Sir T. J. Clavering, Bart., and the Rev. Matthew Chester. The sinking was commenced by Joseph Pease, Esq., (late M. P. for South Durham), and Partners, in February, 1830; and after passing through eleven small seams, one 3 feet 9 inches thick was come to in January, 1831. The Main Coal seam, from 5 feet 6 inches to 6 feet thick, was sunk down to in March, 1833. The engine pit is 80 fathoms deep; and the engine is of 100 horse power. The drawing engine is a high pressure of 50 horse power. The distance of this colliery from the shipping place on the Tees is 26¼ miles; and to facilitate the transmission, 533 coal waggons are used. The coals were formerly mostly shipped for London and coastwise; but latterly a considerable quantity have been sent foreign. A large depot trade is also carried on, by which the coals are sent as far south as York; and the coke manufactured here is used by most of the railways for 60 miles south.

Views of the Collieries (1844)

Coal is extensively worked in this neighbourhood, and there are two collieries situated in this township [St. Helen's Auckland] – the St. Helen's, carried on for many years by Joseph Pease & Partners, comprising two pits, namely, the Engine pit, working the Brockwell seam, 6 ft. thick, at a depth of 81 fathoms 2ft., and rising 20 in. per yard.; and the Tindale pit, at which is worked the Harvey seam, of 4 ft. 10 in., at the depth of 40 fathoms 1 ft. 6 in. The average annual output is 120,000 tons. There are 65 coke ovens, and the total number employed is 352. The other is the West Auckland Colliery, worked by Bolckow, Vaughan & Co. Ltd. Here are also two pits – one to the Harvey seam, 3 ft. 6 in. at the depth of 16 fathoms, and one to the Brockwell, varying from 5 ft. to 6 ft. 6 in. at 56 fathoms ; and the Busty, 4 ft. 4 in., is worked from the same level. There are 116 coke ovens, the coals for which are washed by machinery. A Guibal fan, 30 ft. in diameter, ventilates these pits whose output is 240,000 tons per annum. The average number employed is 620.

Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham

Disasters (5 or more killed)

None Found

Names of those killed at this colliery

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

						Adamson, John, 19 Jul 1870, aged 47, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone
						Atkinson, James, 12 Apr 1898, aged 15, Driver, he was sitting at the bottom of an incline when the tub, by some means, came amain and crushed him to death
						Atkinson, John, 21 Aug 1898, aged 30, Sinker, Shots were being fired in a sinking pit, and as soon as the fuzes were lighted an explosion of gas occurred and killed these two men., Buried: West Auckland Cemetery [More information ...]
						Bird, John, 19 Mar 1907, aged 70, Labourer, he was blown by the wind off a gantry, and, falling 19 feet, was fatally injured; he fell beneath the fence rail of the gantry
						Bradley, John, 13 Jan 1863, aged 48, Keeker, fell off erections
						Briggs, George, 22 Apr 1887, aged 46, Fitter, severe sprain while at work, died from inflammation of the bowels
						Calvert, Ralph Smith, 22 Apr 1848, shaft rope broke [More information ...]
						Close, Henry, 24 Nov 1848, struck by cage; left a widow and six children [More information ...]
						Collins, James, 09 Apr 1872, aged 36, Hewer, removed a prop, stone fell on him
						Dixon, Jonathan, 14 Nov 1832, fell down shaft [More information ...]
						Dowson, Chris B., 11 Aug 1921, (accident: 09 Aug 1921), aged 15, Landing Lad, died from injuries received
						Edwards, Ernest, 15 Aug 1912, (accident: 14 Aug 1912), aged 19, Putter, killed by a fall of stone
						Forster, Joseph, 05 Apr 1900, aged 49, Stoneman, Engaged with others breaking a large stone which had fallen, when it unexpectedly broke and, falling over, crushed deceased against a tub and killed him.
						Gardner, William, 29 Jun 1882, aged 23, Hewer, fall of stone while working in a broken jud
						Heslop, Henry, 02 Feb 1912, aged 16, Hanger-on, he was improperly and illegally riding on the chain at the front end of a set of four tubs which were being hauled up an incline by an electric hauler, when he slipped off and was crushed between a tub and a rope drum, Buried: South Church Cemetery
						Hodgson, Alfred, 24 Mar 1906, (accident: 17 Mar 1906), aged 26, Coke-burner, Hurt himself in some way whilst at work, probably by assisting to lift a tub on the way. He died in hospital a week later from strangulation of the bowel.
						Houlder, Charles, 21 Jan 1868, aged 22, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone
						Hutchinson, Joseph, 16 Jul 1908, aged 26, Hewer [More information ...]
						Jackson, Whitfeld, 07 Jan 1913, aged 15, Waggon Ticketer, there was no rule as to where the deceased had to put tickets on to the wagons, but usually it was done in the sidings near the weigh cabin; he was found crushed between a full wagon of nuts and the retaining wall of an old coke bench, having apparently fallen into the space whilst attempting to do his work; it was not a proper place for a boy to work. and the manager stopped it after the accident, Buried: West Auckland Cemetery
						James, William, 11 Oct 1854, aged 12, fell between two railway waggons and two passed over him. [The Durham County Advertiser - 20/10/1854]
						Labron, Henry, 27 May 1919
						Lamb, Bartholomew, 25 Nov 1901, (accident: 12 Nov 1901), aged 66, Cartman, he was standing on a spoke of a cart wheel to get something out of the cart when he slipped and scratched his leg; blood-poisoning set and caused his death on November 25th
						Laycock, William, 18 Jun 1857, Hewer, he was killed when жa ton of coal and five hundredweight of stone fell on him,Ж in the board where he was working. He was taken home and died an hour later
						Martin, William, 10 Sep 1888, aged 50, Hewer, died from natural causes while at his work; ventilation all right
						Morgan, George, 04 Jan 1885, aged 68, Engineman, scalded on hands and face by falling asleep and engine primed hot water from the condenser onto him
						Mundell, James Simpson, 05 Oct 1899, aged 51, Shaftman, He was riding up the shaft, with some iron pipes on the cage top, when the ends caught a bunton and this threw him off the cage, and he fell a distance of 120 yards., Buried: West Auckland Cemetery
						Musgrave, Thomas, 09 May 1872, aged 15, Putter, killed by a fall of stone
						Pearson, John, 02 May 1863, aged 42, Graither, burnt by explosion of gas in staple [More information ...]
						Pollard, Benjamin, 11 Jan 1859, aged 43, Hewer, fall of coal while kirving
						Richardson, Anthony, 11 Apr 1853, aged 54, he was too hasty in getting out of a moving cage [More information ...]
						Richardson, John Harrison, 21 Aug 1898, aged 52, Sinker, Shots were being fired in a sinking pit, and as soon as the fuzes were lighted an explosion of gas occurred and killed these two men., Buried: West Auckland Cemetery [More information ...]
						Robinson, Nathan, 15 Jun 1864, aged 22, Fireman, scalded or drowned in delivery drift
						Scott, William, 31 Jan 1899, aged 18, Screen Engineman, He was leaning on the fencing of a belt wheel and was caught by the belt and killed.
						Simpson, John, 02 Apr 1923, (accident: 24 Mar 1923), aged 41, Hewer, died from injuries received
						Smith, Jacob, 15 Jun 1895, 5:30 a.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 14, Driver, fall of stone in station as he was entering with an empty set of tubs
						Snowdon, John, 22 Feb 1837, Putter, fell down shaft
						Taylor, William, 13 Aug 1899, (accident: 12 Aug 1899), aged 35, Deputy, Altering a pair of gears when the stone fell away and caught him on the back, injuring him on the spine. Died the following day., Buried: West Auckland Cemetery
						Whitfield, George, 18 Mar 1862, Hewer, killed by a fall of coal
						Wilson, Luke, 16 Jul 1912, (accident: 21 Jun 1912), aged 16, Pony Driver, another driver left the landing with a pony and empty set and turned along a road to the right which dipped slightly outbye; deceased followed with his pony and empty set intending to take a road to the left, but, for some unknown reason, the limbers of the first pony became detached from the set, with the result that the tubs ran back and caught deceased as he was passing the road end; he died in hospital on July 16th; a cotter is now used to secure the pin connecting the limbers to the tubs where the gradient requires it

						39 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 The Wheatley Hill History Club and are marked with .

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

Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)

a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of St. Helen's Colliery

list of collieries/pits etc. near to St. Helen's 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
1859 Mines Inspectors Report
1862 Mines Inspectors Report
1863 Mines Inspectors Report
1864 Mines Inspectors Report
1868 Mines Inspectors Report
1869 List of Mines
1870 Mines Inspectors Report (C 124)
1872 Mines Inspectors Report (C 840)
1873-4 List of Mines
1880 List of Mines
1881 Mines Inspectors Annual Report
1882 Mines Inspectors Report (C 3621)
1884 List of Mines
1885 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4760)
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
1888 Mines Inspectors Report (C 5779), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, 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
1895 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8074), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, 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
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
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
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
1907 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 4045), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines
1908 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 4672)
1909 List of Mines - from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
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
1913 Mines Inspectors Report
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
1923 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1924 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1925 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, Volume S-T, published by the North of England Institute of Mining & Mechanical Engineers, 1894
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.
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 St. Helen's Colliery



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