South Tanfield Colliery

1837 - The Main Coal was reached at South Tanfield Colliery.

1837, Jul 10 - The main coal seam at South Tanfield, 5 feet 8 inches in thickness, was won, and much rejoicing took place in consequence.

1838 - The Kyo or South Tanfield Colliery was sunk from the surface to the Five-Quarter Seam.

1839 - South Tanfield Colliery was sunk below the Five Quarter to the Brass Thill Seam.

1870 - Commenced to sink from the surface the C Pit, South Tanfield Colliery ; reached the Main Coal or Hutton Seam on 22 July, 1871.

1912 - Tilley, Top and Bottom Busty, Brockwell Bottom Busty seams abandoned

1915 - Beaumont, Brass Thill, Five Quarter, Hutton (including bottom section), main Coal, Shield Row seams abandoned

Ashburn, George, 28 Nov 1892, 3:00 p.m., 9th hour of shift, aged 14, Driver, Driving down a slight incline the pony stumbled, and the limmers catching a prop, it was knocked out, and some of the roof fell on the lad [Inspection made & inquest attended]

Bainbridge, Robert, 10 Jan 1879, aged 16, Putter, neck dislocated while overturning a tub

Beatham, James, 01 Jul 1875, aged 25, Stoneman, explosion of gunpowder, Chester Ward Coroner's Inquest, place: East Kyo, cause: blasting coal in South Tanfield Colliery (DRO Ref: COR/C/2/321)

Bell, Hugh, 31 Nov 1874, aged 20, Chock Drawer, Chester Ward Coroner's Inquest, place: West Kyo, cause: fall of stone Shield Row seam, Tanfield Colliery (DRO Ref: COR/C/2/150)

Brown, John Robinson, 15 Oct 1912, aged 25, Stoneman, the shot firer allowed deceased, contrary to the Explosives Order, to couple up the detonator wires, and mistaking the signal given, fired the shot whilst Brown was still close to the hole

Buckingham, William, 11 Mar 1887, aged 21, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Caulfield, John, 07 Sep 1908, aged 46, Hewer, supposed to have received injury to head by coming in contact with timber

Clark, J. W., 27 Nov 1876, aged 15, Driver, crushed by tubs

Clayton, George, 04 Aug 1898, aged 36, Hewer, Deceased bad been working in a "broken jud," when a stone fell and canted some timber out [Inquest attended]

Davison, Thomas, 22 May 1880, aged 27, Sinker, fell out of kibble

Dodds, Joseph, 24 Apr 1899, (accident: 19 Nov 1897), aged 46, Shifter, He was injured by a fall of roof at South Tanfield Colliery, Co. Durham, on 19th November 1897, succumbed to his injuries on 24th April of this year. As more than a year and a day had elapsed since the accident occurred, it has not been entered in the usual list [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a colliery accident]

Gardner, John, 19 Dec 1894, 3:30 p.m., 6th hour of shift, aged 24, Hewer, he was injured by a fall of stone, having neglected to set a prop, and died within a year afterwards

Handcock, James, 29 Aug 1879, aged 37, Hewer, killed by a fall of coal and band

Heron, John, 01 Nov 1873, (accident: 06 Oct 1873), aged 36, Hewer, killed by a fall of coal

Heslop, George, 20 Feb 1905, aged 18, Hewer, Buried: St. Andrew's Churchyard, Stanley [More information ...]

Lowson, William, 16 Jul 1900, aged 43, Hewer, The deceased was hewing in a "broken jud" six yards wide, when a fall took place from slips and canted out two props. The place was considered to be well timbered and the deputy had just left it. [Inspection made & inquest attended]

McKie, James, 21 Jun 1893, 8:00 a.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 18, Driver, When riding on the limmers, the deceased's pony fell, and deceased's leg was severely crushed between the tub and the limmers. The road being on an incline, he should not have been riding on limmers [Inquest attended]

Newall, Robert, 01 Apr 1875, aged 16, Assistant Onsetter, tubs fell on him in the cage hole, Chester Ward Coroner's Inquest, place: West Kyo, cause: killed in shaft of South Tanfield Colliery (DRO Ref: COR/C/2/224)

Parkin, Robert, 01 Nov 1882, aged 53, Hewer, killed by a fall of coal

Platten, William, 26 Mar 1884, (accident: 19 Dec 1883), aged 44, Hewer, struck by tram plate while using it as a lever

Ransome, John, 17 Apr 1889, aged 34, Back Overman, killed by a fall of coal

Scatery, Thomas, 08 Dec 1890, aged 15, Putter, killed by a fall of stone

Sharp, William, 02 Jun 1866, aged 11, Wailer, falling off a truck

Stephenson, Joseph, 09 Dec 1897, aged 38, Deputy, On getting out of the cage at the bottom, he fell into the sump. The onsetter admitted that he had left one of the gates open, which he ought not to have done according to his instructions. Why the deceased acted as he did it is impossible to say, but it is probable that he thought he had got out of the other side of the cage, as he generally did, and, although warned by the Onsetter to stand fast, turned round to go to the opposite side of the shaft by the gangway [Inspection made & inquest attended], Buried: St. Andrew's Churchyard, Stanley

Stewart, Robert, 17 Jan 1906, aged 54, Shifter, Deceased, who often complained of pain in the region of his heart, and who usually carried medicine with him, took ill in the pit about 1.30 a.m., and died at the shaft half an hour later. He had been doing ordinary shift work, and there was no suggestion of any accident. No inquest was held.

Strong, Joseph, 08 Oct 1893, (accident: 16 Sep 1893, 3:30 p.m., 3rd hour of shift), aged 55, Shifter, Deceased was injured on the hip by a piece of ramble falling when he was sitting between two props. Died on 8th October [Inquiries made]

Taylor, John, 25 Nov 1880, aged 42, Weighman, crushed by tubs

Tuckerman, William Crap, 13 Feb 1907, aged 31, Hewer, killed by a fall of roof, Buried: St. Andrew's Churchyard, Stanley [More information ...]

Walker, Hutchinson, 16 Oct 1900, aged 17, Driver, The deceased was coming out-bye with his pony, and in passing another driver who was putting sprags into his set, knocked him down. The deceased went back to the assistance of the other driver and was caught by the tubs.