Urpeth Colliery

1742 - Boring operations from the surface were in progress on Urpeth estate.

1831 - A new pit was sunk at Urpeth Colliery by William Coulson, about 700 yds. north of the Engine Pit, and put down from the surface to the Hutton Seam.

1844 - A series of borings were in operation from the surface on Urpeth estate.

1865 - Sunk the D Pit, Urpeth Colliery, from the Hutton to the Busty Bank Seam.

1948 - Main seam abandoned

Allinson, William, 14 Jul 1922, (accident: 12 Jul 1922), aged 14, Driver, caught by set, found unconscious

Beaney, William, 14 Jul 1922, (accident: 13 Jul 1922), aged 53, Stoneman, injured lifting a full tub

Bell, P., 31 Jul 1930, aged 42, Cutter, explosion

Brennan, James, 01 Oct 1948, aged 34, Buried: Pelton Cemetery

Bussey, Thomas, 12 Mar 1900, aged 18, Putter & Hewer, While deceased and another putter were hewing in a broken working, a fall of stone took place, breaking off at a "jack" and canting several props out. The place had been a short time previously examined by the deputy, and there was plenty of spare timber close at hand. [Inspection made & inquest attended]

Chrisp, W. G., 06 Jan 1876, aged 15, Putter, crushed by a tub

Clough, J. H., 20 Mar 1924, aged 18, Rope Lad, crushed by tubs

Colman, Frederick, 29 May 1919, killed by a fall of stone

Coulson, Thomas, 24 Nov 1879, aged 13, crushed by waggons

Donkin, Robert Horn, 19 Feb 1914, aged 15, Driver, Deceased was driving two full tubs outbye on a road he was quite accustomed to, and which has a slight fall outbye. The road was well laid, quite straight, and with good height and width. Deceased was found lying under the first tub, which was derailed, with the pony standing yoked. One drag only was used, and this was in the wheel of the last tub. It is presumed that he fell off the limbers, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Pelton

Dowey, James, 12 Aug 1924, aged 29, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Everitt, W. H., 23 Mar 1928, aged 19, Driver, crushed

Forsyth, Adam A., 11 Jul 1939, aged 56, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Pelton Cemetery

Gallagher, Michael, 17 Feb 1886, aged 14, Driver, full tub passed over him

Halliday, Llewelyn, 05 Mar 1930, (accident: 03 Mar 1930), aged 49, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Pelton Cemetery

Harle, Joseph B., 21 Jun 1922, aged 59, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone

Harwood, John, 21 Jun 1922, aged 35, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone

Hawkes, Samuel, 31 Oct 1883, aged 33, Deputy, killed by a fall of stone

Henderson, Ralph, 24 Nov 1887, aged 13, Driver, crushed between tub and roof

Hind, Matthew, 16 Dec 1921, aged 15, Driver, deceased found lying between pony and tub, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Pelton

Horn, Matthew, 22 May 1882, aged 24, Brakesman, scalded by steam issuing from burst steam-jug

Langan, Michael, 23 Apr 1906, aged 49, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone from the roof in the Busty Seam of the C Pit, address: No 164A Street, East Perkinsville, left a wife and 8 children [Inquest 26 Apr 1906 at the Ship Inn, Perkinsville], Buried: St. Joseph's, Birtley [More information ...]

Logan, Robert, 16 Mar 1907, aged 16, Driver [More information ...]

Maughan, John Thomas, 19 Mar 1923, aged 20, Putter, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Pelton Cemetery

McCarton, Andrew, 21 Jan 1876, aged 23, Chock Drawer, killed by a fall of stone

McDonald, John, 28 Feb 1922, (accident: 19 Feb 1913), aged 69, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Miles, William, 11 Aug 1936, aged 56, Buried: Pelton Cemetery

Moody, George William, 18 Jul 1919, aged 44, died from injuries received on Urpeth Colliery Railway, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Pelton

Pigford, George, 10 Jan 1894, 1:00 p.m., 5th hour of shift, aged 19, Hewer, A fall of stone. It seems that the deputy overman, who also was slightly injured, had examined the place immediately before the accident, and considered it safe. The stone fell from a slippery parting [Inquest attended]

Pointon, Christopher, 11 Aug 1899, aged 28, Hewer, While heaving in a narrow working, a fall of stone took place from slips. About two hours previously the deputy considered the place quite safe, but gave instructions to set more timber when the face was advanced a certain distance. This the deceased neglected to do [Inspection made & inquest attended]

Ridley, James, 1897, aged 59, Shifter, died from a stoke while working at a hand-pump [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a colliery accident]

Ritson, Thomas, 18 Nov 1902, aged 69, Wasteman, occurred in a return air way in Busty seam ; several sets of wood had been put in at the place but the crowns having no hold at one end were canted over, when a fall 10 feet long took place ; the place was near the face and had been examined by a deputy and thought safe

Robson, Joseph Henry, 23 Sep 1919, aged 31, Assistant Engineman, he sustained injuries to his head and shoulders, and died a few minutes later. At the inquest Richard Mullen, banksman, said that at 8.30 a.m. there were two men waiting to go down to the Busty seam and also a tram of timber to get into the pit as well. Robson put the tram into the cage and was in the act of putting a chock against the wheel to keep it in position, when he was caught between the switch bar and the font side of the shaft., Buried: Ropery Lane Cemetery, Chester-le-Street

Skeen, J., 17 Feb 1939, (accident: 07 Jun 1938), aged 54, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Smith, Edwin, 04 Feb 1921, (accident: 31 Mar 1914), aged 54, Stoneman, strain

Soulsby, Henry, 30 Jul 1886, aged 18, Putter, full tub passed partly over him

Straughan, William, 06 Feb 1921, (accident: 13 Jun 1917), aged 54, Shifter, killed by a fall of stone

Tearney, Henry, 08 Mar 1889, aged 23, Assistant Banksman, crushed by the cage at the top of the shaft

Todd, Samuel, 01 Aug 1890, 7:30 a.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 15, Driver, killed while driving pony and tubs

Todd, William, 03 Sep 1895, aged 52, Shifter, was taken ill when at work down the pit and died soon after being taken to bank [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a colliery accident]

Turnbull, William Robson, 04 Jan 1939, aged 57, Drawer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Pelton Cemetery

Westlake, William Henry, 05 Dec 1905, (accident: 30 Nov 1905), aged 51, Hewer, Deceased was working in the fore shift in a lift in the broken workings of the Busty seam; he had almost completed his shift when a stone measuring 4 feet by 3 feet 2 inches and 19 inches thick, relieved by a slip and breakers, fell from the roof close to the face upon him, canting out a prop and plank in its fall. The back overman was in the place at the time and got help at once, and he was free in about five minutes, but his ribs had penetrated the lung and he eventually died of pneumonia. The place had been properly inspected by the deputy, and there was an ample supply of loose timber. The Local Inspectors reported: "We think it a pure accident."

Younger, Thomas, 26 Aug 1908, aged 16, Rope lad, caught by loaded tub at junction on endless rope road, Buried: Ropery Lane Cemetery, Chester-le-Street