West Sleekburn Colliery

Location:

West Sleekburn, Choppington
13 miles [21 km] N of Newcastle

Map Ref:

(Sheet 81) NZ280847, 55° 9' 24" N, 1° 33' 35" W

Maps:

1928 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide

Opened:

1859

Closed:

1962

Pits:

Shaft details for West Sleekburn Colliery

Owners:

1860's - Bedlington Coal Co.

Output:

1882 - Coal.

1888 - Coal.

1890 - Coal.

1896 - Coal: Steam.

1902 - Coal: Steam.

1914 - Coal: Steam.

1921 - Coal: Steam.

1923 - Coal: Household, Manufacturing, Steam.

1924 - Coal: Household, Manufacturing, Steam.

1925 - Coal: Steam.

1927 - Coal: Steam.

1929 - Coal: Household, Steam.

1930 - Coal: Household, Steam.

1934 - Coal: Household, Steam.

Employment:

Year	Total	Below	Above
1896	663	574	89
1902	672	573	99
1914	785	670	115
1921	746	618	128
1923	720	593	127
1924	889	748	141
1925	953	806	147
1927	984	828	156
1929	914	752	162
1930	900	754	146
1934	932	761	171
1940	919	805	114
1945	960	724	236

Colliery Management (prior to 1958)

Seams Worked:

1914 - Bensham, Low Main, Yard

1921 - Bensham, Low Main, Plessey, Yard

1923 - Bensham, Low Main, Plessey, Yard

1924 - Bensham, Low Main, Plessey, Yard

1925 - Bensham, Low Main, Plessey, Yard

1927 - Bensham, Low Main, Plessey, Yard

1929 - Bensham, Low Main, Plessey, Yard

1930 - Bensham, Low Main, Plessey, Yard

1934 - Bensham, Low Main, Main, Plessey, Yard

Notes:

Miscellaneous Notes and Incidents for West Sleekburn Colliery

Description

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!

						Bell, John, 12 Jan 1893, (accident: 19 Oct 1892, 1:00 a.m., 6th hour of shift), aged 65, Shifter, It seems that he was lifting some stone, when he slipped and was caught against a prop. He complained of an injured finger, and afterwards of a pain in his side, and died on the 12th January 1893, possibly from the injury received [Inquest attended]
						Bell, Richard, 27 Feb 1904, (accident: 02 Oct 1900), aged 75, Shifter, Deceased slipped on a sleeper about 2nd October, 1900, and was never able to work afterwards. No inquest was held
						Birnie, Robert, 1941, [approximate date]
						Bolam, George, 01 Sep 1875, aged 15, Driver, crushed by tubs
						Carruthers, William, 09 Feb 1892, 11:45 a.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 22, Hewer, Whilst kirving, a stone suddenly fell out from some "slips," one of which ran close to the face, and which he had no doubt just bared [Inspection made & inquest attended], Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, West Sleekburn
						Curry, John, 17 Jun 1898, aged 62, Cartman, Deceased was killed by falling off the shafts of a rolley when loading it up in the colliery yard [Inquest attended]
						Dickinson, John, 1897, aged 57, Hewer, died on his way out of the pit from heart disease [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a colliery accident]
						Dodds, Thomas, 23 May 1868, (accident: 09 Sep 1867), Miner, killed by a fall of stone [Morpeth Herald: 23 May 1868]
						Gardiner, James, 27 Sep 1876, aged 16, Platelayer, killed by a fall of coal
						Glanville, George, 01 Mar 1944, a small stone fell and hit him on the back of his head killing him instantly
						Gledson, J. G., 01 Mar 1889, aged 16, Assistant Onsetter, caught by cage at shaft bottom
						Hardy, William, 14 Feb 1916, aged 52, Buried: St. Peter's Cemetery, West Sleekburn
						Henderson, James, 01 Jul 1879, aged 53, Shifter, fell into sump and was drowned
						Hepple, Peter, 13 Jul 1865, aged 27, death from a shot, Buried: St. Cuthberts Churchyard, Bedlington
						Hindhaugh, Jacob, 18 Aug 1901, aged 50, Onsetter, The deceased signalled for the cage at a midworking in the shaft. The proper signals were received, but when the cage reached the surface he was not in it. His body was afterwards found in the sump [Inspection made & inquest attended]
						Johnson, Edward, 07 Dec 1876, aged 14, Coal Leader, crushed by fly wheel of donkey engine
						Jones, David, 18 Nov 1873, aged 14, Driver, run over by tubs
						Moore, John, 13 Jun 1892, 3:00 p.m., 9th hour of shift, aged 14, Driver, He had neglected to put in the third sprag in the set, or failed to do so owing to the tubs going too fast, and, the pony falling at the bottom of the bank, he was thrown against the side [Inspection made & inquest attended]
						Murray, Robert, 01 Aug 1906, aged 25, Hewer, killed by a fall of coal [More information ...]
						Oliver, Andrew, 05 Jun 1888, aged 71, Wasteman, fall from roof while ridding a seam
						Phillips, Albert, 25 Apr 1947, aged 52, Buried: St. Peter's Cemetery, West Sleekburn
						Potter, Robert, 15 May 1900, aged 49, Banksman, The deceased and another banksman were cleaning the winding ropes, when the former fell from the gangway to the ground, a distance of 50 feet. [Inspection made & inquest attended], Buried: St. Peter's Cemetery, West Sleekburn
						Reed, Luke, 06 Sep 1872, aged 43, Hewer, timber falling down the shaft
						Simpson, Robert, 24 Sep 1885, aged 52, Deputy, blow on head; stumbled against a balk of timber
						Smailes, William, 27 Sep 1889, aged 42, Hewer, killed by a fall of coal and stone
						Stephenson, Andrew, 26 Jan 1888, aged 26, Shifter, large stone on side of gateway came over upon him whilst receiving instructions fro chargeman who was about to place timber to secure it [More information ...]
						Strafford, Henry, 01 Oct 1869, aged 23, Clerk, killed by a fall of stone
						Swanston, John, 30 Nov 1889, aged 57, Hewer, killed by a fall of coal
						Wharrier, William, 14 Mar 1871, aged 35, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone
						Wood, James, 01 Dec 1904, (accident: 31 Oct 1902), aged 75, Shifter, Deceased was injured on 31st October, 1902, and sustained a fractured side and bruises by being pushed into the sump while getting into the cage. He did not start work again although he mended, and death was eventually due to old age. No inquest was held

						30 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 Ray Swan from his research into Northumberland mining deaths 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 West Sleekburn Colliery

list of collieries/pits etc. near to West Sleekburn Colliery

Credits

Sources:

1869 List of Mines
1869 Mines Inspectors Report
1871 Mines Inspectors Report (C 456)
1872 Mines Inspectors Report (C 840)
1873 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1056)
1875 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1499)
1876 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1734)
1879 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2604)
1880 List of Mines
1881 Mines Inspectors Annual Report
1885 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4760)
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), Newcastle District (No. 3) by James Willis, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1889 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6015)
1890 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1892 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6986), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1893 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7339), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1896 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, also available online at Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd
1897 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8819), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1898 Mines Inspectors Report (C 9264), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1900 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 536), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1901 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1062), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, 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
1904 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2506)
1906 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 3449), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. B. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1914 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
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
1927 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1929 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1930 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1934 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1940 Colliery Year Book and Coal Trades Directory published by Louis Cassier Co. Ltd.
1945 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
Contributions by members of the Public



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