Harton Colliery

1841 - Sinking was commenced at Harton Colliery, 10 May, and on 10 July, 1844, the Bensham Seam was sunk through at a depth of 1,290 ft., being the greatest depth reached in the Tyne district. The shaft was a single one and divided into two by a timber brattice, and is remarkable for the cast-iron tubbing required, which extends to a length of 474 ft. owing to a fault

1936, 24 Feb - Bensham seam abandoned

Abernathy, Philip, 07 Oct 1948, aged 24, Buried: Harton Cemetery, South Shields

Bailey, George, 28 Mar 1862, aged 17, Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields

Bain, Thomas Walter, 20 Aug 1923, (accident: 07 Aug 1923), aged 52, Pipeman, blow from girder

Banger, William, 14 Oct 1911, aged 60, Labourer, collapse of stage

Bell, John, 27 Feb 1882, aged 29, Screener, crushed by trucks, Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields on 03 Mar 1882 {NBI}

Binks, Thomas, 18 Jul 1849, aged 54, Keelman, he was riding on the waggons, fell off when arriving at the pit and was run over by 8 waggons

Black, George, Jun 1869, aged 19, fall of stone which fractured his skull and crushed his right shoulder; address: Brickgarth Row, Corstophine Town, Shields; he was the only support of his widowed mother

Bland, Ralph, 18 Aug 1913, aged 21, Labourer, deceased was whirled round a shaft through a stud catching his clothing; he was disobeying the rules of the colliery by oiling the machinery whilst in motion

Blythman, Joseph, 14 Jan 1913, aged 17, Apprentice Blacksmith, deceased was passing between two trucks under the screens to fetch some coal for his fire, when he was crushed between the buffers

Bowman, William, 10 Sep 1918, aged 35, Deputy, killed through being crushed between a tub and the wall, Buried: Harton Cemetery, South Shields

Brownsword, George Albert, 30 Nov 1921, (accident: 29 Nov 1921), aged 19, Puller-out, injuries received by being crushed by an empty cage

Bruce, Thomas, 02 Oct 1899, aged 44, Hewer, He was temporarily employed at one of the landings on the engine plane, and was apparently in good health. Shortly after rapping one of the sets away he lay down on the bench complaining of feeling unwell, and soon after rolled off, when, upon examination, he was found to be dead. A post-mortem was made by three medical men, all of whom agreed that death was due to angina pectoris [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident], Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields on 05 Oct 1899 {NBI}

Burton, Robert, 22 Mar 1894, 3:00 p.m., 6th hour of shift, aged 49, Hewer, Whilst at work a slight fall of coal cut one of his fingers, and blood poisoning set in, afterwards causing his death [Inquiries made], Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields on 22 Mar 1894 {NBI}

Carle, Robert, 16 Dec 1885, aged 16, Station Boy, when descending shaft was larking with another boy in cage on the deck above ; put his head out of the cage and was caught by bunton

Clark, Michael, 23 Apr 1914, aged 27, Rolleywayman, Deceased was in charge of a pony pulling empty tubs inbye from a landing, when some full tubs which had just reached the landing ran amain inbye — the landing declined inbye 1¼ inches to the yard — and he was killed. The accident was due to great carelessness. The landing lad, after putting in lockers to hold the full tubs, took off the drag before coupling to the standing full tubs which were securely moored. The safety switch provided to prevent this accident, had not been in working order for three weeks, Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields on 26 Apr 1914 {NBI}

Clements, Thomas W., 10 Jun 1884, aged 13, Driver, head crushed between tub and limbers

Coates, A. M., 15 Mar 1953, aged 42, he was crushed and fatally injured when the cage lowered as he was emerging from it at back

Coates, Thomas, 08 Nov 1924, 1.45 a.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 57, Stoneman, Deceased, with two other stonemen, was packing the stone wedged down from a top canch, when a stone fell from the roof, measuring 15 ft. long by 3 ft. wide and 1 ft. thick. It caught him on the head and killed him. The stone fell from a concealed jack. Three or four pairs of gears had been removed to allow the man to break up into the top stone

Cook, R. C., 01 Feb 1927, (accident: 25 Jan 1927), aged 39, Cutter, crushed

Cowper, George Henry, 23 May 1910, aged 21, Hewer, fall of baulk and stone

Cranney, William, 12 Jan 1865, aged 12, killed on the incline plane by a crush of tubs

Crawford, R., 01 Feb 1947, (accident: 08 Feb 1924), aged 49, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Cullen, T., 04 Aug 1938, (accident: 13 Jul 1938), aged 29, Putter, died from injuries received

Curry, James, 23 Jan 1923, aged 19, Driver, crushed by tubs

Dinning, Thomas, 18 Feb 1843, aged 32, Thomas Dinning was killed and two others severely injured on the evening of Saturday, 18 February, in the new pit near Harton, South Shields. A piece of collaring or timber being used to steady the pump gave way and fell on them as they worked at the bottom of the shaft. Dinning left a wife and three children, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Shields on 21 Feb 1843 {NBI}

Durkin, William, 27 Aug 1915, (accident: 26 Aug 1915), aged 45, Hewer, a large stone fell partially burying him, died from his injuries the following day in the Ingham Infirmary ; residence: 49, Brownlow Road, Tyne Dock [Inquest: 28 Aug 1915]

Elliott, J., 14 Dec 1954, aged 16, Screen hand, fatally injured when attempting to clean moving machinery ; alleged accident caused by failure to give proper training and/or supervision

Elliott, Peter, 27 Apr 1864, killed by a fall of stone [More information ...]

Embleton, T. E., 14 Nov 1922, aged 16, Driver, crushed between a tub and a baulk

Feetham, F., 1917, [details unknown]

Ford, John, 14 Aug 1950, aged 55, Stoneman, died from injuries received after being struck by an arch girder underground

Freemason, Thomas, 07 Aug 1874, aged 13, Driver, run over by tubs

Gosling, G., 12 Jan 1940, (accident: 25 Nov 1939), aged 35, Driller, killed by a fall of stone

Graham, William, 07 Dec 1870, aged 49, Hewer, run over by tubs

Gray, John, 30 Nov 1878, aged 16, Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields

Grey, John, 03 Nov 1873, aged 15, Putter, crushed by tub, Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields on 06 Nov 1873 {NBI}

Grimes, Peter Joseph, 21 Apr 1926, (accident: 19 Mar 1926), aged 53, Hewer, result of injury to his eyebrow through being struck by a baulk

Hall, J., 01 Nov 1927, (accident: 22 Oct 1927), aged 54, Wasteman, fall

Hall, J. D., 22 Oct 1919, (accident: 03 Mar 1919), aged 65, Stoneman, died as a result, it was alleged, of injuries received through lifting a girder in the pit

Hall, John, 27 Apr 1864, killed by a fall of stone [More information ...]

Hall, Thomas William, 15 Dec 1898, aged 13, Driver, The deceased was learning to drive, and for this purpose had been sent along with another boy. As he was hanging his pony's limbers on to a full tub, the pony moved away, and Hall's head was crushed between a balk and the top of the tub [Inspection made & inquest attended], Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields on 18 Dec 1898 {NBI}

Hall, William, 15 Feb 1867, aged 22, Deputy, killed by a fall of stone

Hall, William, Feb 1964, aged 42, [approximate date]

Hills, Robert N., 08 Jun 1960, aged 42, Drifter, caught by a fall of stone and received fatal injuries

Hopps, John R., 30 Jan 1944, aged 64, Drawer, killed by a fall of stone

Horsman, John George, 28 Feb 1944, aged 45, Deputy, crushed head, Buried: Harton Cemetery, South Shields

Howe, T. A., 02 Jan 1935, (accident: 26 Nov 1934), aged 45, Filler, killed by a fall of stone

Hunter, George, 15 Jan 1924, 11.45 a.m., 3rd hour of shift, aged 16, Engine lad, died through being caught between the drum and the oscillating cylinder of an engine [More information ...]

Jefferson, John, 22 Nov 1912, aged 23, Pony Driver, whilst trying to save his pony from injury, he was caught by some tubs which had come "amain" owing to a defective weld in a dilly chain, causing it to break

Johns, Leslie, 07 Jan 1941, aged 18, Buried: Harton Cemetery, South Shields

Johnson, Alexander, 08 Jan 1919, (accident: 07 Jan 1919), aged 59, Deputy, died from injuries received when he was crushed by a fall of stone

Johnson, John Nicholson, 27 Aug 1875, aged 27, Shifter, Chester Ward Coroner's Inquest, place: Templetown, cause: fall of stone, Bensham Seam, Harton Colliery (DRO Ref: COR/C/2/367)

Johnston, R. W., 18 Nov 1950, (accident: 19 Jul 1947), aged 69, Conveyor Attendant, died from injuries received

Jukes, John, 02 Feb 1921, (accident: 08 Oct 1919), aged 20, Raker, killed by a fall of stone

Kell, J., 21 Dec 1942, (accident: 09 Dec 1942), aged 62, Filler, killed by a fall of stone

Kennon, G. C., 12 Nov 1935, (accident: 08 Nov 1935), aged 32, Timber Loader, crushed by tubs

Kidd, Joseph, 08 Jan 1886, aged 56, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields on 11 Jan 1886 [NBI]

Laidler, George Nicolas, 12 Sep 1920, aged 48, Colliery Engineman, electrocuted by accident, address: 16 Ethel Terrace, Tyne Dock, South Shields, inquest held: 15 Sep 1920 [More information ...]

Lain, W. S., 05 Sep 1931, (accident: 07 Dec 1928), aged 26, Shifter, died from injuries received

Lancaster, Alexander, 09 Feb 1876, aged 42, Horse Shoer, crushed by a set of tubs on inclined plane, Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields on 12 Feb 1876 {NBI}

Lennon, R., 25 Mar 1948, aged 41, Cutter

Lillies, J. W., 26 Apr 1927, (accident: 27 Mar 1927), aged 22, Machine Man, killed by a fall of stone

Lomas, John, 11 Sep 1959, aged 28, died from injuries received, Buried: Harton Cemetery, South Shields

Long, Samuel Morton, 21 Aug 1930, (accident: 12 Mar 1930), aged 25, Putter, killed by a fall of stone

Lowdon, Michael, 23 Apr 1914, aged ?2, Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields

Marshall, Matthew, 20 Dec 1876, aged 14, Pony Driver, crushed by tub

Mather, George, 03 Apr 1957, aged 64, Deputy, killed by a fall of stone

McFarlane, George, 14 Jul 1941, aged 50, fell down the shaft whilst working on the cage in the new shaft, address: North Road, Boldon Colliery

McGough, Patrick, 22 Oct 1918, (accident: 16 Oct 1918), aged 32, Hewer, concussion of the brain following injury to the skull accidentally caused on the 16th October 1918 by being struck by a binding wheel in the East Hutton seam, Harton colliery, Buried: Harton Cemetery, South Shields

Mullany, Peter, 21 Dec 1885, aged 15, Driver, caught between tub and top coal at a canch

Nicholson, John, 19 Apr 1880, aged 13, Trapper, crushed by tubs

O'Connor, Michael, 19 May 1912, (accident: 21 Aug 1911), aged 56, Stoneman, he was engaged with two others, lifting a 4-ft. 6-in, diameter return haulage wheel on to a tram, when he slipped, and the others let the wheel down, catching his leg; he died on May 19 from pulmonary tuberculosis

Patterson, John Thomas, 29 Jun 1909, aged 25, Deputy, fall of roof stone at working face, Buried: Harton Cemetery, South Shields

Patterson, Thomas, 08 Jul 1918, (accident: 07 Jun 1918), aged 33, Hewer, died as a result of injuries received

Peel, R., 05 Apr 1937, (accident: 08 Jan 1937), aged 46, Filler, killed by a fall of coal, Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields on 8th April 1937

Plummer, John, 16 Jul 1917, aged 42, Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields

Plummer, William, 29 Jan 1921, (accident: 27 Jan 1921), aged 43, Hewer, killed by a fall of coal

Price, John, 13 Oct 1929, (accident: 17 Feb 1929), aged 44, Stoneman, fall

Raine, Hodgson, 09 Sep 1919, (accident: 08 Sep 1919), aged 19, Clip Lad, died from injuries received the previous day through being crushed between a tub and a girder, Buried: Harton Cemetery, South Shields

Richardson, George, 19 May 1880, aged 16, Rope Changer, crushed by set on engine plane

Ridley, John William, 22 Feb 1929, (accident: 12 Feb 1929), aged 61, Onsetter, crushed

Ridley, Joseph, 1918, [approximate date]

Rowe, Robert Hart, 04 Jun 1914, aged 23, Clip Lad, Deceased's duty was to clip on (Smallman's Clip) to an under tub endless rope, two full tubs at a time, from the long sets brought out by the main and tail haulage. The road rises outbye at about 2 inches to the yard. He had sent away the last two tubs of a set, and whilst engaged clipping on the first tubs of the next set, the tubs previously sent away ran back a distance of 97 yards, through the clip slipping. Although he was warned the tubs caught him, inflicting severe injuries from which he died seven hours later.

Selkirk, Edward S., 17 Oct 1925, aged 16, Driver, crushed

Short, John George, 08 Nov 1895, 2:00 a.m., 7th hour of shift, aged 17, Driver, the deceased was working with his father, and was riding on the limmers, while the father was in the tub, going to a certain working place; somehow the deceased got his head fast between a baulk and the tub top, and on being released was found to be dead

Short, Joshua, 09 Jul 1870, aged 54, Waggon Driver, run over by waggon

Slater, George, 02 Nov 1870, aged 35, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields on 05 Nov 1870 {NBI}

Slessor, Thomas, 26 Oct 1937, aged 58, Deputy, killed by a fall of stone

Sloan, Henry, 26 Jan 1870, aged 16, Putter, crushed between tub and roof [Sunderland Times reports: accident - 29 Jan 1870 pg 2 col 1]

Smith, John A., 02 Nov 1894, Putter, the jury returned a verdict that the lad died from erysipelas, the result of an injury to his ankle, but how, when, and where received there was not sufficient evidence to show; it was stated by the father that the boy was injured when working in the Harton Colliery, South Shields, but there was no evidence in support of the statement [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Souter, George A., 03 Oct 1946, aged 35, Filler, shotfiring accident

Southern, W. O., 16 Jan 1964, aged 42, [approximate date]

Stoker, Thomas Atkinson, 02 Jul 1913, (accident: 01 Jul 1913), aged 27, Rolleyway-man, Buried: St. Peter's Churchyard, Harton, South Shields on 06 Jul 1913 {NBI} [More information ...]

Story, William, 29 Mar 1870, aged 70, Cartman, crushed by waggon

Talbot, William W., 19 Apr 1918, aged 32, Buried: Harton Cemetery, South Shields

Taylor, Thomas B., 15 Dec 1944, aged 50, Buttman, killed by a fall of stone

Tennant, Thomas W., 12 Dec 1946, (accident: 05 Jun 1946), aged 51, Stoneman, fracture of spine

Wardle, John, 11 Jun 1868, aged 12, Incline Boy, crushed by tubs from rope breaking

Watson, R. H., 10 May 1948, aged 50, Packer, died from injuries received

Waugh, Peter, 04 Dec 1896, aged 17, Landing Keeper, After leaving the landing the rope attached to the set broke and 50 tubs ran back. The deceased was found lying among some props which had been knocked out by the tubs getting off the way. No fall of stone occurred when the props were knocked out. The rope was a strong one and had only been at work a few months and there was no indication of it having got fast at any part of the road [Inquest attended]

Weetman, Ronald, 11 Sep 1943, aged 19, Shaft Lad, crushed by tubs, Buried: Harton Cemetery, South Shields

Wilkinson, Robert Dunn, 15 May 1924, 3.40 a.m., 6th hour of shift, aged 42, Stoneman, Deceased was engaged in the removal of a fall of roof and in the retimbering of a roadway. Whilst he was using a hammer to dress down a projecting portion of side stone, preparatory to the erecting of a girder roof support, a large mass of the side stone unexpectedly fell away. The end supports of three baulks were displaced, with the result that the supports and roof fell on deceased and killed him outright, Buried: St. Mary's Churchyard/Cemetery, Heworth

Willoughby, J. W., 31 May 1933, (accident: 12 Dec 1928), aged 35, Bank Hand, died from injuries received

Wright, Matthew Dodsworth, 06 Dec 1915, aged 15, Driver, killed through being jambed between a tub and a baulk

Wright, Robert, 17 May 1946, (accident: 16 May 1946), aged 43, Surface Worker, died from injuries received

Wymess, James, 04 Oct 1875, aged 13, Driver, crushed between tub and prop, Chester Ward Coroner's Inquest, place: West Harton Coll., cause: crushed, Bensham Seam, Harton Colliery (DRO Ref: COR/C/2/412)

Young, John, 07 Dec 1897, aged 16, Driver, It is stated that the boy was going inbye, and, when about halfway between the landing and the flat, the pony stumbled, and on getting up knocked a prop and plank out, the latter falling between him and the pony, which moved away, and deceased was jammed between the tub and the plank [Inquest attended]

Young, Robert, 21 Jan 1943, aged 36, Screener, fractured skull

Young, William Scorer, 01 Aug 1908, aged 18, Landing Lad, shock from electric lighting cable near shaft bottom