Littleburn Colliery

1840 - A bore-hole was put down from the surface to the Hutton Seam at Littleburn.

1870, Apr 20 - Commenced to sink the Engineer Pit (12 ft. in diameter) at North Brancepeth or Littleburn Colliery from the surface to the Busty Seam.

1890 - Hutton seam abandoned - Coal all worked out.

1911 - Hutton seam abandoned

1931, 03 Sep - Harvey (Bottom Section); Brockwell seam abandoned

1931, Mar 18 - "Offer wanted for Littleburn Colliery near Durham, as going concern, drawing capacity 1,000 tons daily ; a battery of 64 Huessener patent ovens with modern washing plant making 2,000 tons coke weekly ; by-product plant and electrical generating station ; 8,500,000 tons coal unworked ; 408 workmen's houses. All plant, machinery and other property in excellent condition. — Address Secretary, North Brancepeth Coal Company Ltd., Darlington." The Times

1935, 09 Jul - Low Main, Hutton, Busty seams abandoned

Barron, Frank, 30 Oct 1905, (accident: 03 Jun 1903), spine fractured by fall of stone, 3rd June, 1903; death reported 30th October, 1905 [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Basey, Arthur, 27 Mar 1906, (accident: 26 Mar 1906), aged 14, Driver, He was run over by full tubs in a landing which ran back, notwithstanding that they were spragged. He received injuries from which he died on the following day.

Basey, George, 10 Jun 1881, aged 20, Putter, fell down shaft from Busty to Brockwell seam, 20 fathoms, he got out of the wrong side of the cage, the pit was not fenced, and he walked back into the shaft

Batty, John, 28 Mar 1913, aged 35, Bricklayer, a semi-circular arch 14 feet 6 inches long had been turned between piers 7 feet high; it consisted of four rings of bricks on edge; the centres were put in on 25th March and the work carried on the 25th and 26th; the centres were struck at 2.30 p.m. on the 28th; some 10 minutes later, when the two deceased men were under the arch getting out the timbers used for the centres, the arch collapsed and the men were killed; there was some haunching on one side, but not on the other, and it was at this weak side the arch gave way; the arch centres should not have been drawn until both sides were properly haunched, and it was the neglect of this which caused the accident [More information ...]

Beeby, George, 14 Feb 1906, aged 45, Shifter, Whilst, with his marrow, ridding and timbering an old wagonway, a heavy fall occurred, thrusting out the timbers. Beeby was killed and his marrow injured.

Bell, John, 13 Apr 1874, aged 23, Fitter, scalded by steam escaping from a fractured sludge pipe

Bell, John, 17 Jan 1888, aged 16, Water Leader, while taking his pony off from a water tub it suddenly turned round and knocked out a prop, causing a fall of stone

Bestford, Thomas, 11 Feb 1882, aged 40, Hewer, fall of side stone while taking off coal

Braithwaite, Frank, 14 Nov 1899, aged 55, Hewer, Fall of stone came away at a "horseback," it had feathery edges all round it and was slippery all over. He was caught and crushed about the head so severely that he died immediately., Buried: Brandon Cemetery

Brown, Thomas, 17 Jan 1928, aged 17, Engineman, crushed by machinery [More information ...]

Carroll, William, 10 Jan 1918, aged 44, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Charlton, George, 02 Mar 1905, aged 17, Shaft Lad, he was caught by a full set coming on to the kip and run over; he had no business to be where he was

Cleary, T., 22 Mar 1947, aged 16, Tipper, crushed by trucks

Coulson, Joseph R., 11 Jan 1887, aged 19, Engineman, fell off rope and was drawn over the drum while guiding the rope with a lever

Cowper, Hugh, 24 Feb 1907, aged 54, Fitter, he was going to clean away some sediment from the blow-off valve of a steam boiler; he broke a joint and was scalded to death, Buried: Brandon Cemetery [More information ...]

Culley, John, 08 Feb 1875, aged 13, Driver, fell into a large coal hopper at bank and was suffocated

Daddy, Nicholas, 22 Nov 1880, (accident: 18 Nov 1880), aged 16, Putter, slight accident to knee, died from blood poisoning

Dickinson, Thomas, 26 Jun 1907, aged 42, Stoneman, he returned to a shot thinking it had already exploded [More information ...]

Dickinson, William, 19 May 1915, aged 52, Buried: Meadowfield Cemetery

Dove, Thomas, 05 Feb 1872, aged 26, Sinker, winch rope ran amain and knocked them out of a kibble, causing them to fall to bottom of shaft [More information ...]

Elliott, G. R., 24 Jun 1922, (accident: 10 Apr 1922), aged 17, Driver, falling over a sleeper

Elmore, Thomas, 27 Jul 1910, aged 18, Pony Putter, As he was bringing a full tub out to the flat he jumped off his limbers and went to the rear of the tub to twine it over the points. He was in the act of repassing his tub in order to loose his pony off, when a fall 12 feet long came away from a damp greasy parting in the roof and a slip along the coal side. The roof was strong post and an inspection showed that a considerable amount of side coal had been hewed off, and more than one putter had been discharged for this offence. There is no doubt that this contributed to the accident, if it was not the sole cause, Buried: Meadowfield Cemetery

Emery, William, 09 Feb 1893, 9:00 a.m., 3rd hour of shift, aged 18, Putter, He was hewing coal from the side of a road where he had no business, and a large stone fell upon him.

Forrest, William, 25 Nov 1879, (accident: 28 Mar 1879), aged 48, Collier, leg broken by a fall of stone from a slip in the roof of the Hutton Seam - died from exhaustion consequent on long confinement

Haley, James, 01 Mar 1885, (accident: 19 Feb 1885), aged 21, Hewer, burnt by a blown out shot

Hanlon, John, 19 Jun 1911, aged 31, Hewer, he was hewing in a gateway in a seam 2 feet 6 inches thick when a large stone fell from the roof and killed him; he had been warned by the deputy to set additional props as he worked the coal out as the top was bad; this he neglected to do and worked beyond the liberal maximum timber distance of 6 feet; this accident should not have occurred

Hathaway, John, 20 Jun 1919, aged 49, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Brandon Cemetery

Haver, James, 18 Feb 1887, aged 38, Hewer, severely crushed by a fall of stone

Heron, Isaac, 02 Jun 1877, aged 36, Deputy, fall of roof while drawing timber out of a jud

Hodgson, David Willie, 28 Mar 1913, aged 31, Bricklayer, a semi-circular arch 14 feet 6 inches long had been turned between piers 7 feet high; it consisted of four rings of bricks on edge; the centres were put in on 25th March and the work carried on the 25th and 26th; the centres were struck at 2.30 p.m. on the 28th; some 10 minutes later, when the two deceased men were under the arch getting out the timbers used for the centres, the arch collapsed and the men were killed; there was some haunching on one side, but not on the other, and it was at this weak side the arch gave way; the arch centres should not have been drawn until both sides were properly haunched, and it was the neglect of this which caused the accident, Buried: Meadowfield Cemetery [More information ...]

Humphries, Alfred John, 28 Sep 1920, (accident: 29 Nov 1919), aged 27, Stoneman, he was injured at Littleburn Colliery some time ago, died on 28th Sept.

Kavil, Frank, 20 Feb 1892, 6:15 a.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 21, Putter, fall of a large stone in landing, which knocked out some timber while he was passing

Kell, William, 06 Jan 1898, aged 50, Hewer, After being about two hours in the face of his working place, he was found by the putter quite dead. No fall of stone had taken place and the ventilation was good. [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Kenney, Henry, 05 Feb 1872, aged 36, Sinker, winch rope ran amain and knocked them out of a kibble, causing them to fall to bottom of shaft [More information ...]

Kyle, Thomas, 07 Mar 1892, (accident: 04 Mar 1892, 3:30 p.m., 10th hour of shift), aged 16, Landing Boy, Severely crushed by tubs between shaft and kip wall. Died on the 7th March

Lockeron, Michael, 25 Sep 1911, aged 60, Shifter, he was engaged with another man in cleaning up an old road and pillaring the stones which were lying about along one side of the road; the roof is a strong post not requiring support; at the time of the accident deceased was trying with his pick to get down what appeared to be a thin shell of post, but which actually thickened towards the side of the road, and to do this he stood in front of it instead of at the end, with the result that he was crushed against the pack when the stone and some coal fell away; the work was quite suitable for an elderly man

Lockey, Samuel George, 09 Nov 1908, aged 45, Hewer, in lifting a full tub away from the plate ends he ruptured his spleen

Maddison, Thomas, 11 Sep 1891, (accident: Nov 1883), aged 38, Deputy, died from the effects of an accident by fall of stone while following his employment in November 1883; no inquest held

Madgin, William, 06 Jan 1900, aged 56, Loco Fireman, Some empty trucks were being shunted into coke yard, and he was riding on them uncoupling one from the engine, when he slipped and fell down between rails and the engine ran over him. [More information ...]

Meynell, Thomas, 01 Dec 1900, aged 34, Hewer, Killed by a fall of stone from roof which came away at a horse back with a feather edge all round and slippery partings all over it. [More information ...]

Mitcheson, Henry, 17 Mar 1906, aged 17, Belt-boy, Caught by a revolving shaft on the screens. It was said that he had no business to be where he was at the time of the accident., Buried: Brandon Cemetery [More information ...]

Nolan, James, 30 Jan 1924, 8.10 p.m., 6th hour of shift, aged 59, Hewer, deceased was working at the face of a fast place 9 ft. wide in a seam 2 ft. 6 ins. thick, when a stone, 9 ft. by 2 ft. 6 ins. by 10 ins. thick, fell from the roof without warning and killed him. Two props were canted out. The stone broke off along the edge of the coal face

Oversby, George William, 23 Aug 1905, (accident: 20 Apr 1905), aged 23, Hewer, he was injured by a fall of stone at the face, being crushed internally, and died August 23rd

Peart, George, 20 Apr 1918, aged 61, he was walking towards the flat sheets to get in the cage when he appeared to slip and fall backwards, striking his head on the floor. The cage was lowered and all the men got out, and they found him sitting up. He only lived about four minutes. Death was due to heart disease

Pope, Isaac, 23 Mar 1875, aged 35, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Pyle, Robert, 12 Feb 1882, aged 63, Shifter, alleged that he had sprained his back while at work, but the evidence was not sufficient to show that the sprain, if any, had anything to do with his death

Rickaby, Abraham, 11 Apr 1891, 9:40 a.m., 6th hour of shift, aged 22, Putter, a sudden and unexpected fall from goaf while leaving place [More information ...]

Robinson, John, 20 May 1880, aged 45, Deputy, fall of stone while drawing a jud in the broken

Robinson, William, 24 Jan 1876, aged 61, Labourer, found dead near bottom of small coal apparatus ; supposed to have been caught by waggons

Russell, William, 20 Nov 1870, aged 52, Sinker, sinking pit, fell off a cradle and drowned

Seymour, John, 26 Feb 1902, aged 15, Belt lad, some old castings were being broken, by means of stowite, in the colliery yard; a piece flew 116 yards and hit the deceased, who was on the heapstead looking through a small hole, and killed him instantly [More information ...]

Simpson, Joseph, 14 Apr 1900, aged 16, Blacksmith's striker, He was going down the pit to keep a pump man company, as is always done; he got into the cage and was lowered to the Hutton Seam and got out at that level. He then went the wrong way to get to the pumping engine house; he got through two doors, and over a wall 3 ft. 6 ins, high, and fell down another shaft into the sump, a distance of 130 yards. [More information ...]

Smith, William, 29 Sep 1927, aged 66, Shifter, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Meadowfield Cemetery

Swan, John, 03 Jun 1890, aged 15, Helper Up, crushed between two tubs on an incline while assisting a putter

Tayor, Thomas W., 11 Apr 1910, aged 16, Driver, He was coupling his set at the flat when a putter came out with a full tub necessary to make up the driver's set. The putter loosed off his pony and allowed the full tub to run down and bump against the full tubs standing. Unfortunately the driver was in the act of coupling two tubs and his head was crushed between them. He had been shown how to couple without putting himself in danger, and had had some experience at the work

Thompson, John George, 14 Mar 1918, Platelayer, died suddenly in the pit, death was due to rupture of the aorta while engaged in lifting a rail

Thompson, Thomas, 26 Dec 1923, (accident: 16 Nov 1923), aged 25, Hewer, died from injuries to the spine accidentally caused by a fall of stone, Buried: Meadowfield Cemetery

Thornton, Joseph, 14 Feb 1909, (accident: 01 Feb 1909), aged 48, Master Shifter, He was examining the working places prior to the foreshift hewers commencing work when some gas, which had come off at an exposed hitch leader, was ignited by his naked light. He was burnt on hands and face, and was taken to the Durham Infirmary. For a time he made good progress towards recovery, but on the 13th he became worse and died the following day from heart failure. The gas had come off at an exposed hitch leader in the Hutton Seam. For many years previously, the presence of gas in this seam at this colliery had never been detected. Safety Lamps were at once put in in place of naked lights. Residence: Office Street, Littleburn

Thrower, George, 31 Jan 1879, aged 19, Putter, fall of stone from a slip while he was hewing in a wall [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 03 Feb 1879 pg 3 col 5]

Todd, John James, 13 Jan 1920, aged 24, fall of stone; he heard the roof moving and as he tried to get away a piece of stone, seven yards long by a yard thick, fell on him and he was killed instantly; Todd's pony and tubs were left untouched

Tomlinson, Ed, 21 Sep 1924, (accident: 20 May 1919), aged 46, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Vasey, Allan M., 07 Jan 1900, (accident: 05 Jan 1900), aged 40, Keeker, A gangway collapsed by being over-weighted by five heavy laden tubs of fireclay, and he fell to the ground and was so seriously injured that he died on the 7th inst. [More information ...]

Wales, Thomas, 15 Oct 1915, (accident: 19 Nov 1914), aged 28, he suffered injuries to the lower part of his body on 19 Nov 1914; he died on 15 Oct 1915 from heart failure, following pneumonia

Wardle, John, 26 Mar 1873, aged 29, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Brandon Cemetery

Weir, George Hopper, 01 Nov 1906, (accident: 20 Sep 1906), aged 51, Hewer, He was severely injured by a fall of stone which came away at a smooth slip. He died on the 1st November., Buried: Brandon Cemetery

Willans, James, 24 Apr 1875, aged 55, Deputy, killed by a fall of roof

Willey, John, 22 Dec 1879, aged 26, Deputy, fall of roof from a slip while he was laying a tramway turn under it

Young, Robert, 03 Nov 1879, aged 51, Surveyor, neck dislocated by meeting the empty set of tubs on engine plane in Busty seam