North Biddick Colliery

1766 - The following pits were worked in 1766 :— Fortune, Venture, Wayside. The seams worked were :— Three Quarter, Five Quarter, Main

1771, Nov 17 - The collieries at North Biddick, Chartershaugh, and Low Lambton, on the Wear, were all filled with water, and upwards of thirty horses in the several workings drowned. Several wagons, with horses, and a great quantity of coals were swept off, and the fire engines belonging to the two former collieries entirely destroyed.

1841 - Coal was won at North Biddick Colliery.

1894 - The Little Pit, North Biddick Colliery, was sunk from the surface to the Hutton Seam.

1932, 27 Feb - Main, Maudlin, Low Main, Hutton seams abandoned

Akenhead, John, 17 Mar 1767, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Baker, Thomas, 17 Mar 1767, Pit Boy, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Booth, William, 21 May 1891, 7:00 a.m., 1st hour of shift, aged 13, Trapper, instead of getting into a manhole he stood at the side to allow the tubs to pass, and either slipped or got frightened, and fell against the tubs [Inquest attended]

Brough, Barnaby, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Brough, John, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Brough, Robert, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Brough, Thomas, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Brown, Elizabeth, 17 Mar 1767, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Brown, James, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Brown, John, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Brown, John, 29 Jul 1900, (accident: 29 Nov 1899), aged 38, Stoneman, Died to-day from injuries received owing to a fall of stone from roof of his working place, on November 29th, 1899.

Brown, John William, 15 Aug 1923, (accident: 14 Aug 1923), aged 27, Engineer, jammed tubs [More information ...]

Brown, Thomas, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Brown, William, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Carr, William, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Charlton, John Edward, 07 Dec 1927, aged 52, Drawer, killed by a fall of stone

Clarke, Robert, 17 Mar 1767, Pit Boy, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Collingwood, James, 29 Mar 1901, aged 54, Hewer, Killed by fall of stone in face of working place at a slip. The stone was in the shape of a "horse back."

Coonan, William, Aug 1916, (accident: 04 Jun 1914), aged 20, He died from tuberculosis following an injury to his ankle: a tub had got off the way, and as he lifted it back on the rails it fell and smashed his ankle. The jury returned a verdict of death due to 'general tuberculosis set up by the accident on June 4th, 1914' [Inquest: 18 Sep 1916]

Crosby, Elizabeth, 17 Mar 1767, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Crow, George jnr., 28 Nov 1902, aged 26, Hewer, when working in the face some weight was thrown on the timber in the road some distance out-bye ; the putter shouted that he and the man working with him were to stay in the face, but he attempted to rush out and was caught and killed by a large stone that fell ; the other man stopped in the face and was not injured at all [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 28 Nov 1902 pg 3]

Curry, Peter, 28 Jan 1743, 5:00 a.m., killed in the 1743 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington on the 18th Feb [More information ...]

Curry, Thomas, 28 Jan 1743, 5:00 a.m., killed in the 1743 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington on the 18th Feb [More information ...]

Dove, Robert, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Drury, Oliver, 19 Mar 1924, 7.5 a.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 17, Putter, Deceased was attaching his pony to a full tub, which had just been re-railed on a roadway near the face, when the pony suddenly drew away and deceased fell in front of the tub. The tub wheel caught his neck and dislocated it, death being instantaneous, Buried: All Saints Churchyard, Penshaw

Dunkinson, George, 25 Aug 1898, (accident: 15 Aug 1898), aged 65, Shifter, died to-day from blood poisoning; on the 15th inst he was taking some metal pipes into a district on a tram and one of his fingers got crushed between the pipes, blood poisoning set in and caused his death

Dunn, William, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Edwards, Robert, 15 Feb 1909, aged 14, Driver, He received a shock from a lighting cable, the insulation of which, by constant rubbing against the end of the tubing carrying the cable, had been worn off. The arrangement was not good. Fittings should be screwed directly on to the tubing, and not be suspended merely by the cables. The tubing for carrying cables should be substantial and not the usual thin kind used for house lighting. In the same way, the switches, fuse boxes, and other gear, originally intended for use in houses should not be used underground, but other of a stronger pattern and type should be installed

Elliott, George Henry, 04 Nov 1913, aged 36, Hewer, the meeting station was at the junction of two roads, on which sets of tubs were drawn by horses; deceased, along with others, was waiting at the station when a set of five tubs came round an easy curve; the first tub left the rails and crushed him against a prop, against which he was sitting, Buried: All Saints Churchyard, Penshaw

Fletcher, Joseph, 14 Jul 1927, aged 39, Drawer, killed by a fall of stone

Gallon, James, 30 Jan 1905, aged 38, Pumping Engineman, Suffocated by carbonic acid gas. He and another man were going into a hydraulic pump when they found the place full of stythe. One man refused to go in and tried to prevent Gallon, but he would go and was killed. No quantity of stythe had been seen there before, and it is supposed that as the water lowered it uncovered a stone drift to another seam, and the gas came off. It came back about 30 yards on the waggonway [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 31 Jan 1905 pg 3], Buried: All Saints Churchyard, Penshaw [More information ...]

Gallon, John, 30 Jun 1908, aged 41, Engineplane Man, he was sitting near a cabin in the Low Main Seam eating his bait, when a huge fall of shale swung out four baulks and buried him up; none of the timber was broken, and there was no warning that the roof was about to come in

Gardener, John, 17 Mar 1767, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Gardener, Robert, 17 Mar 1767, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Garth, John, 28 Jan 1743, 5:00 a.m., killed in the 1743 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington on the 16th Feb [More information ...]

Gouldsbro, George, 16 Dec 1890, 8:30 p.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 22, Shifter, suffocated by gases from old workings [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 17 Dec 1890 pg 5 col 1, 18 Dec 1890 pg 3 col 1] [More information ...]

Hannah, Steel, 17 Mar 1767, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Hay, Thomas, 26 Nov 1870, aged 38, Enginewright, crushed by gear of engine

Hedley, John, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Heightly, David, 19 Apr 1905, (accident: 24 Dec 1903), aged 25, Deputy, when riding on limbers on the 24th December, 1903, he turned to speak to a boy in a tub and got his head crushed between top of tub and plank, whereby his skull was fractured; he resumed work on the 28th March, 1904, continued until 5th April, 1905, took ill on 17th April and died 19th April, death being due to inflammation of membrane of brain, caused by the accident [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Henderson, Ralph, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Higgins, James, 31 Mar 1905, aged 36, Hewer and Putter, he was sitting on the limbers coming out-bye when by some means a plank was drawn out letting down stone on to him, breaking his neck

Hought, William, 28 Jan 1743, 5:00 a.m., killed in the 1743 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington on the 18th Feb [More information ...]

Humble, Robert, 31 Mar 1920, aged 21, killed on railway, Buried: All Saints Churchyard, Penshaw

Hurst or Nolan, Henry, 13 Nov 1905, death took place on 13th November, 1905, due to heart failure following pneumonia [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Hutson, Robert, 28 Jan 1743, 5:00 a.m., killed in the 1743 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington on the 7th Feb [More information ...]

Johnson, Robert, 12 Sep 1889, (accident: 08 May 1888), Putter, died from a strain by lifting a tub on the rails

Joyce, James, 09 Apr 1910, (accident: 20 Mar 1910), aged 56, Chargeman, He was travelling a road about 4 feet high in the course of his work, when quite a small piece of stone fell from the roof on to his head. He thought nothing of it at the time, and only fell ill when he reached home. A doctor was called in next day, but could not see any mark, and treated him for a bad headache. He got worse, and died on 9th April. A post mortem examination showed that all his organs had been healthy in life. There was no fracture of the skull, or any external marks of injury. The cause of death was meningitis set up (in the opinion of all the four doctors present) by the accident

Kinross, John, 29 May 1894, 9:50 a.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 26, Banksman, Descending from the surface to the "hole" he stepped out of the cage too soon and fell down the shaft [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 30 May 1894 pg 3 col 5] [More information ...]

Kirkbride, William, 30 Dec 1920, aged 47, Filler, lifting tubs

Kirsop, Thomas, 27 Jan 1875, aged 47, Hewer, crushed by tubs

Laverick, Thomas, 16 Dec 1890, 8:30 p.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 22, Borer, suffocated by gases from old workings [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 17 Dec 1890 pg 5 col 1, 18 Dec 1890 pg 3 col 1] [More information ...]

Laws, Edward, 12 Apr 1888, aged 49, Hewer, killed by a fall of roof

Lee, Thomas, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Maddison, Thomas, 16 Dec 1890, 8:30 p.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 25, Shifter, suffocated by gases from old workings [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 17 Dec 1890 pg 5 col 1, 18 Dec 1890 pg 3 col 1], Buried: All Saints Churchyard, Penshaw [More information ...]

McCartenay, Stephen, 02 May 1873, aged 42, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

McGlone, John, 19 Mar 1907, aged 15, Driver, trying to hold a full tub back down a dipping road, it overpowered him and squeezed him against another tub already standing on the road [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 25 Mar 1907]

Mellet, Thomas, 17 Mar 1767, Pit Boy, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Metcalfe, T. W., 16 Sep 1919, aged 24, Labourer, killed through being caught between a hoist cage and beam

Moor, George, 17 Mar 1767, Pit Boy, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Moor, William, 17 Mar 1767, Pit Boy, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Morgan, John, 08 Apr 1893, (accident: 30 Mar 1893, 6:30 a.m., 1st hour of shift), aged 18, Putter, Three tubs out of a "set" got off the road when coming round a curve, knocking out a prop and severely injuring the deceased, who was in a refuge hole. He died on 8th April [Inspection made & inquest attended]

Morgan, William, 03 Feb 1912, (accident: 24 Jan 1912), aged 54, Labourer, he was engaged in emptying a railway truck which had been shunted just clear enough of the main track to allow the full coal trucks to pass; he was apparently getting out of the truck on the only dangerous side when a full truck passed and crushed him; he died from his injuries on February 3rd

Nelson, John, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Nolan or Hurst, Henry, 13 Nov 1905, death took place on 13th November, 1905, due to heart failure following pneumonia [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Padon, Thomas, 24 Jan 1896, aged 36, Hewer, Fall of a large stone from a slip when turning a place away

Palmer, Edward, 09 Apr 1912, (accident: 09 Mar 1911), aged 31, Miner, died from acute miliary tuberculosis accelerated by injuries to the shoulder accidentally caused by a fall of coal in the low main seam North Biddick Colliery on the 9th March 1911 ; left a wife and five children

Rea, John, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Ridley, James, 07 Oct 1903, aged 57, Winding Engineman, alleged to have died from the effects of a fall in engine house, but medical evidence proved that his death was due to syncope, Buried: All Saints Churchyard, Penshaw

Robinson, Jacob, 01 Apr 1914, aged 21, Putter, Deceased was bending down to clear some dirt away from the wheels of a tub, when a fall of side occurred fastening his legs and disturbing a prop under a baulk. Although assistance was at hand almost immediately, a further fall of roof occurred before he could be liberated, and he was partially buried and killed [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 02 Apr 1914 pg 6 col 1], Buried: St. Cuthberts Churchyard, West Herrington

Roseberry, James, 02 Jan 1901, (accident: 26 Dec 1900), aged 23, Labourer, He, on December 26th last, was lowering two waggons down an incline, riding on the front end, and let them join some other waggons. He was so badly crushed between them that he died on January 2nd

Rumney, William, 06 Mar 1903, aged 25, Deputy, killed by a fall of stone at two slips, which could not be seen before it took place, when drawing timber in a longwall face, Buried: All Saints Churchyard, Penshaw

Scott, William, 14 Aug 1923, aged 21, Waggonway Man, jammed tubs [More information ...]

Snowden, Franklin, 31 Dec 1914, aged 15, Landing Lad, deceased was sent away from a landing in advance of the full train, in order to be ready to attach the tail chain further outbye; the haulage engineman noticed on his ammeter that much more current than usual was being taken, so stopped the train after it had gone some 200 yards; on search being made the lad was found beneath the twelfth and thirteenth tub, and apparently he had been carried or rolled for a distance of 50 yards; from the position in which his cap and lamp were found he had either been walking between the rails, where there was 3 feet of room at the side, or had been riding upon the rope end

Sproats, Robert, 18 Feb 1901, aged 43, Stoneman, died in the pit from natural causes

Strong, John, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Strong, William, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Sweeney, Patrick, 11 Apr 1905, (accident: 27 Oct 1904), aged 32, Hewer, slightly injured by fall of roof on 27th October, 1904; died 11th April, 1905, from malignant disease of duodenum [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Sweeney, Thomas, 09 Sep 1911, (accident: 01 Sep 1911), aged 14, Driver, he waited until his pony and six full tubs had left the flat, and then after putting in the chock was running to overtake his set when he tripped up and fell and bruised his left knee; he completed his shift and walked home; his knee got worse and a doctor was called in and ultimately ordered his removal to the Royal Infirmary, Newcastle-on-Tyne, where he died on September 9th from acute osteritis of the tibia which had set up absorption of toxines resulting from his accident [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 12 Sep 1911 pg 4 col 3]

Todd, Charles, 09 Dec 1890, 11:00 a.m., 5th hour of shift, aged 51, Waggonman, fell under a waggon wheel

Watson, John, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Watson, Ralph, 17 Mar 1767, Pitman, killed in the 1761 explosion, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Washington [More information ...]

Watts, William, 20 Jan 1898, aged 14, Driver, he was attempting to get on to his set when it was in motion and fell in front of the tubs, and the first tub ran on to him, crushing him severely about the abdomen and fracturing his spine; died within a few minutes of being got out [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 21 Jan 1898 pg 3]

Wilson, James, 07 May 1883, aged 14, Rapper Boy, crushed by tubs on engine plane

Wilson, William, 23 Nov 1902, aged 63, Wasteman, alleged to have died from an injury received in pit, but, post-mortem examination showed that he died from heart disease