Pittington Colliery

1820, Aug 21 - Commenced to sink at Pittington Colliery, below the Five Quarter Seam down to the Main Coal Seam.

1891, 28 Feb - Five Quarter, Main Coal, Low Main seams abandoned - Mineral worked out

Aisbett, Thomas, 04 Oct 1847, aged 15, Driver, Thomas Aisbett, a 15 year old rolley driver, was driving his horse attached to nine rolleys full of coal in Londonderry Pit on 4 October. He had just got off the rolley when he was crushed to death between the wall and one of the waggons.

Bowey, James, 01 May 1857, Deputy, he was drawing a jud with other men when a mass of stones fell from the roof and killed him

Coleman, Walter, 19 May 1855, aged 15, Pony Putter, he was sitting with another boy against a wall side in that pit waiting for a waggon, when a large stone fell from the side of the pit upon him, he died before he could be removed from the pit

Cuthbertson, William, 02 Sep 1863, aged 19, Water Leader, crushed by return wheel in underground engine plane

Forster, Robert, 24 Apr 1854, aged 50, while at work in the five-quarter seam he was critically injured when he was crushed by a stone falling on him, he sustained spinal injuries and died shortly afterwards

Guy, William, 12 Aug 1853, aged 19, crushed by a fall of coal

Hall, Joseph, 28 Jun 1859, aged 66, Shifter, killed by a fall of stone

Hall, Rodham, 08 Apr 1868, aged 14, Pony Putter, crushed between prop and tubs

Hunter, Richard (jnr.), 29 Sep 1860, aged 18, Onsetter, killed by a fall of stone

Hunter, William, 20 Apr 1849, aged 26, On 20 April, The Durham Advertiser reported that William Hunter, 26, had been crushed by a mass of stone and rubbish which had fallen from the roof of the east part of the Londonderry Pit. He was taken out and died 15 to 20 minutes later.

Hutchinson, John, 09 Nov 1860, aged 28, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Judson, William, 16 Oct 1846, aged 63, Wasteman, he was crushed to death by a piece of stone which fell from the roof

Maddison, James, 10 Aug 1841, Blacksmith, he was repairing the trap-spring of the small coal tub., the tub was standing about 1/3 the way, up the inclined plane and secured by a stay, the stay however gave way while Maddison was hammering on at the spring, the tub ran amain and carried him down the plane, and crushed him to death against the wall at the bottom (NEIMME Ref: Bud-48-14-80)

Maddison, James, 29 Mar 1860, Hewer, killed by a fall of roof

Mason, Robert, 22 Jan 1857, Driver, he was standing at a flat preparing to drive along the rolley way with his horse and a set of tubs. Without warning, a large stone fell from the roof, crushing both Mason and the horse dead

Minnis, William, 02 Sep 1856, aged 12, accidental crushing of chest by a laden coal tub, son of John Minnis a coal miner

Parry, John, 16 May 1862, aged 14, Driver, crushed by tubs

Pratt, George, 14 Nov 1848, aged 29, he was crushed by a large fall of stone from the roof; he died five minutes after the stone was removed

Quick, John, 18 Oct 1858, aged 15, Apparatus boy, crushed by surface waggons at night

Small, James, 29 Aug 1870, aged 48, Stoneman, shot exploded when drawing pricker

Spencely, William, 30 Nov 1857, aged 67, Accidentally crushed by a fall of stone from roof of pit

Tempest, Thomas, 1841, aged 54, killed by a fall of stone

Vardy, Thomas, 15 Jan 1886, (accident: 23 Dec 1885), aged 67, Hewer, fall of stone at face of working place

Walker, J., 19 Jul 1859, aged 70, Shifter, killed by a fall of stone

Wall, Matthew, 28 Mar 1834, an empty corf having been left near the mouth of the shaft, was caught by the wind, and hurled down the shaft at the time five men were ascending, two of whom were killed, the rest severely injured [More information ...]

Wilkinson, Matthew, 20 Jul 1838, aged 31, Waggonman, killed accidentally by coal waggons, left wife (Mary) and five children, Buried: St. Lawrence Churchyard, Pittington on 22 Jul 1838

Wilson, Edward, 28 Mar 1834, an empty corf having been left near the mouth of the shaft, was caught by the wind, and hurled down the shaft at the time five men were ascending, two of whom were killed, the rest severely injured [More information ...]