	Pit Close Colliery	Index	Pit Close Colliery

Pit Close Colliery

Location:	Morley 12½ miles [20 km] SW of Durham
Map Ref:	(Sheet 92) NZ134276, 54° 38' 36" N, 1° 47' 32" W
Opened:
Closed:
Owners:	1880s - George Lawson
	1900s - Lowson Brothers
Output:	1888 - Coal.
	1894 - Coal: Household.
	1896 - Coal: Household.
	1900 - Coal: Household.
	1902 - Coal: Household.
	1923 - Coal: Coking.
	1924 - Coal: Coking.
	1925 - Coal: Coking.
Employment:	1883 - 6
	1894 - 10 (8 below, 2 surface)
	1896 - 12 (9 below, 3 surface)
	1900 - 12
	1902 - 0 [Standing]
	1905 - 0 [Abandoned. Plan to H.O. April, 1905.]
	1923 - 9 (7 below, 2 surface)
	1924 - 9 (7 below, 2 surface)
	1925 - 3 (2 below, 1 surface) [Closed]
	Colliery Management (prior to 1970)
Seams Worked:	1923 - Five Quarter
	1924 - Five Quarter
	1925 - Main (Brockwell) [Closed]
	Catalogue of plans of abandoned mines for Pit Close Colliery
Notes:	1905 - Brockwell seam abandoned - coal exhausted

Description

Coal is also extensively worked in this township [Evenwood], as will be seen by the following account of the several pits when in working order. The owners of Norwood colliery have two seams at work – the Brockwell, 5 ft. 6in., at the depth of 14 fathoms, which dips considerably to the north east, and the Busty, 4 feet thick, is worked by two drifts north and south. The annual output is 120,000 tons, and the number employed is over 200. Evenwood colliery, by the North Bitchburn Coal Co., have two pits working the Brockwell, 5 ft. 9 in., at the depth of 72 fathoms. Five Quarter from 1-9 to 3 feet at 58 fathoms, and the yard seam at 51 fathoms.

These seams are worked by a drift from Evenwood Colliery. The average output is 160,000 tons per annum, and the number employed is over 300. There are fifty coke ovens, but not in use at present. Storey Lodge Colliery, by the North Bitchburn Coal Co., working the Yard seam and the Five Quarter, 4 ft. 6 in. yielding an annual output of 80,000 tons, and employing 180 hands. Reiley Fell Colliery, by Messrs. Henry Stobart & Co. Here are the Busty, 3 ft. 8 in. to 4 ft., and the Brockwell, 5 ft. 10 in. This pit is at present idle ; but there are 70 coke ovens, which are supplied from the Lands Colliery, which was sunk in 1879, and at which are worked the Harvey, 2 ft. 4 in., the Busty, 4 ft. 6 in. to 6 ft., and the Brockwell, 5 ft. 10 in., employing 100 hands. At Morley Colliery, by Mr. Andrew Mein, is worked by a drift, the Main Coal seam, 5 ft. 6 in. to 6 ft., yielding 30,000 tons per annum, and employing 40 men and boys. Pit Close is another small colliery, where Mr. George Lowson is working also the Main Coal seam.

Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham

Disasters (5 or more killed)

None found.

Names of those killed at this colliery

No names found.

Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)

a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of Pit Close Colliery

list of collieries/pits etc. near to Pit Close Colliery

Credits

Sources:

1880 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1881 Mines Inspectors Report (C 3241)
1888 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1890 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1894 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1896 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, also available online at Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd
1900 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1902 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1905 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1923 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1924 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1925 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
History, Topography, and Directory of the County Palatine of Durham by Francis Whellan. Second edition published in 1894.
Mineral Statistics for 1883 - Government report from the Mines Department (C 4058), published in 1884 — includes List of Mines and Mineral Works
Mineral Statistics for 1884 - Government report from the Mines Department (C 4430), published in 1885 — includes List of Mines and Openworks