	Sheriff Hill Colliery	Index	Sheriff Hill Colliery

Sheriff Hill Colliery

also known as Ellison Main Colliery

Location:	Wrekenton 3 miles [5 km] SSE of Newcastle
Map Ref:	(Sheet 88) NZ273596, 54° 55' 50" N, 1° 34' 25" W
Maps:	1807 map from "The Picture of Newcastle Upon Tyne…", published in 1807 by D. Akenhead
	1860s map detailed map from the Ordnance Survey
	1896 map detailed map from the Ordnance Survey
Opened:	bef. 1793
Closed:	bef. 1895
Pits:	Fanny Pit, locn: (Sheet 88) NZ267601
	Shaft details for Fanny Pit
	Isabella Pit
	Shaft details for Isabella Pit
Owners:	1860s - R. Foster & Co.
Output:	1855 - Coal.
	1860 - Coal.
	1865 - Coal.
	1890 - Coal.
	Colliery Management (prior to 1970)
	Catalogue of plans of abandoned mines for Sheriff Hill Colliery
Notes:	1862 - In this year, the year of the great Hartley disaster, the law compelling each colliery to have at least two exits was passed, and second shafts were sunk at Sheriff Hill and Towneley to meet the requirements of the new Act.
	1892 - Metal seam abandoned

Description

Ellison Main, or Sheriff Hill Colliery, is situated on the summit of Gateshead Fell, and about 2¾ miles south from Newcastle. It is at present leased by Messrs. Lamb and Hutchinson under Cuthbert Ellison, Esq., of Hebburn Hall. The Isabella Pit was sunk between 50 and 60 years ago, and is 125 fathoms deep to the Hutton seam, which is here 5 feet thick. According to a table in Forster's "Section of the Strata," it appears that fifteen seams of coal, of various thicknesses, have been passed through here. The High Main occurs at the depth of about 60 fathoms, and crops out to the day in a quarry at the Low Fell.

The coals are drawn at two shafts by an engine of about 30 horses' power, which raises three corves at once. Another engine, of the same power, is employed in pumping the water to a height of 30 fathoms from the bottom, where it is discharged into a drift of about 1¼ mile in length, and is finally drawn out by an engine at the Low Fell. The waggon-way from the Isabella Pit to the Tyne is about 3 miles in length, and the waggons are transmitted along it chiefly by means of inclined planes.

Views of the Collieries (1844)

Disasters (5 or more killed)

27th	Dec	1793	14 lives lost (Show Names)
21st	Dec	1794	? lives lost
27th	Jun	1815	Explosion, 11 lives lost (Show Names)
11th	Dec	1815	Fire, 5 lives lost (Show Names)
19th	Jul	1819	Explosion, 35 lives lost (Show Names)

Names of those killed at this colliery

Please note that this collection of names is by no means complete!

						Armstrong, George, 19 Jul 1819, aged 14, killed in the 1819 explosion, Abode: Ayton Banks, Buried: St. Mary, Heworth on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Armstrong, John, 19 Jul 1819, aged 18, killed in the 1819 explosion, Abode: Ayton Banks, Buried: St. Mary, Heworth on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Armstrong, William, 19 Jul 1819, aged 14, killed in the 1819 explosion, Abode: Ayton Banks, Buried: St. Mary, Heworth on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Barker, Hugh, 27 Jun 1815, 4:00 a.m., aged 17, killed in the 1815 explosion [More information ...]
						Bell, William, 27 Dec 1793, Buried: St. Andrews Churchyard, Lamesley on 04 Jan 1794 [More information ...]
						Browel, Matthew, 19 Jul 1819, aged 14, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Bucham, Joseph, 19 Jul 1819, aged 11, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Burlison, Thomas, 04 Jun 1824, aged 9, Trapper, run over by a rolly
						Carr, John, 19 Jul 1819, aged 7, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Carr, Thomas, 23 Sep 1814, aged 13, Driver, residence: Gateshead Fell, Killed in a coal pit and buried after Coroner's inquest [More information ...]
						Carr, William, 19 Jul 1819, aged 9, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Churchill, John, 19 Jul 1819, aged 15, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Clarke, John, 23 Sep 1814, Driver, shaft accident [More information ...]
						Dent, Thomas, 19 Jul 1819, aged 19, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Dixon, James, 19 Jul 1819, aged 22, killed in the 1819 explosion, he had only been married for 14 days, Buried: on 22 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Dixon, Joseph, 27 Dec 1793, Buried: St. Andrews Churchyard, Lamesley on 03 Jan 1794 [More information ...]
						Dixon, Thomas, 27 Dec 1793, Buried: St. Andrews Churchyard, Lamesley on 03 Jan 1794 [More information ...]
						Durham, John, 31 May 1825, Ironstone man, explosion of gas - used candles rather than Davy lamp contrary to orders (NEIMME Ref: Bud-39-p47) [More information ...]
						Eiley, John, 19 Jul 1819, aged 70, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Emmanuel, James, 19 Jul 1819, aged 12, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Fenton, Christopher, 19 Jul 1819, aged 8, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Fenton, George, 19 Jul 1819, aged 11, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Fletcher, John, 19 Jul 1819, aged 11, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Foggett, George, 27 Jun 1815, 4:00 a.m., aged 70, killed in the 1815 explosion, brother of William and Robert [More information ...]
						Foggett, Robert, 27 Jun 1815, 4:00 a.m., aged 45, killed in the 1815 explosion, brother of William and George [More information ...]
						Foggett, William, 27 Jun 1815, 4:00 a.m., aged 60, Viewer, killed in the 1815 explosion, brother of George and Robert [More information ...]
						Forster, Hutton, 27 Dec 1793, Buried: St. Andrews Churchyard, Lamesley on 03 Jan 1794 [More information ...]
						Freeman, Peter, 06 Jan 1871, aged 19, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone
						Hann, James, 30 Mar 1822, Trapper, kiled by the rollies running over him - he had got on to ride and fell off (NEIMME Ref: Bud-39-p20)
						Jamerson, James, 27 Jun 1815, 4:00 a.m., aged 18, killed in the 1815 explosion [More information ...]
						King, Matthew, 23 Nov 1832, killed by a fall of stone [More information ...]
						Lawther, William, 19 Jul 1819, aged 11, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Lindsley, John, 19 Mar 1823, Putter, killed by a fall of stone (NEIMME Ref: Bud-39-p28)
						Linsley, James, 23 Nov 1832, killed by a fall of stone [More information ...]
						McNulty, John, 19 Jul 1819, aged 11, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Musgrave, Joseph, 19 Jul 1819, aged 17, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Musgrave, Thomas, 19 Jul 1819, aged 12, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Pape, John, 19 Jul 1819, aged 19, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Rickaby, David, 19 Jul 1819, aged 8, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Scott, -, 27 Jun 1815, 4:00 a.m., Overman, killed in the 1815 explosion [More information ...]
						Scott, Nicholas, 19 Jul 1819, aged 15, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Small, John, 19 Jul 1819, aged 14, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Steel, William, 19 Jul 1819, aged 10, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Taylor, William, 31 May 1825, Ironstone man, explosion of gas - used candles rather than Davy lamp contrary to orders (NEIMME Ref: Bud-39-p47) [More information ...]
						Tempest, John, 22 Jul 1817, (accident: 21 Jul 1817), Hewer, explosion [More information ...]
						Tennant, Thomas, 22 Jan 1846, aged 57, he was killed when he fell back to the bottom of pit shaft, he slipped out of the rope loop when ridding up the pit shaft
						Thrift, Jacob, 19 Jul 1819, aged 13, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Tickle, James, 19 Jul 1819, aged 9, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Tickle, Joseph, 19 Jul 1819, aged 13, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Upson, Matthew, 19 Jul 1819, aged 13, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Willis, John, 19 Jul 1819, aged 7, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Willis, Thomas, 19 Jul 1819, aged 9, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Wilson, Adam, 19 Jul 1819, aged 12, killed in the 1819 explosion, Buried: on 21 Jul 1819 [More information ...]
						Wind, George, 27 Jun 1815, 4:00 a.m., aged 20, killed in the 1815 explosion [More information ...]
						Wind, William, 27 Jun 1815, 4:00 a.m., aged 50, killed in the 1815 explosion [More information ...]
						Young, James, 27 Jun 1815, 4:00 a.m., aged 23, killed in the 1815 explosion [More information ...]

						56 names found

If you know of any fatalities missing from the above list then please contact us with the details and we will add them to our database.

Those names marked with , have a web page providing individual details of the accident, the page may also include a photograph of the deceased. Click on the symbol next to the name to see the web page.

Some of the names of mining fatalities on this web page have been kindly provided by the researchers at North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers (N.E.I.M.M.E.) and are marked with .

Some of the names of mining fatalities on this page have been kindly provided by Ian Winstanley of the Coal Mining History Resource Centre (CMHRC) and are marked with . The CMHRC is available here.

Some of the details of mining fatalities on this web site have been generated from Parish/Bishop's Transcript's burial records kindly supplied by Julie Thompson and are marked with .

more information on some of the fatalities shown above

The following unnamed fatalities are listed in the Mines Inspectors Reports, once again this collection is not complete!

Date							Inspectors Remarks
22 Feb 1859	–	–	–	1	–	1	fall of stone
26 Mar 1861	–	–	–	1	–	1	fall of stone
06 Aug 1861	–	–	–	1	–	1	fall of stone
01 Dec 1863	–	–	–	–	1	1	fall of stone

Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)

a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of Sheriff Hill Colliery

list of collieries/pits etc. near to Sheriff Hill Colliery

Gallery Images:

Credits

Sources:

1871 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 653), Northumberland, North Durham, and Cumberland District by George William Southern, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1880 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1890 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
An Account of the strata of Northumberland & Durham as proved by Borings & Sinkings, Volume S-T, published by the North of England Institute of Mining & Mechanical Engineers, 1894
Contributions by members of the Public
Headstone(s) and Memorial in St. Mary's Churchyard, Heworth
Headstone(s) in St. Andrew's Churchyard, Lamesley
Mineral Statistics for 1855 (Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, and of the Museum of Practical Geology), compiled by Robert Hunt, F.R.S.
Mineral Statistics for 1860 (Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, and of the Museum of Practical Geology), compiled by Robert Hunt, F.R.S.
Mineral Statistics for 1865 (Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, and of the Museum of Practical Geology), compiled by Robert Hunt, F.R.S.
Mineral Statistics for 1869 (Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, and of the Museum of Practical Geology), compiled by Robert Hunt, F.R.S.
Parish/Bishop's Transcript's burial records kindly supplied by Julie Thompson
Researchers at North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers (N.E.I.M.M.E.)
Victoria History of the Counties of England – Durham. Published in three volumes in 1907.
Views of the Collieries in the Counties of Northumberland and Durham by T. H. Hair. First published in 1844.

Pictures:

Views of the Collieries in the Counties of Northumberland and Durham by T. H. Hair. First published in 1844.

Further Research:

Research Notes for Sheriff Hill Colliery

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