Thrislington Colliery

1835 - Boring operations were started from the surface at Thrislington, proving down to the Bottom Hutton Seam.

1840 - West Cornforth or Thrislington Colliery was sunk from the surface to the Main Coal Seam.

1844 - A seam of coal was won at Thrislington Colliery, near Ferryhill.

1851 - A bore-hole was put down from the surface to the Harvey Seam, Thrislington Colliery, proving the Old Main Coal Seam as worked out.

1867 - The Mary Pit, Thrislington Colliery, was sunk from the surface to the Brockwell Seam.

1911 - Most of the heapstead destroyed by fire

1950 - Five Quarter seam discontinued

Alderson, Clarence, 28 May 1938, (accident: 26 May 1938), aged 41, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Rock Road Cemetery, Spennymoor

Bainbridge, Cutler, 09 Sep 1873, aged 45, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Holy Trinity, Cornforth on 14 Sep 1873 {NBI}

Banks, Joseph, 25 Apr 1908, aged 34, Hewer, He was hewing in a headways lift in the Harvey Seam, when a piece of stone, weighing about a ton, fell away from between two converging slips in the blue shale immediately overlying the seam. The place had been well timbered, but the stone fell between the supports, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Barrasford, James, 27 Nov 1919, aged 44, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Beadon, G. W., 29 Jul 1925, (accident: 12 Nov 1923), aged 23, Putter, strain

Bewick, J., 30 Jan 1937, aged 65, Shifter, caught by set

Blackwell, Joseph William, 11 Jul 1919, aged 16, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Blenkiron, John, 11 Jan 1930, (accident: Dec 1929), aged 43, Stoneman, about two weeks prior to his death he returned home from work feeling ill and was confined to bed; later he developed a fever and was taken to Sedgefield Hospital where is died; it was thought he had strained or injured himself at work

Blenkiron, William Henry, 25 Jun 1929, (accident: 10 Dec 1928), aged 16, died in Durham County Hospital after his left leg was amputated [More information ...]

Brown, Robinson, 17 Jun 1851, Quarryman, drowned [More information ...]

Byers, Walter, 12 Apr 1927, aged 25, Buried: York Road Cemetery, Spennymoor

Chatt, John T., 14 Jan 1906, (accident: 25 Sep 1905), aged 34, Hewer, He was injured by a fall of coal and ramble on 25th September, 1905, and died on 14th January, 1906, from consumption, death being accelerated by the injury he had received whilst at work in the pit.

Chatt, Joseph, 26 Jun 1906, aged 52, Hewer, Said to have suffered from effects of powder smoke when at work in the mine. Coroner's jury gave a verdict that death was due to apoplexy, but accelerated by breathing noxious fumes whilst at work.

Cole, John Thomas, 1924, aged 60, Buried: Cornforth [approximate date]

Colling, Charles, 24 Dec 1881, aged 15, Driver, tub in which he was riding over turned and crushed him, Buried: Holy Trinity, Cornforth on 28 Dec 1881 {NBI}

Crewe, John W., 23 Nov 1928, aged 28, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Cruddace, Matthew, 30 May 1877, aged 61, Hewer, thigh severely crushed by a fall of stone, died 31 August

Cullun, Arthur, 24 Dec 1934, aged 39, Coal Filler, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Ditchburn, John, 15 Feb 1844, aged 53, Sinker, fell down shaft [More information ...]

Dixon, George Henry, 30 Jul 1929, aged 17, Buried: St. Mary's Parish Church, Coxhoe

Dixon, George Thomas, 02 Jan 1936, aged 49, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Dodds, Thomas, 12 Jul 1936, aged 47, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Dyke, Harold, 24 Oct 1942, aged 28, Blacksmith, Buried: Coxhoe Churchyard

Elsbury, Thomas, 09 Jul 1946, aged 65, Washery Attendant, caught in conveyor, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Fawcett, David Stewart, 19 Mar 1925, (accident: 18 Mar 1925), aged 17, he was seriously injured when he fell off a set of tubs on which he had been riding, he died the next day in Durham County Hospital

Geldard, A. G., 09 Oct 1938, (accident: 14 Jan 1938), aged 55, Stoneman, died from injuries received

Gill, Joseph Dobbin, 30 Aug 1937, aged 23, Datal, caught by tipper, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth [More information ...]

Gordon, James, 19 Jan 1883, aged 34, Hewer, on leaving the cage at the pit bottom, he turned round by the framework and fell into the sump

Harrison, William, 06 Apr 1901, aged 46, Stoneman, he was pushing powder into a hole with a copper stemmer when it exploded and killed him and injured a man who was working with him, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth [More information ...]

Hodgson, Nicholas, 22 Apr 1932, aged 37, Coal Filler, killed by a fall of stone, left a wife and 4 children, his wife was expecting their 5th child when he was killed, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Holt, Walter, 09 Mar 1916, aged 20, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Hudson, W., 05 Mar 1927, aged 38, Deputy

Hutton, William, 03 Jun 1845, aged 22, Putter, William Hutton, 22, a putter at West Cornforth pit, while in company with a fellow workman on 3 June was taking a full tub of coals on a tram down the inclined railway in the pit, when the drags by which the tram was held back slipped and it ran amain. After leaving the way, it knocked down several props, which caused a large quantity of stones to fall from the roof, covering Hutton and crushing him to death

Jackson, Joseph, 20 Feb 1943, aged 64, Shifter, caught by tub, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Jackson, Whitfield, Jan 1912, Master Wateman, he sat down and died from heart failure while going round the pit with fore-overman R. Clark; the colliery had been closed since the heapstead fire in November last

Jones, John, 14 Jul 1908, aged 54, Pumpman, This accident is precisely similar to the one which occurred in Hamsterley Colliery on 25th June. He, knowing the full set was being hauled towards him, was walking inbye. He did not get into a refuge hole, and was consequently run over and killed by the set. His son (also called John) was killed at Mainsforth Colliery in 1919, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Jordison, T., 02 Dec 1918, aged 24

Kell, Joseph, 25 Mar 1934, aged 30, found dead in coal hopper, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Kennedy, J., 24 Feb 1948, aged 47, Coal Filler, killed by a fall of stone

Knight, J. G., 11 Feb 1925, (accident: 08 Aug 1923), aged 44, Hewer, crushed

Maddison, W., 31 Dec 1909, aged 50, Hewer

Mason, Henry, 05 Dec 1950, aged 51, Shunter, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Mathews, E. J., 30 Sep 1941, aged 41, Onsetter, caught by cage

Maughan, Henry, 09 Apr 1957, aged 52, Haulier, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

McCran, Michael, 30 Dec 1949, aged 47, Coal Filler

McGarvey, Hugh N., 12 Sep 1935, aged 50, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Metcalfe, Frederick, 20 Feb 1951, aged 26, Coal Filler, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Metcalfe, Robert, Dec 1943, aged 62, he died from injuries sustained at the by-product works about five weeks earlier, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth on 09 Dec 1943

Middleham, T., 16 Sep 1874, aged 18, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone

Midgley, Frank, 05 Aug 1937, (accident: 05 Jul 1937), aged 53, Horse Keeper, fall of cable

Milsom, W., 02 Jul 1922, aged 51, Deputy

Morrow, George, 26 Sep 1924, 11.30 p.m., 3rd hour of shift, aged 51, Stoneman, Deceased and his marrow were sent to clear a fall on the face. They set timber to secure the place. After clearing some of the fall they considered more timber was necessary. Whilst they were preparing to set this timber a fall occurred, which fastened deceased down by his feet. Before he could be liberated more stone fell and he was completely buried. When got out 3 hours later he was dead. The fall which buried him was 11 ft. long by 11 ft. 6 ins. wide and 4 ft. thick in the centre. It came from a distinct break on the line of face. It is said that eight props were canted out. The position of these could not be determined with accuracy, but it is clear they were set within the prescribed distance of 5 ft.

Mould, Thomas Ambrose, 20 Dec 1951, aged 44, Deputy, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Naylor, Joseph, 01 Sep 1918, (accident: 17 Apr 1917), aged 44, Hewer, crushed internally

Nobbs, William, 09 Aug 1934, aged 16, Datal, crushed by tubs, Buried: St. Mary's Parish Church, Coxhoe

Oates, James William, 26 Sep 1941, aged 54, he died in hospital after taking ill in the pit, there was evidence of injury; the pathologist though death was due to cerebral haemorrhage, residence: St. Helen's Auckland [Inquest 26 Sep 1941]

Overton, George Edward, 29 Jun 1905, aged 17, Spare Putter, when hewing in a bordways gate a stone came away from between two slips and killed him, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Owens, James Heslington, 13 Nov 1935, aged 15, Pony Driver, caught by belt, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth [More information ...]

Palmer, Joseph, 07 Aug 1868, aged 23, Onsetter, explosion at the shaft [More information ...]

Parker, George, 01 May 1879, aged 18, Putter, injury to back by fall of stone while assisting a hewer, died on the 13th May

Parker, Matthew, 22 Dec 1870, aged 19, Putter, crushed by tub, Buried: Holy Trinity, Cornforth on 24 Dec 1870 {NBI}

Payton, H., 28 Apr 1928, aged 42

Peverley, John, 14 May 1915, aged 48, Stoneman, he was caught between the brake wheel and the tub, and afterwards died in the infirmary as a result of severe injury to the left leg

Plant, William, 19 Aug 1899, (accident: 17 Aug 1899), aged 47, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Reddan, George, 25 Apr 1883, aged 23, Hewer, fall of roof and coal while turning away the bord

Riseborough, Robert, 11 May 1902, (accident: 19 Apr 1902), aged 54, Platelayer, on Sat. 14 Apr he had returned home from work at dinner time and told his wife, Mary, that he had fallen off a truck that morning while unloading timber; he had a cut on the back of his head dressed by Dr. Bruce, and then went back to work. He suffered severe pains in his head on Sunday, but returned to work the next day and continued to work until the end of that week. On 9 May he lost consciousness and died two days later. The inquest jury recorded a verdict of "Death from natural causes " as medical evidence showed it had not been due to the head injury

Robson, J. T., 16 Oct 1919, aged 40, Onsetter

Rodgers, Ebeneezer, 31 Jan 1961, aged 62, Datal, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Scott, R. W., 03 Oct 1950, aged 45, Shotfirer

Scott, William, 25 Jul 1876, (accident: 24 Jul 1876), aged 48, Stoneman, concussion of the spine by a fall of stone in a drift while preparing it for arching

Searle, John, 04 Dec 1936, aged 30, Landing Lad, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth [More information ...]

Shaw, William, 21 May 1868, aged 40, Hewer, fell into the sump and was drowned [More information ...]

Shotton, Joseph, 30 Jun 1877, aged 13, Trapper, run over by incline set in coming outbye

Siddle, James, 11 Dec 1952, aged 45, Stoneman, shot firing accident, Buried: Rock Road Cemetery, Spennymoor

Smith, J., 05 Nov 1907, aged 42, Stoneman

Steel, John, 13 Jul 1916, aged 44, Stoneman, He and William Robinson were in a 'flat' in which the tubs were placed until there were sufficient to form a set. A full tub had been sent down the flat, and Steel was walking behind it, when a putter named George Gill sent a water tub away, which caught Steel and he was crushed to death between the two tubs

Steel, R. W., 07 Apr 1948, aged 55, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone

Stirk, Harold, 03 Nov 1947, (accident: 18 Jul 1947), aged 25, Rolleyway Man, run over by tubs, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Stoddart, Joseph H., 08 Jun 1937, aged 19, Landing Lad, struck by baulks, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Storey, T. B., 11 Dec 1942, aged 33, Boiler Attendant, drowned

Stubbs, George Huntley, 30 Jun 1950, aged 64, Wagonwayman, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Terrant, Humphrey, 23 Oct 1889, aged 69, Horse Keeper, crushed to death by a set of tubs over the kip while he was at the low or empty side

Wake, J. T., 22 Apr 1921, aged 28, Shifter

Wakefield, John Edward, 26 Nov 1912, aged 18, Putter, he was taking an empty tub inbye and was evidently sitting as usual on the limbers, when a fall of roof occurred killing both deceased and his pony; after the accident a treacherous slip, which no amount of examination would have revealed, was exposed running parallel to the road, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Webb, Daniel, 17 Nov 1937, aged 49, Coal Filler, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

White, Leonard, 12 Mar 1942, aged 16, Haulage Hand, crushed, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

White, T., 17 Nov 1959, aged 56, Buttman

White, Thomas, 27 Aug 1909, aged 19, Coalcrusher Attendant, He was screwing down an oil cap when his apron was caught by the revolving shafting and he was whirled round and round and killed, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cornforth

Wilson, William, 21 Jul 1922, aged 51, Deputy, killed by a fall of stone, Alfred Applegarth heard the fall, shouted to Wilson, but got no answer; on reaching the fall he began lifting a few stones and found Wilson dead

Winship, Michael, 29 May 1881, (accident: 25 May 1881), aged 28, Hewer, severe injury to body, and broken hip by fall of stone

Yarrow, John, 10 Jun 1953, aged 42, Power Loader

Young, H., 05 Mar 1927, aged 38