Windlestone Colliery

1877 - The 16 ft. shaft at Windlestone Colliery was finished in October for Messrs. Pease & Partners; put down from surface to Marshall Green Seam, and bored further.

1931, 04 Nov - Harvey, Busty, Brockwell seams abandoned

Bellwood, James, 24 Aug 1908, aged 18, Landing Lad, A hauling rope broke when pulling 21 tubs up an incline rising 8 inches per yard; the tubs ran back and on to him at the foot of the incline. He should not have been standing where he was standing. There was plenty of room for him to have stood out of harm's way. The breaking strain of the rope 27 tons, and the working load a little over 3½ tons

Daniels, Arthur, 21 Nov 1915, aged 36, He was killed by a fall of stone. The manager, Mr. Paxton, stated that deceased was one of his best and most careful workmen, and the accident could not have been foreseen.

Fenton, Thomas, 11 May 1916, aged 17, Buried: Quarrington Churchyard

Fish, Samuel, 26 Mar 1874, aged 27, Fireman, caught by spur gearing of engine

Hopper, James, 24 Jan 1908, (accident: 22 Jan 1908), aged 49, Hewer, he failed to sprag his jud, and it came over on to him and so severely injured him that he died two days afterwards, Buried: Rock Road Cemetery, Spennymoor

Hunter, John, 22 Jul 1909, aged 24, Locomotive Fireman, He was getting on to the buffer of a waggon in motion when he fell, and the first wheel passed over his thigh breaking it. He died the same day

Jackson, John, 10 Jul 1920, aged 24, Hand Putter, killed by a fall of stone

Local, William, 29 Jul 1924, 4.30 a.m., 1st hour of shift, aged 66, Locomotive Driver, Deceased was assisting the locomotive fireman to pull down a bogie which had been emptied on the refuse heap, when the locomotive, which was only 4 ft. away, moved down a gradient of 1 in 72 towards the bogie and crushed him between the buffers, causing injuries from which he died in a few minutes. It is presumed that the engine moved as the result of the fireman pulling a chain that was attached between the bogie and the locomotive. The steam brake on the locomotive was not applied and it is doubtful if the hand brake was properly applied

Pain, Edgar Mercer, 04 Jul 1912, aged 42, Deputy, he was going up a self-acting incline, 220 yards long, having an average gradient of 8 inches per yard, when two tubs ran amain from the incline top and, knocking him down, killed him; the bank top lad had forgotten to couple all the tubs together, and the first two of a set of four ran amain; a second protective chock nor yet a runaway switch was provided

Thompson, Thomas William, 25 Mar 1919, aged 42, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: St. John the Evangelist Churchyard, Kirk Merrington

Watson, Matthew, 09 Sep 1890, aged 63, Enginewright, while removing a boiler he placed it on to two light trams which gave way and it fell upon him while attempting to put in chocks or stays