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Wooley Colliery |
Index |
Wooley Colliery |
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Wooley Colliery
| Location: |
nr. Crook
6½ miles [10 km] WSW of Durham
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| Map Ref: |
(Sheet 92) NZ178385, 54° 44' 28" N, 1° 43' 25" W |
| Maps: |
1898 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide |
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1928 map from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide |
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1949 map detailed map from the Ordnance Survey |
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1951 map from the Guide to the Coalfields (Colliery Guardian) |
| Opened: |
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| Closed: |
1963 |
| Pits: |
Shaft details for Wooley Colliery |
| Owners: |
1860s - Joseph Pease & Partners |
| Output: |
1865 - Coal. |
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1873 - Coal. |
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1888 - Coal. |
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1894 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing. |
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1896 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing. |
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1900 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing. |
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1902 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing. |
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1905 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing. |
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1910 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing. |
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1915 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing. |
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1921 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing. |
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1925 - Coal: Coking. |
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1930 - Coal: Coking. |
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1935 - Coal: Coking. |
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1947 - Coal: Coking, Manufacturing. (135,000 tons) |
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1948 - Coal: Coking, Household. |
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1949 - Coal: Coking, Household. |
| Employment: |
| Year | Pit | Total |  | Below | Above |
| 1883 | | 244 |  | 244 | |
| 1894 | | 366 |   | 292 | 74 |
| 1896 | | 360 |   | 291 | 69 |
| 1900 | | 391 |   | 316 | 75 |
| 1902 | | 416 |   | 335 | 81 |
| 1905 | | 439 |   | 364 | 75 |
| 1910 | | 589 |   | 517 | 72 |
| 1915 | | 452 |   | 407 | 45 |
| 1921 | | 603 |   | 524 | 79 |
| 1925 | | 571 |   | 497 | 74 |
| 1930 | | 458 |   | 397 | 61 |
| 1935 | | 14 |   | 5 | 9 |
| 1935 | | Discontinued 9/31 |
| 1940 | | 586 |   | 516 | 70 |
| 1945 | | 644 |   | 553 | 91 |
| 1947 | | 582 |   | 524 | 58 |
| 1948 | | 685 |   | 581 | 104 |
| 1949 | | 664 |   | 570 | 94 |
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Colliery Management (prior to 1970)
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| Seams Worked: |
1905 - Busty, Five Quarter, Harvey, Yard |
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1910 - Busty, Five Quarter, Harvey, Yard |
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1915 - Busty, Five Quarter, Harvey, Yard |
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1921 - Busty, Five Quarter, Harvey, Main Coal, Yard |
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1925 - "B", Ballarat, Five Quarter, Harvey, Main, Yard |
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1930 - "B", Ballarat, Five Quarter, Harvey, Main, Yard |
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1935 - "B", Ballarat, Brockwell, Five Quarter, Harvey, Yard [Discontinued 9/31] |
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1948 - Ballarat, Harvey, Yard |
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1949 - Ballarat, Harvey, Yard |
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Catalogue of plans of abandoned mines for Wooley Colliery |
| Notes: |
1896, 07 Mar - Main seam abandoned |
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1911, 03 Jun - Harvey, Victoria seams abandoned |
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1931, 01 Jul - "B" seam abandoned |
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1934 - Brockwell seam abandoned |
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Miscellaneous Notes and Incidents for Wooley Colliery |
Description
Disasters (5 or more killed)
None Found
Names of those killed at this colliery
Please note that this collection of names is by no means complete!
| | |  | | | | Bailey, Thomas William, , he died in an accident operating a coal cutter, the cutter flipped and crushed him, he died the next day [date unknown], Buried: Stanley Cemetery |
| | |  | | | | Bell, John, 06 Sep 1906, (accident: 08 Apr 1903), aged 71, Shifter, When walking in bye on 8th April, 1903, he stumbled against a sheave and cut his face. Died 6th September, 1906. |
| | |  | | | | Birbeck, John, 03 Jun 1877, (accident: 17 May 1877), aged 27, Collier, injury to spine and jaw broken by fall of large stone, Buried: Crook Churchyard |
| | |  | | | | Birtle, William, 16 Oct 1943, aged 24, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Howden-le-Wear Cemetery |
| | |  | | | | Briddick, John, 07 Nov 1874, aged 46, Rolleywayman, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: Crook Cemetery |
| | |  | | | | Brooks, William, 03 Jan 1883, aged 14, Driver, fell off some waggons and was run over on the railway leading to Wooley Colliery [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident] |
| | |  | | | | Butterfield, Abraham, 18 Feb 1910, aged 55, Deputy, With the assistance of the hewer, he was drawing props from a lift which had been driven up its distance. He was using a drawing axe, and on knocking out a prop the stone above it fell and crushed him. The fall gave no warning, and it was afterwards found that the stone had come away at a slip |
| | |  | | | | Butterfield, John, 11 Apr 1896, (accident: 18 Mar 1896), aged 36, Hewer, Back injured by a fall of stone from a slip. Died April 11th |
| | |  | | | | Curry, Joseph, 09 Dec 1879, aged 35, Collier, crushed between tubs - on taking an empty tub away from flat he neglected to sprag those he had left, when the ran amain and caught him |
| | |  | | | | Dodds, George, 17 Nov 1884, aged 50, Screener, fell on the road to his work at the pit and died from natural causes [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident] |
| | |  | | | | Glendinning, Robert, 14 Dec 1896, aged 38, Labourer, Died from heart disease while following his employment [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident] |
| | |  | | | | Haslam, Adam, 08 Apr 1868, aged 18, Hand Putter, killed by a fall of stone |
| | |  | | | | Hayson, Thomas, 15 Aug 1906, (accident: 11 Aug 1906), aged 32, Hewer, When lifting a stone in the pit, he ruptured a blood vessel and died four days afterwards. |
| | |  | | | | Humes, Hilton, 11 Dec 1893, (accident: 08 Dec 1893, 10:15 a.m., 1st hour of shift), aged 29, Hewer, Burnt by gas in a siding over place. Died on the 11th inst. [More information ...] |
| | |  | | | | Ingham, William, 06 Mar 1897, aged 38, Hewer, Killed by fall of stone from roof of his working place, which fell away at two slips without any warning |
| | |  | | | | Jackson, Thomas, 04 Sep 1911, (accident: 30 Aug 1911), aged 31, Hewer, he was walking inbye along with six other hewers all of whom were proceeding in single file at close intervals when they met a driver coining outbye with his pony and set of full tubs; all the men except Jackson were able to take shelter in the refuge holes, which at that point were only half the statutory distance apart; he appears to have lost his presence of mind, tripped up and host his light and was then knocked down by the pony; the accident should not have occurred as the driver's light could be seen 30 yards away and deceased was knocked down only three yards from a refuge hole |
| | |  | | | | Jenkins, Thomas, 15 Jul 1914, aged 27, Hewer, Deceased was hewing in a wall, when some stone fell from a roll between the timber and the face, and killed him. |
| | |  | | | | Jones, T., 09 Feb 1905, (accident: 03 Feb 1905), aged 22, Putter, Fall of roof from between planks on drawing road. Died 9th Feb. Planks 2ft. 7in. apart. Stone fell from two slips which met at the apex. The hewer was sitting under the stone getting his bait when he heard the lad coming with the tub, he got up and went into the bord and as the boy went under it the stone fell out |
| | |  | | | | Kennedy, John Edward, 15 Jan 1941, aged 29, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone while working in the Ballarat seam, Buried: Esh Winning Cemetery |
| | |  | | | | Lee, Richard, 29 Nov 1878, aged 40, Collier, fall of roof while working in a bord |
| | |  | |  | | Lyle, John George, 07 Jun 1950, aged 30, Shot Firer, he was fatally injured when shots went off prematurely; he was admitted to Durham County Hospital at 10pm and died at 1.30am after undergoing an operation, Buried: St. Thomas Churchyard, Stanley Crook |
| | |  | | | | Mason, Joseph, 07 Dec 1871, aged 14, Driver, crushed by tubs |
| | |  | | | | Mason, Robert, 13 Jul 1864, Sinker, killed by shot in sinking bottom [More information ...] |
| | |  | |  | | Mudd, John, 14 Jun 1918, (accident: 13 Jun 1918), aged 65, Hewer, his skull was fractured by a fall of stone in the Yard Seam when he worked too near the goaf, an area where he should not have been working [date of inquest], Buried: St. Thomas Churchyard, Stanley Crook |
| | |  | | | | Pyrah, Thomas, 09 Jan 1897, (accident: 07 Jan 1897), aged 50, Hewer, While following his employment he ruptured his bowels, and died on the 9th inst |
| | |  | | | | Robinson, T. W., 29 Apr 1940, (accident: 11 Jan 1940), aged 43, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone |
| | |  | | | | Scott, Arthur, 31 Jul 1904, Driver, He complained of having hurt his head in the pit by being thrown off a coal tub, and afterwards suffered from meningitis, which passed off, and he died from typhoid fever and pneumonia |
| | |  | | | | Smith, Benjamin, 17 Apr 1893, (accident: 01 Apr 1893), aged 28, Runner, he was injured on the shoulder by slipping his foot on gangway on 1st instant, and died today, but the doctor certified death was due to influenza and inflammation of the brain, and no inquest was therefore held |
| | |  | | | | Stoker, Norman, 31 Mar 1907, (accident: 28 Mar 1907), aged 22, Hewer, he died 31st March from injuries received from a fall of roof when hewing in the brokens three days previously; it is doubtful whether the timbering rules had been observed |
| | |  | | | | Thomson, Benjamin, 06 Dec 1904, aged 17, Hewing Putter, fall of stone when setting timber in a face of a place which he and another putter were just turning away in the 5/4 seam, Buried: St. Thomas Churchyard, Stanley Crook |
| | |  | | | | Trevor, John, 17 Mar 1908, aged 41, Deputy, he and another deputy were drawing timber out of a bord, and had got 80 props out, when a stone about 5 yards long by 2 yards wide by 18 inches thick fell from two clean slips and killed him, Buried: St. Thomas Churchyard, Stanley Crook |
| | |  | | | | Walkingshaw, John, 07 Sep 1871, aged 46, Deputy, killed by a fall of stone |
| | |  | | | | Walton, Robert, 16 Jun 1864, aged 24, Sinker, fall of stone in shaft [More information ...] |
| | |  | |  | | Watson, Joseph, 17 Jul 1942, aged 37, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone, the place where he was working was only 17 inches high, Buried: St. Thomas Churchyard, Stanley Crook |
| | |  | | | | Welsh, Luke, 18 Apr 1874, aged 22, Labourer, head taken off by descending cage while he was looking down the pit |
| | |  | | | | Wood, John, 23 Sep 1869, aged 23, Driver, crushed by tubs |
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36 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 site have been kindly provided by
Jim Grainger from his research into early newspapers (primarily the Durham Advertiser
and Durham Chronicle) and are marked with
.
more information on some of the fatalities shown above
Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)
a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of Wooley Colliery
list of collieries/pits etc. near to Wooley Colliery
Gallery Images:
Credits
Sources:
- 1864 Mines Inspectors Report, Southern District by John J. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines
- 1868 Mines Inspectors Report, South Durham District by John J. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines
- 1869 Mines Inspectors Report (C 124), South Durham District by John J. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1871 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 653), South Durham, Westmoreland, and Cleveland District by James Willis, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1873-4 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1874 Mines Inspectors Report (C 1216) Where to find this report
- 1877 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 2003), Durham District by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1878 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2321), Durham District by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1879 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2604) Where to find this report
- 1880 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1881 Mines Inspectors Report (C 3241)
- 1883 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4078), Durham District by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1884 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4429), Durham District by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1888 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1890 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1893 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7339), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 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
- 1896 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8450), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1897 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8819), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1900 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1902 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1904 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2506), Durham District (No. 4) by R. Donald Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1905 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1905 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2910), Durham District (No. 4) by R. Donald Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1906 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 3449), Durham District (No. 4) by R. Donald Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1907 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 4045), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1908 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 4672), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1909 List of Mines - from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
- 1910 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1910 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 5676), Durham District (No. 3) by A. D. Nicholson, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1911 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 6237), Durham District (No. 3) by A. D. Nicholson, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1914 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 8023), Northern Division (No. 2) by J. R. R. Wilson, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
- 1915 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1919 List of Mines - from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
- 1921 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1925 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1930 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1935 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1940 Colliery Year Book and Coal Trades Directory published by Louis Cassier Co. Ltd.
- 1945 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1947 The Colliery Year Book and Coal Trades Directory. Published by The Louis Cassier Co. Ltd., from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
- 1948 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
- 1949 Guide to the Coalfields published by the Colliery Guardian, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
- Banners of the Durham Coalfield, Norman Emery, 1998, Sutton Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-7509-1708-3
- Contributions by members of the Public
- Headstone(s) in Churchyard, Crook
- Headstone(s) in Crook cemetery
- Headstone(s) in Esh Winning Cemetery
- Headstone(s) in Howden-le-Wear cemetery
- Headstone(s) in St. Thomas Churchyard, Stanley Crook
- Headstone(s) in Stanley Cemetery
- History, Topography, and Directory of the County Palatine of Durham by Francis Whellan. Second edition published in 1894.
- 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.
- 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
- Colliery picture provided by David Kitching from the John Ryan Collection (©)
Related Links:
| On this site |
| Newspaper articles |
| Article from Coal Magazine (May 1958) — "Springtime Weddings (2)" |
| Pictures in the Gallery section for Wooley Colliery |
Further Reading:
- Banners of the Durham Coalfield, Norman Emery, 1998, Sutton Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-7509-1708-3, provides a brief history of the colliery along with the history of the associated Miners Lodge Banner
Further Research:
Research Notes for Wooley Colliery
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