Durham Mining Museum - William Benson and Sons Ltd.

Companies	Index	Companies

William Benson and Sons Ltd.

Warning: This is not intended to be an exhaustive history of the company, but an indication of the changes of ownership and the links between companies and directors in those companies. The company may own other properties etc. and there may have been other changes of ownership etc. for which we currently do not have details.

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1875

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Fourstones	Hexham		—	—
Montague Main	Newcastle-on-Tyne		—	—


1882

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Fourstones	Hexham	S. Pearson	—	—
Montagu Main	Scotswood	T. W. Benson	—	—


1883

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston	Alston		—	—
Fourstones	Hexham	S. Pearson	—	—
Montagu Main	Newcastle-on-Tyne	E. Nicholson	—	—


1885

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston		—	—
Fourstones	Hexham	S. Pearson	—	—


1887

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston		—	—
Fourstones	Hexham	S. Pearson	—	—
Montagu Main, Caroline Pit	Newcastle-on-Tyne	E. Nicholson	—	—
Montagu Main, View Pit	Newcastle-on-Tyne	E. Nicholson	—	—


1888

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston	David Smith	—	—
Fourstones	Fourstones, R.S.O.	S. Pearson	—	—
Montagu Main	Newcastle-on-Tyne	E. Nicholson	—	—


1894

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston	David Smith	18	1
Caroline	Newcastle-on-Tyne	Edward Nicholson	517	116
Fourstones	Fourstones	S. Pearson	40	8
Montagu Main	Scotswood	Ed. Nicholson	146	—	See Caroline Pit

			721	125

			846


1896

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston	David Smith	18	1
Caroline	Newcastle-on-Tyne	Edward Nicholson	460	110
Coatleth Hill (Limestone)	Alston	W. J. Benson	8	6
Fourstones	Fourstones	S. Pearson	32	8
Montagu Main	Scotswood	Edward Nicholson	170	7
Woodburn [a] (Sandstone)	Corsenside		10	2

			698	134

			832


1897

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Coatleth Hill (Limestone)	Alston	W. J. Benson	10	5
Fourstones (Limestone)	Fourstones	R. W. Hetherington	30	39
Prudham (Limestone)	Fourstones	R. W. Hetherington	94	11

			134	55

			189


1899

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston	David Smith	16	1
Caroline	Newcastle-on-Tyne	Edward Nicholson	430	—
Fourstones	Fourstones	S. Pearson	37	8
Montagu Main	Scotswood	Edward Nicholson	169	126

			652	135

			787


1900

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston	David Smith	14	1
Caroline	Newcastle-on-Tyne	Edward Nicholson	408	—
Fourstones	Fourstones	S. Pearson	40	8
Montagu Main	Scotswood	Edward Nicholson	187	156

			649	165

			814


1902

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston	David Smith	16	1
Fourstones	Hexham	S. Pearson	40	8
Montagu Main	Scotswood	Edward Nicholson	749	130

			805	139

			944


1905

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston	David Smith	13	1
Coatleth Hill (Limestone)	Alston		4	7
Fourstones (Limestone)	Fourstones		22	39
Fourstones	Fourstones	Edward Nicholson	54	8
Montagu Main	Scotswood	Edward Nicholson	830	179
Prudham (Limestone)	Fourstones		73	11

			996	245

			1,241


1910

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston	David Smith	16	1
Fourstones	Fourstones	Edward Nicholson	71	10
Montagu Main	Scotswood	Edward Nicholson	1,138	207

			1,225	218

			1,443


1914

Links to other areas of this site

1914-09-04

Article from Newcastle Journal — "The Call To Arms"


1915

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston	David Smith	14	2
Fourstones	Fourstones	J. Charlton Pearson	55	22
Montagu Main	Scotswood	Edward Nicholson	681	134

			750	158

			908


1921

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston	David Smith	14	1
Fourstones	Fourstones	J. Charlton Pearson	81	27
Montagu Main	Scotswood	G. T. Nicholson	1,037	228

			1,132	256

			1,388


1922

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Coatlith Hill Quarry	Alston		5	1
Fourstones (Limestone)	Fourstones		19	8

			24	9

			33


1923

Company Details

Registered Office:	Collingwood Buildings, Collingwood Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne
Class of Coal:	Gas, Manufacturing
Other Minerals Worked:	Fireclay
Source: 1923 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

Company Directors

Directors:	Benson, H. M.
	Gibson, J. A.
	Nicholson, W. E.
Secretary:	Gibson, J. A.

Source: 1923 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

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston	David Smith	17	1
Fourstones	Fourstones	J. Charlton Pearson	87	31
Montagu Main	Scotswood	G. T. Nicholson	1,200	224

			1,304	256

			1,560


1925

Disaster/Major Accident

Date	Colliery/Pit	Deaths	Cause
30 Mar 1925	Montagu, Scotswood	38	Inrush of water from old Paradise Pit
	Names of those killed
	Text of the Official Report
	Images of the memorial to the disaster

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift	Alston	G. Sproat	19	1
Fourstones	Fourstones	J. C. Pearson	89	31
Montagu Main	Scotswood	G. T. Nicholson	1,061	224

			1,169	256

			1,425


1930

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Alston Drift, Goodfellow Pit	Alston	G. Sproat	—	—	Worked from Clarghyll Drift
Clarghyll Drift	Alston	G. Sproat	5	1
Montagu Main	Scotswood	R. L. Nisbet	896	223

			901	224

			1,125


1933

Company Details

Registered Office:	Akenside House, Newcastle-on-Tyne
Class of Coal:	Coking, Gas, Household, Steam
Other Minerals Worked:	Fireclay
Source: 1933 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

Company Directors

Directors:	Bates, S., Prudhoe Grange, Prudhoe-on-Tyne
	Benson, W. A., Newbrough Hall, Fourstones-on-Tyne
	Cookson, C., Milburn House, Newcastle-on-Tyne
	Elwes, G., Lt.-Col., Warwick Hall, Wetheral, Cumberland
	Lishman, R., 8 Alma Place, North Shields
Secretary:	Lishman, R.

Source: 1933 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

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Clarghyll Drift	Alston	George Sproat	11	1
Montagu Main	Scotswood	T. H. F. Adams	810	200

			821	201

			1,022


1935

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Montagu Main	Scotswood	J. E. M. Chapman	720	180


1937

Company Details

Registered Office:	Akenside House, Newcastle-on-Tyne
Source: 1937 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

Company Directors

Directors:	Bates, S., Prudhoe Grange, Prudhoe-on-Tyne
	Benson, W. A., Newbrough Hall, Fourstones-on-Tyne
	Cookson, C., Crescent House, Newcastle
	Elwes, G., Lt.-Col., Elsham Hall, Brigg, Linsc.
	Lishman, R., 8 Alma Place, North Shields
Secretary:	Lishman, R.

Source: 1937 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

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Montagu Main	Scotswood	J. E. M. Chapman	810	200


1940

Company Details

Registered Office:	Akenside House, Newcastle-on-Tyne
Class of Coal:	Coking, Gas, Household, Steam
Other Minerals Worked:	Fireclay
Source: 1940 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

Company Directors

Directors:	Bates, S., Prudhoe Grange, Prudhoe-on-Tyne
	Benson, W. A., Newbrough Hall, Fourstones-on-Tyne
	Cookson, C., Crescent House, Newcastle-on-Tyne
	Cookson, J. C. B., Meldon Park, Mopeth
	Cookson, R. A., Sandhoe House, Hexham
	Elwes, G., Lt.-Col., Elsham Hall, Brigg, Lincs.
	Lishman, R., 8 Alma Place, North Shields
Secretary:	Lishman, R.

Source: 1940 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

Company Notes

This company is controlled by Mickley Coal Co. Ltd.

Source: 1940 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

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Montagu Main	Scotswood	George Whiteman	570	152


1947 - at the time of Nationalisation

Company Details

Registered Office:	Akenside House, Sandhill, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1
Source: 1947 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

Company Directors

Chairman:	Cookson, Clive, Crescent House, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1
Managing Director:	Cookson, Clive, Crescent House, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1
Directors:	Bates, Sidney, The Grange, Prudhoe-on-Tyne
	Benson, W. A., Newborough Hall, Fourstones-on-Tyne
	Cookson, J. C. B., Meldon Park, Morpeth
	Cookson, R. A., Sandhoe House, Hexham
	Elwes, R. G. G. J., Lt.-Col., Warwick Hall, Wetheral, Cumberland
	Glass, R. D., Akenside House, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1
	Lishman, R., 8 Alma Place, North Shields
General Manager:	Glass, R. D., Akenside House, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1
Secretary:	Lishman, R.
Fitter	Lishman, R.
Chief Engineer:	Tremble, J.
Agent:	Taylor, R.

Source: 1947 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

Collieries/Mines Owned

			Employees
Name of Mine	Locality	Manager	Under	Above
			ground	ground
Montagu	Scotswood	J. S. Wigham	558	143


Sources

1875 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 1499), Newcastle-on-Tyne District by James Willis, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1923 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
1933 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
1937 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
1940 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
1947 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
1881 Mines Inspectors Report (C 3241) Where to find this report
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 1885 - Government report from the Mines Department (C 4771), published in 1886 — includes List of Mines and Mineral Works
Mineral Statistics for 1887 - Government report from the Mines Department (C 5464), published in 1888 — includes List of Mines and Mineral Works
1888 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department Where to find this report
1894 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department Where to find this report
1896 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, also available online at Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd Where to find this report
1896 List of Quarries
1897 List of Quarries
1899 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department Where to find this report
1900 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department Where to find this report
1902 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department Where to find this report
1905 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department Where to find this report
1905 List of Quarries
1910 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department Where to find this report
1915 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department Where to find this report
1921 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department Where to find this report
1922 List of Quarries - Government report from the Mines Department, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
1923 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department Where to find this report
1925 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department Where to find this report
1930 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department Where to find this report
1935 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department Where to find this report
1940 Colliery Year Book and Coal Trades Directory published by Louis Cassier Co. Ltd.

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