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March. — About this period an explosion occurred in Walbottle colliery, near Newcastle, by which three men and eleven boys were dreadfully scorched. One hundred and twenty men and boys were at work in the mine at the time of the accident. [LHTB]

May 31. — The society of Arts presented a silver medal to William Reid Clanny, esq., M.D., of Bishopwearmouth, for his safety lamps for coal mines. This society, in the following year, presented the doctor with a gold medal for a steam safety lamp. [LHTB]

June 15. — A fire broke out in the dwelling house of Mr. J. Miller, at Brinkburn colliery, near Morpeth, which, in a short time, destroyed the house, with a joiner's shop and stable, and a large quantity of wood. Miller's wife, with an infant only three days old in her arms, had to make her escape by the window, with five other children, all without clothing ; two lodgers also lost everything except what they had on their persons. [LHTB]

July 20. — The Thomas and Jane, from Sunderland, with coals, sank within the Teesmouth. [LRSN]

August 5. — The ship Flora, of London, having just taken in a cargo of coals from Messrs. Nesham and Co.'s staith at Sunderland, blew up with a terrible explosion, the deck beams being broken, and the decks completely torn up, with considerable other damage. This was occasioned by the inflammable state of the coal, and the air being entirely excluded from the hold. [LHTB]

December 13. — The Grand Duke Nicholas, of Russia, and his suite arrived at Sunderland ; and the morning following, attended by the Rev. Dr. Gray, minutely inspected the pier, the iron bridge, the coal staith of Messrs. Nesham and Co., and afterwards took refreshment at Bishopwearmouth rectory house. They then set out for Newcastle, and on their arrival, his imperial highness proceeded to the royal Jubilee School, where he was met by the Rev. William Turner, one of the secretaries. Though Saturday is not a regular school day, yet at the request of Dr. Hamel, who had arrived the day before, Mr. Drury, the master of the school, had assembled all the boys, to the number of nearly five hundred. This being the first Lancastrian school which his highness had seen, he appeared to be powerfully interested, and attentively examined all their performances. Before leaving the school, he inscribed with his own hand in the visitors' book, his name in the Russ character, to remain as a testimonial of his visit. From the school the prince proceeded to Wallsend colliery, where Mr. Buddle explained the whole process of ventilating and working the mines and the shipping of coal. Mr. Bewick had afterwards the honour of laying before the grand duke specimens of his skill in the art of engraving upon wood, which were closely examined, and much approved of by his highness. On Sunday morning, the right worshipful the mayor, Sir Thomas Burdon, knt., paid his respects to his imperial highness, to tender him the honours and hospitality of Newcastle. His highness regretted that want of time did not allow him to accept the invitation, and indeed he almost immediately set off for Alnwick castle, and thence to Berwick, where he passed the night. His suite consisted of the following persons :– Baron Nicholay, Sir William Congreve, Koutousof, Dr. Crichton, General Saurassoff, M. Klinker, M. Marsell, and M. Parosky. [LHTB]

 

 

 

• LHTB — Local Historian's Table Book of Remarkable Occurrences Connected with the Counties of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland and Durham by M.A. Richardson. Published in five volumes in 1844.
• LRSN — Local Records of Stockton and the Neighbourhood by Thomas Richmond. Published in one volume in 1868.