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January 7. — The winning of Woodhouse Close colliery, near Bishop Auckland, was successfully accomplished. The main coal seam was found in great perfection, at a depth of seventy-four fathoms. [LRL]

January 8. — Sunday, in the evening, between eleven and twelve o'clock, a fire broke out at High Heworth colliery, which very fortunately was got under before any material damage was sustained. The fire, which was entirely confined to the upper works, is supposed to have been occasioned by some sparks having been blown from a short rope or torch, left by some men who had commenced working, as a light for others to follow. Engines were speedily dispatched from Newcastle, but before they reached the spot the conflagration was so far subdued as to render their services unnecessary. [LHTB]

January 30. — Two pitmen, named Storey and Surtees, in consequence of a wager, undertook to hew coals against each other at Thornley. The wager was won by Storey, who hewed 33½ tubs of 20 pecks each, and Surtees 30 tubs ; the former being 10 tons 1 cwt, and the latter 9 tones. The time of working was eight hours, and the amount of earnings, according to the price paid for hewing, was — Storey, 11s 2d ; Surtees, 10s. From the hardness of the seam, the feat was supposed to be unprecedented. [LRL]

March. — This month, the pitmen on the Tyne and Wear, after rather an obstinate stick, resumed their industrious avocations upon the terms, and at the same prices, which were paid the previous year. [LHTB]

March 7. — In consequence of C. Richmond, Esq., having obtained coal upon his estate of Burnopside, near Lanchester, in the county of Durham, he entertained a party of gentlemen to dinner on the above day at his seat there. The Lanchester band attended on the occasion and played several appropriate airs. The village bells rung merrily ; and, in the evening, the tower of the church, and the King's Head inn, were brilliantly illuminated. At the latter place the inhabitants of Lanchester and vicinity met together and spent the evening in the greatest harmony. [LHTB]

April 14. — A poor widow, residing at Holywell colliery, Northumberland, bought a small fish of a travelling fish-hawker, for a penny, and, on opening it, found half-a-sovereign in its stomach. [LHTB]

April 18. — Tuesday, five boys employed in Monkwearmouth colliery, got into a corf from which three men had just alighted after descending. On the rope being put in motion for drawing up, it broke near the top, when the corf fell, about three fathoms, to the bottom, and the rope which was the full length of the shaft 264 fathoms, fell down upon the boys in the corf. The youngest two boys were preserved by the shelter which the corf afforded, and escaped with little injury, but the other three who were higher than the sides of the corf, were killed upon the spot. The names of the sufferers were Robert Gray, aged 15, Francis Burrell, 12, George Gilroy, 10 years. [LHTB]

April 18. — The rope of the shaft at Monkwearmouth colliery, 264 fathoms in length, suddenly broke near the top, and fell upon five boys at the bottom, killing three of them on the spot. The names of the sufferers were Robert Gray, aged 15; Francis Burrell, 12; and George Gilroy, 10 years. [LRF]

April 22. — Saturday, the five-quarter seam was sunk through at Crowtrees colliery, laying open about 1600 acres of the West Hetton coal field, belonging to Messrs. Wm. Hedley, and Sons. The seam was in great perfection. Suitable celebrations of the winning were made. [LHTB]

April 25. — A melancholy accident, by which five workmen were instantly crushed to death, occurred near the high end of Gateshead. A scaffolding erected over the quarry of Mr. Joseph Price fell in with a tremendous crash, and upwards of 20 tons of stone lying on it at the time fell upon the men, killing them on the spot. Their names were Joseph Irwin, Matthew Welch, Thomas Baker, George Croyle, sen., and George Croyle, jun. (father and son). [LRF]

May 16. — Died, at Elemore Hall, Durham, in his 84th year, George Baker, esq. Mr. Baker was the oniy son and heir of George Baker, esq., of Elemore. He succeeded his father in 1774. In his earlier years he was supposed to be one of the best gentlemen riders in England. About two months before his decease Mr. Baker announced his intention to present a piece of plate to be run for at the next Newcastle races. This prize assumed the shape of a silver coal waggon, and was not run for until June 25th, 1838, when it was won by Mr. Orde’s celebrated mare Beeswing. Mr. Baker was a candidate for the representation of the city of Durham in the year 1813, when a severe and expensive contest, of nine days duration, took place between himself and the late George Allan, of Blackwell Grange, esq. The latter was elected by a majority of 80. The deceased had been for some time in a declining state of health, but was sufficiently well to receive his rents from his tenantry on the very day he breathed his last. Having deposited his money in a place of safety, he signified his wish to retire to rest, and when his servant was in the act of undressing him he fell back in his chair and expired without a groan. Mr. Baker devised the bulk of his large property to his grandson — the eldest son of Colonel Towers, who married his only daughter — who is directed to assume the name of Baker upon his attaining the age of twenty-one. [LRF]

May 19. — As the keel belonging to Messrs. Cookson's bottle works was going down the Tyne, a large fish was discovered below Hebburn Quay, struggling on the shore. Mr. Strachan, the skipper, with other two young men, succeeded at last in capturing the monster and killing it. The fish proved to be a conger eel, which weighed 3st. 41b., and measured 6 feet 3 inches in length. [LRF]

June. — This month, the sinkers employed at Whitwell colliery, belonging to Andw. White, Esq., of Sunderland, and partners, penetrated a seam of coal equal to the best Wear Wallsend. This event was the more satisfactory, as some doubts were entertained that the coal would be of inferior quality, and an almost exhaustless coal field was thus opened up. [LHTB]

July. — Early in this month, after the short lapse of ten weeks, Jos. Smith, Esq., and Co., owners of South Tanfield colliery, reached the main coal seam, five feet eight inches in thickness, and equal to, if not surpassing in quality, any of the secondary coals in either the Tyne or Wear. The sinking work was under the superintendence of Joseph Smith and Joseph Joicey, Esqs., whose talents in the mining world are too well known to need any commendation from us ; these are the gentlemen, by whose power South Hetton pit was sunk to the astonishing depth 180 fathoms, notwithstanding the difficulties and obstructions they had to encounter, in a time and at an expense unrivalled in this or any other mining district. [LHTB]

July 10. — The main coal seam at South Tanfield, 5 feet 8 inches in thickness, was won, and much rejoicing took place in consequence. [LRL]

July 21. — The James, of Perth, John McLaren, master, was lying at the Clarence staiths, near Stockton; her cargo of coals was completely finished taking in at half-past ten o'clock that evening, and at eleven the crew went to rest. The master and mate to the cabin, and three men and a boy to the forecastle. About two o'clock the following morning, as a keel or sloop was passing down the river, the men onboard observed smoke issuing from the James, when they hailed the vessel, and the master and mate came on deck and found the vessel on fire. They immediately proceeded to the forecastle, and, melancholy to relate, found the three men and the boy all dead, from suffocation. A coroner's inquest was held on the same day (Saturday) on the bodies, and a verdict returned of accidental death from fire, caused by the negligence of the coal trimmers in placing their candles against the ceiling of the vessel. [LHTB]

August. — Early in this month, whilst some workmen were quarrying stone at Borcum Fell, near Bardon Mill, Northumberland, near to the Roman Station Vindolana, one of them found a copper vessel containing 63 coins, 3 of gold and the rest of silver. The gold coins were one of Claudius Caesar, reverse Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, one of Nero, and one of Vespasian. Of the silver coins 3 were of Galba, 1 of Otho, 1 of Nero, 15 of Vespasian, 8 of Domitian, 1 of Nerva, 17 of Trojan, 4 of Hadrian, and 10 of various Empresses. The gold pieces were separately wrapped up in a greenish piece of leather or vellum, which was still quite tough, and many of the coins were as fresh as if just from the die. It was supposed that this treasure had been deposited about the year 120 — the date of Hadrian’s memorable expedition to Britain. The vessel in which they were contained was in the form of a basket, about six inches long. The Duke of Northumberland, as lord of the manor, claimed the coins. [LRF]

September 10. — Sunday, the coal brig Sprightly from Shields to Whitstable, with six hands, was totally wrecked off Flamborough head, and all hands perished, with the exception of one man, named Major, belonging to Folkstone, who, after divesting himself of his clothes, succeeded in swimming through a very rough sea to the shore, which was distant from the vessel about a mile. Although much exhausted, he, with a strength supplied by desperation, climbed a huge rock, and was thus saved from the death which had overwhelmed his ill-fated shipmates. [LHTB]

September 11. — While Mr. Ralph Wardle and Peter Smith, of Colliery Row, were at work in the Aimwell pit, Rainton colliery, on this day, Monday, the roof of the mine fell upon them, and they were both killed on the spot. [LHTB]

September 11. — Coal was obtained in Mr. G. H. Ramsay's new colliery, called Blaydon main, which lies between Winlaton and Blaydon, and a very short distance from the Newcastle and Carlisle railway. The sample appeared to be of the first-rate quality; the seam was three feet eight inches thick, and was intended for sea-sale. Rejoicings took place on the occasion in the village among the work people employed there. [LHTB]

October 3. — The first coals from Ratcliffe colliery were shipped in Warkworth harbour. [LRL]

October 19. — At Manor Wallsend colliery, situate at South Shields, a melancholy catastrophe occurred. A young man named Thompson, and an old man of the name Conway, had some words about their work, during which altercation the old man pushed once or twice at Thompson. The latter, in a moment of ungovernable irritation, took up a "pick", and struck it into Conway's body with such fatal force and effect, that he died on the spot. An inquest was held on the following day, when, without quitting the room, the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against Robert Thompson. He was tried at Durham Spring assizes, 1838, found guilty, and sentenced to six month's imprisonment with hard labour. [LHTB]

November 13. — Monday, considerable alarm was exited at Chirton, near North Shields, by the effect of a creep in the workings of the colliery beneath that place, which caused the ground to sink across the turnpike road, under the cottages, and along the gravel walk in the adjoining grounds of Mr. Collingwood's house. Several panes of glass were broken in the cottages, and the doors were completely fixed by the consequent pressure upon them. [LHTB]

November 22. — An almost miraculous escape from being dashed to pieces was experienced, by a man employed at the colliery at Diana's grove, near Newcastle, A plank having been drawn up by a rope fastened round its middle, when at the top of the shaft, the man at the bank laid hold of one end of it, and being slippery in consequence of the mud which was upon it, the rope slid and the timber fell. An old nail which was in the plank, caught the man's sleeve, and jerked him over the shaft, when providentially his arm was thrown over a piece of wood on the opposite side, and he hung across the pit's mouth, supported by the toe of his shoe on one side, and the wood over which his arm was placed, on the other. While in this perilous situation he called for help, and being heard by the engineman, assistance was procured, and by attaching a rope to his body he was safely rescued. [LHTB]

December 6. — A melancholy catastrophe from an explosion of foul air occurred at Springwell colliery, near Wrekington, four miles from Newcastle. The pit is the property of the right hon. Lord Ravensworth and partners, and we may here observe that in 1832 a similar accident occurred there, by which upwards of thirty human beings were hurried into eternity. The catastrophe we have now to describe occurred between nine and ten o'clock on the morning of the above day, Wednesday, when, of twenty-nine men and boys at work in that part of the Hutton seam of coal where the blast took place, twenty seven unfortunately perished, viz. — fifteen men and twelve boys. What added to the calamity was, that many of the men left wives and large families, who were thus deprived of their natural protection, and of their chief dependence for support. On Thursday, an inquest was held before Michael Hall, esq. (coroner for Chester ward,) and a respectable jury, at the house of Mr. Thomas Maughan, the Springwell inn, on the bodies of James Henderson and Thomas Mason. The witnesses examined were — Nicholas Wood, esq., colliery-viewer, and general manager to Lord Ravensworth and partners for their several works. Mr. Geo. Southern, resident viewer to the Springwell colliery, < @>Mr. C. Steel, overman to the colliery, and several pitmen who had worked in the mine, both recently and formerly. From the testimony adduced, we learn that the depth of the pit to the Hutton seam is 128 fathoms, and that the dip of the seam of coal is to the east, at a decline of one foot in sixteen. After the accident in 1832, every available means were adopted to improve the ventilation of the mine, the most expensive of which was the formation of a communication from the Springwell pit to another shaft on the Black Fell — the former being the downcast, the latter the up-cast, so as to secure, as nearly as the nature of such works will admit, a free current of air. The pit, with these improvements, was not considered by the pitmen to be at all "fiery," to use their own expressive language, but, on the contrary, they deemed it to be quite safe. It appeared, also, that the state of the working parts had been vigilantly attended to ; indeed, owing to their strict attention to duty, the resident viewer and the overman narrowly escaped destruction, as they had just left the part where the explosion occurred, and were blown down by the after-current. In similar calamities the immediate cause of the accident remains shrouded in mystery, but in the present case a discovery was made which led to the strongest inference that the accident was so purely accidental, that it could not have been prevented by any foresight or prudence. The workings of the pit were in two different parts, called “districts.” One of these districts, about a mile from the shaft, and where sixty-one men and boys were at work, was not affected by the blast. In the district where the accident happened, about half a mile from the shaft, the operations of working both what is called “the whole coal,” and “the broken,” were going on. To our distant readers we may explain, that “whole coal,” in mining phrase, means the seam in its imbedded, unbroken state. In operating upon this, the pitmen work out stated portions, leaving “pillars” of coal to support the roof of their subterranean workshop. Eventually these pillars are removed, the roof being temporarily sustained in the mean time by props of wood, and this is called “working the broken.” This “broken” part of the workings of coal mines is always considered the most dangerous, from its greater liability to the generation of foul air, and in removing the pillars, safety lamps are exclusively used in Springwell pit. The custom is, however, when working the unbroken seam, to blast it with gunpowder, and in this operation the men used candles. It is in the pillar workings, however, where, notwithstanding the employment of the safety lamp — and the still further precaution adopted of supplying the men with locked lamps as they went down to their work — that the fatal accident is supposed to have occurred. There remained traces of the fire in the “broken” workings, particularly the scorching of the pit props. Near there, also, was found the safety-lamp of Edward Price, in such a position as to lead to an inference that it had fallen across the rolley way, and been accidentally run over and broken. — Thomas McNay, wagon way wright, John Todd and William Potts, pitmen, spoke to finding the broken lamp, and tracing the explosion from the northern extremity where the lamp was found to the south end, and from thence westward to the whole coal working north to the shaft. The gauze wire and glass of the lamp were broken and otherwise much bulged in, and the body of Edward Price was found not far from it. The lamp was identified from the number on it as being the one the unfortunate man had used, and the breaking of it, in the opinion of the witnesses above named, was the cause of the fire. The jury after a few minutes consultation, returned a verdict of Accidental Death. Three horses, as well as the unfortunate men, were killed by the explosion. The workings of the pit were less injured than might have been expected. [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.
• LRF — Local Records or Historical Register of Remarkable Events by T. Fordyce, Published in 1867
• LRL — Local Records or Historical Register of Remarkable Events by John Latimer, Published in 1857