Thornley Colliery

Research Notes

• Miscellaneous documents
• Ref: D/X 411/94 — National Coal Board information sheets re Horden, Blackhall, Thornley, Wheatley Hill, Wingate, Deaf Hill, Sherburn Hill and Shotton collieries, post 1956

• National Coal Board — 1st Deposit
• Ref: NCB 01/X 119 — Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill collieries memorandum book (reports, abstract of leases, sections of seams, tentale rents, particulars of machinery, houses, working and sales abstracts, etc.), 1882-1883

• National Coal Board — 1st Deposit, Papers of Robert Simpson (1814-1894)
• Ref: NCB 01/RS 271A — Plans, Bundle of plans of which one or two are initialled "R.S.": provenance of others uncertain. Estates near Wingate Grange (showing owners and pits; including Littletown, Ludworth, Thornley, Wheatley Hill, Shotton, Hurworth, etc.), 1833; extract from Philip's map of geology of Yorkshire, 1853; estates belonging to George Clark in Bedlington by W. Anson (showing field names, acreages, and bore holes), 1814; Languin colliery, plans to show mode of working, with explanatory notes by T. J. Taylor, 1838; land near St. Helen's Auckland, by W. Kay, 1845; tracing of Auckland district from Lambert's map, not dated

• National Coal Board — 13th Deposit
• Ref: NCB 13/320 — Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company - Particulars, plan and conditions of sale, Wheatley Hill, Thornley and Ludworth Collieries, 9 August 1877
• Ref: NCB 13/321 — Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company - Theodolite surveys, Thornley and Wheatley Hill Collieries, c.1945
• Ref: NCB 13/322 — Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company - Letter book of Philip Cooper, Thornley Colliery, 3 July 1877 - 11 May 1882
• Ref: NCB 13/323 — Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company - Letter book, Thornley Colliery, 19 July 1910 - 18 November 1919

• National Coal Board — 24th Deposit
• Ref: NCB 24/82 — Public Relations Office Files - Thornley colliery (press-cuttings), 1 April 1959 - 1 August 1970
• Ref: NCB 24/83 — Public Relations Office Files - Thornley colliery, 20 November 1959 - 10 November 1969

• National Coal Board — 27th Deposit
• Ref: NCB 27Interim List/24 — File on the death of Frank Lye at Thornley Colliery, 6 June 1976
• Ref: NCB 27Interim List/54 — Analysis of wages, cost per ton and other particulars of Thornley and Ludworth Collieries, 1909-1916. Enclosed: Lease of Coal, Ironstone and Fireclay from M. H. Salvin, esq., to Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company, Ltd., 28 January 1922
• Ref: NCB 27Interim List/58 — Correspondence and other particulars relating to the recruitment of workers to Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill Collieries during wartime, c.1916
• Ref: NCB 27Interim List/59 — Analysis of wages, cost per ton and other particulars of Thornley Colliery, 27 April 1929 - 16 August 1930

• National Coal Board — 30th Deposit
• Ref: NCB 30/Box 82/13 — Closed collieries, Land use, Thornley Colliery, January 1970 - February 1973

• National Coal Board — 33rd Deposit
• Ref: NCB 33/Box 12/13 — Colliery specification, Thornley Colliery, 1954

• Photocopies and photographs
• Ref: D/Ph 150/1 — Sale catalogues for Thornley and Ludworth Collieries, 1865
• Ref: D/Ph 150/2 — Pay notes of W. Elliott of Thornley Colliery, 1901, 1912-1915
• Ref: D/Ph 150/3 — Workmens' Death Fund rules for Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill Collieries, 1930
• Ref: D/Ph 150/4 — Notice concerning the shaftmans' safety harness at Thornley Colliery, not dated
• Ref: D/Ph 150/5 — Notice for No. 2 Shaft, code of shaft signals for Thornley Colliery, not dated
• Ref: D/Ph 150/6 — Notice requesting subscriptions for building the Thornley Aged Mineworkers Homes, 1914
• Ref: D/Ph 150/7 — Rules for Thornley Aged Miners Homes, not dated c.1914
• Ref: D/Ph 150/8 — Programme for the 1st Annual Sports Day of the Thornley Colliery Mining Federation Board, 1958
• Ref: D/Ph 150/9 — Financial statement of the Thornley Colliery Mining Federation Board, 1960
• Ref: D/Ph 150/10 — Pay book of Private G. Jordan of Percy Street, Thornley, No. 2 Company D.L.I. (including, at back, a will), 1915-1917
• Ref: D/Ph 150/19 — Photograph of Front Street showing the Thornley Colliery Inn, not dated c.1910
• Ref: D/Ph 150/20 — Photograph of Aged Miners Homes, Thornley, not dated c.1910-1920
• Ref: D/Ph 150/21 — Photograph of Durham Road, Thornley, not dated c.1930
• Ref: D/Ph 150/22 — Photograph of Durham Road, Thornley, not dated c.1930
• Ref: D/Ph 150/23 — Photograph of the railway station, Thornley, not dated c.1930
• Ref: D/Ph 150/24 — Photograph of the Villas, Thornley, not dated c.1930
• Ref: D/Ph 150/25 — Photograph of Walter Willson's Store, Thornley, 1900. The individuals are, from left to right, Reuben Read, M. Quinn, M. Veitch, W. Hodgson
• Ref: D/Ph 150/26 — Photograph of a stable, Albert Street, Thornley, showing a man driving a horse and cart, 1900
• Ref: D/Ph 150/27 — Photograph of G.G. Kirk's general store and greengrocers' shop, Thornley, with horse and cart standing outside, 1912. The shop was run by Gibson and Benjamin Kirk who also delivered goods.
• Ref: D/Ph 150/28 — Photograph of a milk cart from Blench's (later Eley's) Farm, Thornley, with a boy standing by the horse's head, 1914
• Ref: D/Ph 150/29 — Photograph of the opening of the first block of council houses on Dunelm Road, Thornley, 1924
• Ref: D/Ph 150/30 — Photograph of the Villas, Thornley, with a woman and boy with a dog sitting by a car, c.1930-1940
• Ref: D/Ph 150/31 — Photograph of a group of miners at Thornley Colliery, 1896
• Ref: D/Ph 150/32 — Photograph of a group of pit boys at Thornley Colliery, 1909
• Ref: D/Ph 150/33 — Photograph of Thornley Colliery showing the pit head and winding gear, not dated c.1920-1930
• Ref: D/Ph 150/34 — Photograph of Thornley Colliery showing the pit head and winding gear, not dated c.1920-1930
• Ref: D/Ph 150/35 — Photograph of Thornley Colliery showing the pit head, winding gear and pit heap, not dated c.1920-1930
• Ref: D/Ph 150/36 — Photograph of Thornley Colliery and village, not dated c.1950
• Ref: D/Ph 150/37 — Photograph of the first Thornley Colliery motor vehicle, not dated c.1920-1930
• Ref: D/Ph 150/38 — Photograph of a group of boys from Thornley Council Boys' School with a schoolmaster and a schoolmistress, 1902
• Ref: D/Ph 150/39 — Photograph of a group of boys from Thornley Council Boys School with a banner and Union Jacks, 1916
• Ref: D/Ph 150/40 — Photograph of a group of girls from Thornley Council Girls' School with a schoolmistress, not dated c.1900-1910
• Ref: D/Ph 150/41 — Photograph of a group of boys from Thornley Council Infants' School with a schoolmistress, not dated c.1900-1910
• Ref: D/Ph 150/42 — Photograph of Thornley Council Boys School football team with shield and medals, 1923. Daniel Hagan, headmaster for 40 years, is on the left
• Ref: D/Ph 150/43(1) — Photograph of girls doing a gymnastic exercise (Thornley Council School physical training display, June 1930)
• Ref: D/Ph 150/43(2) — Photograph of girls standing holding skipping ropes (Thornley Council School physical training display, June 1930)
• Ref: D/Ph 150/43(3) — Photograph of members of a gymnastics team (Thornley Council School physical training display, June 1930)
• Ref: D/Ph 150/43(4) — Photograph of an all male sports team (Thornley Council School physical training display, June 1930)
• Ref: D/Ph 150/43(5) — Photograph of an all male sports team (Thornley Council School physical training display, June 1930)
• Ref: D/Ph 150/43(6) — Photograph of an all male sports team (Thornley Council School physical training display, June 1930)
• Ref: D/Ph 150/43(7) — Photograph of an all female sports team (Thornley Council School physical training display, June 1930)
• Ref: D/Ph 150/43(8) — Photograph of a teacher (Thornley Council School physical training display, June 1930)
• Ref: D/Ph 150/43(9) — Photograph of a gymnastics display (Thornley Council School physical training display, June 1930)
• Ref: D/Ph 150/43(10) — Photograph of a gymnastics display including a boy jumping through a hoop (Thornley Council School physical training display, June 1930)
• Ref: D/Ph 150/43(11) — Photograph of a gymnastics display (Thornley Council School physical training display, June 1930)
• Ref: D/Ph 150/43(12) — Photograph of a gymnastics display including a boy jumping through a hoop (Thornley Council School physical training display, June 1930)
• Ref: D/Ph 150/44 — Photograph of a Sunday School or Church Group at Thornley, showing Thomas Hays, assistant head teacher at the Council Boys School, 1903-1909, standing on the left with a double bass, not dated c.1908
• Ref: D/Ph 150/45 — Photograph of Thornley Wesleyan Chapel Sunday School Concert, 'The Floral Cross', 1915. With names of girls taking part provided on a separate sheet
• Ref: D/Ph 150/46 — Photograph of the committee for the Dunelm Road Council Houses Thornley, not dated c.1924. With list of names provided on a separate sheet
• Ref: D/Ph 150/47 — Photograph of founder members of the British Legion Womens' Section, outside the old reading room in the Market Place, Thornley, 1925
• Ref: D/Ph 150/48 — Photograph of Civil Defence wardens taken by the Rev. George Renwick in the vicarage garden, Thornley, 1942. The head warden was Frederick Bradley
• Ref: D/Ph 150/49 — Photograph of the Soulsby family?, Thornley, not dated c.1870-1880
• Ref: D/Ph 150/50 — Photograph of an unidentified family group, Thornley, not dated c. 1890
• Ref: D/Ph 150/51 — Photograph of an unidentified woman, Thornley, not dated c.1890
• Ref: D/Ph 150/52 — Photograph of an unidentified woman with four children, Thornley, not dated c.1895
• Ref: D/Ph 150/53 — Photograph of an unidentified family group, Thornley, not dated c.1897
• Ref: D/Ph 150/54 — Photograph of the Hodgson family children, Thornley, 1903. From left to right are, Bertie, Sarah, Elizabeth, Arthur, Thomas and William
• Ref: D/Ph 150/55 — Photograph of an unidentified wedding group, Thornley, not dated c.1905
• Ref: D/Ph 150/56 — Photograph of two unidentified young men, Thornley, 1906. One was the father of Mrs. Bromilow
• Ref: D/Ph 150/59 — Photograph of John Walton and family, Thornley, 1916
• Ref: D/Ph 150/60 — Photograph of an unidentified man and woman, Thornley, 1925
• Ref: D/Ph 177/3 — Bond guaranteeing William Williamson as treasurer of the Thornley Lodge of the Durham Miners' Association, 3 November 1881
• Ref: D/Ph 186/1 — Photograph of Thornley Colliery Band, not dated c.1937
• Ref: D/Ph 186/2 — Photograph of Alf Hood of Thornley in bandsman's uniform, not dated c.1946
• Ref: D/Ph 186/3 — Photograph of Dennis and Alf Hood of Thornley with musical instruments and prize shield and cups, not dated c.1946
• Ref: D/Ph 186/4 — Photograph of new colliery banner at Thornley colliery
• Ref: D/Ph 186/5 — Photographs of the colliery band at Thornley, not dated c.1950
• Ref: D/Ph 186/7 — Photograph of grandfather and grandmother of Mrs. Woodward (wife of Councillor Woodward), Garden Terrace, Thornley, not dated c.1910

• Miscellaneous documents
• Ref: D/X 498/175 — Thornley Colliery analysis of wages and cost per ton. a) No. 1 and 2 pits. Bank Bill ; b) No. 1 Pit ; c) Low Main Seam, No. 1 pit. ; d) Hutton Seam, No. 1 Pit. ; e) No. 2 Pit ; f) Harvey Seam, No. 2 Pit. ; g) Busty Seam, No. 2 Pit. 1 January 1908 to 2nd January 1909
• Ref: D/X 498/176 — Thornley Colliery analysis of wages and cost per ton. a) No. 1 and 2 Pits. Bank Bill ; b) No. 1 pit ; c) Low Main Seam, No. 1 Pit ; d) Hutton Seam, No. 1 Pit ; e) No. 2 Pit ; f) Harvey Seam, No. 2 Pit ; g) Busty Seam, No. 2 Pit. 14 January to 13 December 1911
• Ref: D/X 498/177 — Thornley Colliery analysis of wages and cost per ton. a) No. 1 and 2 Pits. Bank Bill ; b) No. 1 Pit ; c) Low Main Seam, No. 1 pit ; d) Hutton Seam, No. 1 Pit ; e) No. 2 Pit ; f) Harvey Seam, No. 2 Pit ; g) Busty Seam, No. 2 pit. 13 January to 28 December 1912
• Ref: D/X 498/178 — Thornley Colliery analysis of wages and cost per ton. a) No. 1 and 2 Pit. Bank Bill or Mechanics Bill ; b) No. 1 Pit ; c) Low Main Seam, No. 1 Pit ; d) Hutton Seam, No. 1 Pit ; e) No. 2 Pit ; f) Harvey Seam, No. 2 Pit ; g) Busty Seam, No. 2 Pit. 4 January to 27 December 1913
• Ref: D/X 498/l79 — Thornley Colliery analysis of wages and cost per ton. a) No. 1 and 2 Pit. Mechanics Bill ; b-g) Not deposited. 3 January to 26 December 1914
• Ref: D/X 498/180 — Thornley Colliery, consumption account, 13 January - 28 December 1912
• Ref: D/X 498/181 — Thornley Colliery, consumption account, 4 January - 27 December 1913
• Ref: D/X 498/182-185 — Printed copies of Thornley Lodge cavilling rules, 1938
• Ref: D/X 830/8 — Copy of public notice advertising the auction sale of Wheatley Hill Colliery, Thornley Colliery and Ludworth Colliery at the Turk's Head Hotel, Newcastle upon Tyne, 9 August 1877
• Ref: D/X 832/1 — Minutes of "a meeting of gentlemen interested in the formation of the London Steam Collier and Coal Company Limited" and subsequent weekly board meetings which involved such matters as the purchase of the business of Messsrs. Walton and Gowland on condition that they obtain permission for the company to berth a steamer of at least 175 feet long (7 July 1865); the purchase of Thornley and Ludworth Colliery (2 November 1866) and the establishment of a Northern Committee of directors to administer the collieries, 12 May 1865 - 9 July 1867
• Ref: D/X 832/2 — Minutes of weekly board meetings of Thornley Coal Company (renamed Hartlepool Collieries Company, 9 April 1868), concerning matters such as the affairs of Thornley and Ludworth Collieries and the associated wharf company at Hartlepool, 20 July 1867 - 29 December 1868
• Ref: D/X 832/6 — Indexed letter book of Thornley and Ludworth Collieries, including letters from P. Cooper, Thornley Manager; R. Balderstone and J. Clark, 3 May 1882 - 10 October 1883
• Ref: D/X 832/9 — Indexed letter book of M. P. Wilson, Manager of Thornley Colliery, 12 July 1893 - 25 July 1895
• Ref: D/X 832/10 — Indexed letter book of John W. Laverick [Agent and Manager, Thornley Colliery, Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company Ltd., until 30 January 1907 when he was succeeded by George A. Curry] concerned with matters such as coal orders, Thornley Colliery, Wheatley Hill Colliery and houses, new colliery engines and royalties, 29 March 1900 - 11 September 1907
• Ref: D/X 832/11 — Indexed letter book of George A. Curry, manager of Thornley Colliery, 18 July 1911 - 9 January 1913
• Ref: D/X 832/12 — Letters arranged in an alphabetical index sent to George A. Curry, manager of Thornley Colliery, Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company, Ltd., from J. H. B. Forster, Tudhoe Iron Works (Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company, Ltd.) and others, 10 May 1912 - 24 January 1913
• Ref: D/X 832/23 — Letters to J. W. Laverick, Thornley Colliery, from G. H. Wraith, commercial manager, Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company, Ltd., Tudhoe Iron Works, Spennymoor, concerning Green Hills farm and Green Hills leases, 7 and 25 June 1901
• Ref: D/X 832/24 — 1 January 1871. (1) North Eastern Railway Company ; (2) Original Hartlepool Collieries Company, Ltd. Copy agreement for 7 years between (1) and (2) as to the rates for leading coal from the Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill Collieries to Hartlepool, West Hartlepool and Sunderland; 3/- per chaldron on round coals and 2/9 per chaldron on small coals to Old Hartlepool and 3/4 on round and small coal sent to West Hartlepool or Sunderland
• Ref: D/X 832/25 — Correspondence to William Spencer, Thornley Colliery, from William Hanson of B. Samuelson and Company, Middlesbrough, iron masters, and John Marley, concerning proposed meetings at Thornley and details of coal strata, especially the Harvey seam, 28 May - 1 July 1870
• Ref: D/X 832/26 — Letter to Philip Cooper, Thornley Colliery, from John Marley on behalf of Messrs. Cochrane and Robson, setting out a basis of terms for a sub-lease of portions of the Hutton and Harvey coal seams, to commence 1 July 1872, 8 May 1872
• Ref: D/X 832/27 — Copy of John Marley's proposals for Thornley, annotated by Philip Cooper, 9 May 1872
• Ref: D/X 832/28 — Correspondence to Philip Cooper, manager of Thornley Colliery and Thomas Douglas, Peases West Colliery from John Marley, for Messrs. Cochrane and Robson, concerning the printed copy of the conditions of sale of Thornley Colliery in 1865, the Harvey seam and John Marley's offer for a sub-lease of portions of the Harvey and Hutton coal seams, 18 May - 7 June 1872
• Ref: D/X 832/29 — Correspondence to Philip Cooper, manager of Thornley Colliery, from John Marley, Mining Offices, Darlington, concerning details of the unworked coal in the Harvey seam, and various other matters, 1 and 8 August 1883
• Ref: D/X 832/37 — Correspondence to Philip Cooper from Thomas Douglas, Peases West Colliery; William Ford, director (of the Original Hartlepool Collieries Company, Ltd.), Atcombe Court, Stroud; George Gowland, director (of the above company and of Royal Exchange Shipping Company, Ltd.); W. Lishman, Witton-le-Wear and R. Smith, secretary of the Original Hartlepool Collieries Company, Ltd., 4 New Broad Street, London, EC, concerning the preparation of a report on Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill Collieries for the board of directors, 17 June - 2 September 1875
• Ref: D/X 832/38 — Office copy of the annual report for 1875 on Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill Collieries to the directors of the Original Hartlepool Collieries Company, Ltd., by Philip Cooper, general manager, (including a report on the disastrous fire at Thornley, 8 May 1875), 1875
• Ref: D/X 832/39 — Printed report to the directors of the Original Hartlepool Collieries Company, Ltd., on the costs, sales and recommendations for the collieries of Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill by Philip Cooper, Thomas Douglas, William Lishman, June 1875
• Ref: D/X 832/40 — Letter to the members of the Original Hartlepool Collieries Company, Ltd., from R. Smith, secretary, 4 New Broad Street, with reference to the need to raise £50,000 from shareholders from debentures bearing eight per cent (in addition to the £100,000 having been provisionally subscribed) in order to complete the capital account and bring the whole of the three collieries into full working, 18 April 1876
• Ref: D/X 832/42 — Valuation of Thornley Colliery (Lessees the Original Hartlepool Collieries Company, Ltd.), giving details of the lessors, date of leases, royalties and quantity of coals worked between 1876 and 1878, not dated
• Ref: D/X 832/43 — Letters to Philip Cooper, Thornley Colliery from Thomas Fenwick Hedley and Son, valuers and arbitrators, 6 Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, concerning information about Thornley Colliery, from the Original Hartlepool Collieries and acknowledging receipt of the relevant information, 22 February and 20 March 1879
• Ref: D/X 832/45 — Copy valuation of coal mines returns for Ludworth, Thornley and Wheatley Hill, signed by Philip Cooper, General Manager of the Original Hartlepool Collieries company, Ltd., 17 March 1879
• Ref: D/X 832/49 — Proposed county rate basis valuations of Thornley Colliery in the townships of Thornley and Wingate, made by T. Fenwick Hedley and Son, Sunderland, valuers to the Durham County Rate Committee, May 1879
• Ref: D/X 832/51 — Copy of rate book for valuation of property, other than houses, of Ludworth, Thornley and Wheatley Hill Collieries, 1883
• Ref: D/X 832/52 — "Particulars, Plan and Conditions of Sale of those important and well known current going sea sale collieries known as Wheatley Hill and Thornley Collieries", to be sold as one lot by Messrs. Davison and Son at the Central Station Hotel, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on 21 June 1884
• Ref: D/X 832/53 — Plan of Wheatley Hill and Thornley Collieries with conditions of sale by Messrs. Davison and Son on 21 June 1884. Scale: 6 inches to 1 statute mile [1 : 10560]
• Ref: D/X 832/54 — Valuations of fixed plant at Thornley and Wheatley Hill Collieries as agreed to by Messrs. J. A. Ramsay (for lessors) and J. R. Crone (for lessees). 30 June 1885
• Ref: D/X 832/55 — Copy memorandum of the bond between Thornley Colliery Coal Company and the hewers, putters, drivers and deputies to be employed, giving details of rates of pay and conditions for the year 5 April 1837 - 5 April 1838, 1 February 1837
• Ref: D/X 832/56 — An uncompleted form of terms and conditions agreed upon between the Original Hartlepool Collieries Company, Ltd., and their colliery workers at Thornley Colliery, not dated
• Ref: D/X 832/59 — Letter to Philip Cooper, Manager of Thornley Colliery, from John Ambler, Secretary of Durham County Colliery Enginemen's Association, Half Moon Inn, concerning the wage of Bateman Wandless, the brakesman at the Upcast pit, 11 June 1872
• Ref: D/X 832/60 — Letter to Philip Cooper, Thornley Colliery, from John Ambler, concerning the Ludworth brakemen, and proposals about reduction of Sunday working, 22 October 1872
• Ref: D/X 832/62 — Thornley Colliery, Low Main Seam Pit bill being "an account by George Peel, overman, of work wrought in the Low Main Seam", 5 January - 29 March 1984
• Ref: D/X 832/64 — Thornley Colliery general pay bill for no. 22 Pay Bill, ending 27 October 1906
• Ref: D/X 832/65 — Durham Coal Owners' Association forms giving fortnightly average earnings for putters in the Hutton and Low Main Seams of Thornley Colliery, 3 July - 14 August 1909
• Ref: D/X 832/66 — Lists of names of putters and boys at work, and off work, at No. 1 and No. 2 pits, Thornley Colliery, 16-18 August 1909. Includes: summaries of attendance, 1909
• Ref: D/X 832/69 — Letters to George A. Curry, Thornley Colliery, from various Durham Collieries, giving information about their rates of pay for master shifters and back-overmen, 28-29 August 1913
• Ref: D/X 832/70 — Letter to Philip Cooper, Thornley Colliery, from William Crawford, Secretary of the Durham Miners' Association, 16 North Road, Durham, concerning the complaint of Wheatley Hill men that the agents are preventing them from riding when they come to the shaft, 11 March 1874
• Ref: D/X 832/71 — Correspondence to Philip Cooper, Thornley Colliery, from Theo. Wood Bunning, Secretary of the Durham Coal Owners' Assocation, William Crawford, Secretary of the Durham Miners' Association, and others, concerning strikes at Wheatley Hill, Thornley and Ludworth Collieries, relating to disputes mainly about reduction, length of shift and refusing to work on Baff Saturdays, 1 May - 12 November 1874
• Ref: D/X 832/72 — Correspondence between Theo. Wood Bunning, Philip Cooper and various others, concerning the return of the Thornley men and meeting of a deputation of Ludworth men, 3-22 February 1875
• Ref: D/X 832/74 — Statements of furnacemen's wages for 99 Durham collieries including Thornley, to be used at a meeting of the Joint Committee for decision, 28 April 1876
• Ref: D/X 832/75 — Statement showing wages paid to shaftsmen at Thornley, Wheatley Hill and Ludworth Collieries, 22 June 1876
• Ref: D/X 832/78 — Letter to George Curry, manager, Thornley Colliery from William Laidler, Thornley Colliery, informing him of a fatal accident involving Edmund Bradley, 2 July 1908
• Ref: D/X 832/80 — Philip Cooper's copy of a printed line drawing plan of Thornley and Ludworth collieries, showing the site of a new pit on Wheatley Hill estate, and including a diagram of a shaft showing the various seams of coal, 31 December 1867. No scale
• Ref: D/X 832/82 — Plan of the proposed extension of sidings for new pit at Thornley Colliery, 6 May 1904. Scale: 25.344 inches to 1 mile [1 : 2500 approx.]
• Ref: D/X 832/84 — Copy of the specification for the sinking of a shaft at Thornley Colliery for the Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company, Ltd., 5 October 1904
• Ref: D/X 832/85 — Copy of a tender for a proposed sinking, from James Johnson, Boldon Lodge, East Boldon, to J. W. Laverick, mining engineer, Thornley, 19 October 1904
• Ref: D/X 832/86 — Account of strata sunk through at Thornley Colliery, not dated
• Ref: D/X 832/87 — Letters to Philip Cooper, Thornley Colliery, from W. H. Wood, Coxhoe Collieries Offices, Coxhoe, concerning problems with Thornley Coke Ovens and the disputed liability of Coxhoe Collieries to repair them, 3 May - 5 June 1876
• Ref: D/X 832/88 — Balance sheet for Thornley Colliery coke works, No.13 Pay, ending 23 June 1883
• Ref: D/X 832/89 — Correspondence to Philip Cooper, manager, Thornley Colliery, from J. Raine, 39 West Sunniside, Sunderland, and J. R. Breckon, Simon-Carves Patent Coke Ovens and Coal and Coke Merchant, 32 Fawcett Street, Sunderland, concerning new Simon-Carves coke ovens and the sending of coal varieties from Thornley Colliery for analysis in Darlington and Manchester, 2 July - 23 October 1883
• Ref: D/X 832/91 — Proposals and detailed estimates for proposed expenditure on refitting Thornley Colliery after the fire of June 1875, to complete Ludworth Colliery to the extent of raising pay to 500 tons a day and on completing Wheatley Hill Colliery no. 2 pit to Harvey seam, 9 June 1875
• Ref: D/X 832/92 — Special list of 36", 38", 40" and 42" engines as per other tabular statement of winding engines at Thornley Colliery, June 1875
• Ref: D/X 832/93 — Letter to Mr. Robson from Robert Aynsley, Thornley Colliery, requesting information; annotated by Mr. Robson with details of screens, pumps and buildings, etc., 5 March 1879
• Ref: D/X 832/95 — A list of the horse power of the engines at Thornley Colliery signed by J. Dees [for Robert Aynsley], 12 March 1879
• Ref: D/X 832/96 — Miscellaneous correspondence to N. Spencer and his successor, Philip Cooper, Thornley Colliery Managers, from Thomas Douglas, West Lodge, Crook, of Joseph Pease and Partners, concerning matters such as fair prices for screened coal, screens, map tracings, meetings, etc., 9 March 1870 - 29 August 1883
• Ref: D/X 832/97 — Letter and detailed statements to P.Cooper from Robert Lynch, Thornley Colliery, concerning waste caused by washing duff, 26 September - 16 October 1883
• Ref: D/X 832/98 — Letters to Philip Cooper, manager of Thornley Colliery, from William Hall of East Hetton Colliery and William O. Wood of Durham, concerning the amount of dirt out of their coal and the cost of washing coal, 1 and 3 October 1883
• Ref: D/X 832/100 — Letter to Messrs. W. T. Glover & Company, Ltd., Trafford Park, Manchester, from the Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company, Ltd., concerning the installation of the main shaft cable at Thornley Colliery, 10 February 1910
• Ref: D/X 832/101 — Memorandum to George A. Curry, Thornley Colliery, from J. H. B. Forster, Tudhoe Iron Works, concerning the question of substituting metallic filament lamps for the carbon filament electric lamps in current use, together with the cost of the substitution; also notes on the comparable cost, 26 February 1910
• Ref: D/X 832/101 — Memorandum to George A. Curry, Thornley Colliery, from J. H. B. Forster, Tudhoe Iron Works, concerning the question of substituting metallic filament lamps for the carbon filament electric lamps in current use, together with the cost of the substitution; also notes on the comparable cost, 26 February 1910
• Ref: D/X 832/103 — Correspondence between J. H. B. Forster, Thornley Colliery; Messrs D. Selby Bigge and Company, 27 Mosley Street, Newcastle upon Tyne and Mireless Watson and Company, Ltd., concerning the delay by one week of the closing of the colliery for repairs to the condensing plant, 20, 22 and 23 April 1912
• Ref: D/X 832/104 — Engineer's report on the electrical plant at Thornley Colliery by George Ness, Chief Engineer for the Scottish Boiler Insurance and Engine Inspection Company, Ltd., 29 May 1912
• Ref: D/X 832/105 — Letter to George A. Curry, Thornley Colliery, from J. Garbutt, Secretary of Thornley and District Workmen's Club and Institute, Ltd., to ask for a meeting with a deputation to discuss the installation of electric light at the club, 26 February 1913
• Ref: D/X 832/106 — Copy of the specification for pans and motors for No.1 Pit, Thornley Colliery, 21 October 1918
• Ref: D/X 832/107 — Letter to Joseph T. Simpson, South View Cottage, from William Latimer, Director of Robert Bowran and Company, Ltd., enclosing a copy of a letter sent to Mr. Foster, quoting prices for the fans and motors for the Thornley No. 1 Pit, 12 December 1918
• Ref: D/X 832/108 — Memorandum to M. Barrass, from J. H. B. Forster, Tudhoe Iron Works, enclosing an account from Messrs. Robert Bowran and Company for fan motors for Thornley Colliery, terms as agreed 27 June 1919, 11 August 1921
• Ref: D/X 832/113 — Copy of a letter to Messrs. Stanton, Atkinson and Hudson, Grainger Street West, Newcastle upon Tyne, from J. W. Laverick, Thornley Colliery, concerning details in the proposed agreement on Thornley water, 29 March 1902
• Ref: D/X 832/114 — Correspondence sent to J. W. Laverick, manager, Thornley Colliery, from J. Morley Longden, Clerk to Easington Rural District Council; Stanton, Atkinson and Hudson, Solicitors, Victoria Buildings, 21 Grainger Street West, Newcastle upon Tyne, and others, concerning the Thornley water agreement and estimated cost of pipes, etc., 11 April - 25 July 1902
• Ref: D/X 832/115 — Correspondence between T. H. Warwick, Secretary of Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company, Ltd., Tudhoe Iron works, Spennymoor, from J. W. Laverick, Thornley Colliery, and others, concerning the laying of water pipes to Fat Close Farm to replace water supply disrupted by mine workings, 7 July 1905 - 13 February 1906
• Ref: D/X 832/117 — Correspondence between George A. Curry, Thornley Colliery, and J. H. B. Forster, Tudhoe Iron Works, concerning the payment for the cost of putting in the pipes etc. for the supply of water to the new Catholic schools, 5-6 May 1909
• Ref: D/X 832/117 — Correspondence between George A. Curry, Thornley Colliery, and J. H. B. Forster, Tudhoe Iron Works, concerning the payment for the cost of putting in the pipes etc. for the supply of water to the new Catholic schools, 5-6 May 1909
• Ref: D/X 832/118 — Miscellaneous letters sent to George A. Curry, Thornley Colliery, from various groups such as the new Catholic schools, concerning supply of water, 25 February, 2 March and 28 May 1909
• Ref: D/X 832/119 — Letter to George A. Curry, Colliery Offices, Thornley, from William Emery, Inspector of Nuisances, Easington Rural District Council, suggesting a meeting at which the latter would take a sample of water from Thornley mains for analysis by the county analyst, 24 April 1911
• Ref: D/X 832/120 — Letter to William Laidler, Cashier, Thornley Colliery, from F. W. Girven, Surveyor, Public Health Department, Rural District Council of Easington, acknowledging his agreement to take a supply of water for his house from Easington Council's mains instead of having a supply branch laid on purpose by the colliery company, 23 March 1923
• Ref: D/X 832/125 — Letter to George A. Curry, Thornley Colliery, from J. G. Heslop, Surveyor of Highways, Easington Rural District Council, apologising for his man, Cass, removing stone without permission and asking for a price to be arranged for the stone, 18 February 1909
• Ref: D/X 832/132 — Copy letter to the Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company, Ltd., Thornley Colliery from George Gregson, Surveyor's Office, Durham Rural District Council, 38 Saddler Street, Durham, concerning the repair of the road from Paradise to the entrance of the village at Ludworth and the possible contribution towards the cost by the company, 15 December 1909
• Ref: D/X 832/134 — Correspondence between Philip Cooper, Manager of Thornley Colliery; John Sparks, of Crewkerne, Somerset; J. Hirst and Sons, contractors and builders, D'Arcy Street, Sunderland, and others, concerning J. Hirst and Sons' account for repairs to Thornley Hall and various farms, and complaints about workmanship by John Sparks, 17 September 1870 - 14 November 1871
• Ref: D/X 832/135 — Correspondence to Philip Cooper, Thornley Colliery, from John Sparks, Crewkerne, Somerset, and from R. Kershaw, Thornley Colliery Office, concerning a visit by Mr. Sparks when he inspected and authorised repairs to Thornley Hall roof, Corby Castle roof, to various farms and Smith's public house in Thornley, 8, 9 and 20 May 1873
• Ref: D/X 832/140 — Letters to Philip Cooper, Thornley Colliery, from William Smith, builder, Easington Lane, making a tender for twenty cottages with attics at Thornley Colliery, for £69.10s.0d. each, and adjusting the chimney gable dimensions to allow for the cost of transporting lime and water, 15 October 1872
• Ref: D/X 832/149 — Notes of doors and seats to be used in outhouses for Thornley Colliery, not dated
• Ref: D/X 832/151 — No. 4 tender for rebuilding Post Office Street Houses (12) at Thornley Colliery, drawing no. 896 showing block plan, 5 December 1910. Scale: 1 inch to 40 feet [1 : 480]. Includes: front, back and sectional elevations, chambers and ground floor plans, 1910. Scale: 1/8 inch to 1 foot [1 : 96]
• Ref: D/X 832/152 — Letter to George A. Curry, Colliery Offices, Thornley, from William Emery, Inspector of Nuisances, Easington Rural District Council, Westfield House, Station Town, Wingate, complaining that no progress is being made on the rebuilding of colliery houses at Thornley, 17 October 1912
• Ref: D/X 832/154 — Letter to the Manager, Thornley Colliery, from J. Morley Longden, Solicitor, Clerk to the Easington Rural District Council requesting co-operation with Philip Kirkup, mining engineer, who has been appointed to make a report as to the liability of subsidence of the sites selected for workmen's houses, 10 June 1919
• Ref: D/X 832/155 — Cottage book of Thornley Colliery which contains details of cottages belonging to, or rented by, the Weardale Iron and coal company, Ltd.; it gives details of the number of workers in each house, 18 January 1884 - 28 October 1929
• Ref: D/X 832/156 — Record book of the Haswell Plough, Ludworth, Thornley and Wheatley Hill colliery houses, including names of occupants and their periods of occupation, 1893 - 17 December 1947
• Ref: D/X 832/157 — Correspondence to Philip Cooper, Thornley Colliery, from W. Robson, Wheatley Hill and William Crawford, Secretary of Durham Miners' Association, 16 North Road, Durham, concerning the threat to refuse use of a colliery house to James Wood who works for the Durham Miners Association, as well as for the colliery, 18-30 December 1874
• Ref: D/X 832/158 — Correspondence from A. Welsh, Manager, Thornley Colliery, to W. Dowding, Secretary of the Thornley Lodge of the National Union of Mineworkers, and others, concerning nominations for representatives on the Thornley Colliery Houses Advisory Committee, 9 September - 17 November 1947. Also notification of a meeting of the committee on 17th November 1947
• Ref: D/X 832/179 — Letter to J. W. Laverick, manager, Thornley Colliery, from W. Toner Ellingham, Chathill, concerning the practice of deducting allowances from the pay of Catholic men and boys, 27 September 1883
• Ref: D/X 832/181 — Correspondence between H. W. Hollis, Managing Director of the Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company, Ltd., Tudhoe Iron Works, Spennymoor; J. W. Laverick, Thornley Colliery and Rev. J. Richardson, the Villas, Thornley, concerning the surrender by the company of some land for the building of a Primitive Methodist Chapel, 10 and 12 January 1901
• Ref: D/X 832/183 — Letter to George A. Curry, Thornley Colliery, from Thomas A. Mackey (Under-Manager at Seaham Colliery), 12 Vane Terrace, New Seaham, asking if he can submit an application for the job of under-manager to fill the vacancy caused by the recent death of the under-manager, 25 May 1915
• Ref: D/X 832/187 — Letter to George A. Curry, colliery manager, from "a villager" complaining about the state of the Thornley Literary Institute and the lack of facilities in the recreation end, not dated [c.1910]
• Ref: D/X 832/200 — Correspondence to Philip Cooper, Thornley Colliery, from the Rev. William Mayor, Thornley Vicarage; Theo. Wood Bunning, Secretary of the Durham Coal Owners' Association, and others, concerning a strike at Thornley Colliery, 10 June - 26 November, 1874
• Ref: D/X 832/210 — List of Thornley Parish Councillors, 1958-61, with most of their signatures, 1958
• Ref: D/X 832/223 — Three illustrated newspaper cuttings from unidentified local newspapers about Edward Kitto, instructor and conductor of Thornley Miners' Lodge Band, which he conducted for the 39th year at Durham Miners' Gala, aged 68; he had attended every gala except one (when he was badly crushed in an underground mining accident), not dated [1962]
• Ref: D/X 832/225 — Rough sketch of heads of agreement between the Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Co. and Thornley Parish Council whereby the company will supply electric lighting for the parish upon payment of price to be agreed and to be paid by the council and correspondence concerning the agreement, 17 August - 21 November 1900
• Ref: D/X 832/226 — Correspondence between William Swinburne, Clerk to Thornley Parish Council and George A. Curry, Manager, Thornley Colliery, concerning the request to have the lights turned on in the early morning when the men are going in first and fixing of some additional lights, 13 October - 11 November 1910
• Ref: D/X 832/228 — Correspondence to Martin Fleming from the North Eastern Electricity Board, Wear Sub-Area, Dunning Street, Sunderland, concerning the substitution of N.E.E.B. supply for existing N.C.B. networks at Thornley Colliery, 12 December 1956 - 15 December 1958
• Ref: D/X 865/9 — Compensation and smart money payments, Thornley Colliery, 16 January 1909 - 26 September 1914
• Ref: D/X 865/13 — Account book of Thomas Ashford under the Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company's Thornley Colliery housing scheme, 3 January 1924 - 25 April 1931
• Ref: D/X 865/15 — Rules, agreements and standing orders (1908-1950), operating at Thornley Colliery, 1950
• Ref: D/X 1420/14 — Plan showing the position and surroundings of a proposed explosive store for Thornley Colliery, not dated. Scale: 132 feet to 1 inch [1:1584]

• User Guide 19B — Collieries
• Ref: DF/WF/28/3-4 — Viewers reports, 1828-1847