Wheatley Hill Colliery

Research Notes

• Miscellaneous documents
• Ref: D/X 411/39 — Postcard of The Farm, Wheatley Hill, c.1900
• Ref: D/X 411/40 — Photograph of Wheatley Hill School, not dated
• Ref: D/X 411/58 — Agreement between Wheatley Hill Miners' Lodge and Wheatley Hill Hospital Fund, 1937
• 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
• Ref: D/X 411/174 — A History of Wheatley Hill, 1960
• Ref: D/X 411/175 — Printed outline history of Wheatley Hill with map showing stages of development, not dated [c.1970]
• Ref: D/X 411/294 — Photograph of allotments at Wheatley Hill, not dated

• 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 13/324 — Accidents reported to H.M. Inspector of Mines, Wheatley Hill Colliery, 18 February 1903 - 22 September 1906
• Ref: NCB 13/325 — Accidents reported to H.M. Inspector of Mines, Wheatley Hill Colliery, 7 March 1907 - 20 January 1910
• Ref: NCB 13/326 — Accidents reported to H.M. Inspector of Mines, Wheatley Hill Colliery, 11 February 1910 -22 September 1911
• Ref: NCB 13/327 — Accidents reported to H.M. Inspector of Mines, Wheatley Hill Colliery, 30 September 1911 - 8 December 1913
• Ref: NCB 13/328 — Accidents reported to H.M. Inspector of Mines, Wheatley Hill Colliery, 20 December 1913 - 2 December 1915
• Ref: NCB 13/329 — Accidents reported to H.M. Inspector of Mines, Wheatley Hill Colliery, 11 February 1916 - 19 May 1920
• Ref: NCB 13/330 — Accidents reported to H.M. Inspector of Mines, Wheatley Hill Colliery, 25 February 1921 - 24 July 1924
• Ref: NCB 13/331 — Accidents reported to H.M. Inspector of Mines, Wheatley Hill Colliery, 15 August 1924 - 5 March 1923
• Ref: NCB 13/332 — Accidents reported to H.M. Inspector of Mines, Wheatley Hill Colliery, 20 April 1928 - 9 March 1932
• Ref: NCB 13/333 — Accidents reported to H.M. Inspector of Mines, Wheatley Hill Colliery, 2 April 1932 - 16 May 1935
• Ref: NCB 13/334 — Accidents reported to H.M. Inspector of Mines, Wheatley Hill Colliery, 26 June 1935 - 7 March 1940

• National Coal Board — 24th Deposit
• Ref: NCB 24/98 — Public Relations Office Files - Wheatley Hill colliery (press-cuttings), 20 June 1959 - 3 May 1968
• Ref: NCB 24/99 — Public Relations Office Files - Wheatley Hill colliery, 12 October 1965 - 21 February 1968
• Ref: NCB 24/117 — Public Relations Office Files - Historical and statistical information for specific collieries: Adventure, Bearpark, Blackhall, Boldon, Dawdon, Dean and Chapter, Easington, Eppleton, Garesfield, Harraton, Hawthorn Combined (Murton, Eppleton, Elemore), Herrington, Horden, Houghton, Hylton, Kibblesworth, Kimblesworth, Langley Park, Murton, Sacriston, Seaham, Sherburn, Silksworth, South Hetton, Tudhoe Park, Ushaw Moor, Vane Tempest, Wardley/Usworth, Washington 'F', Washington Glebe, Wearmouth, Wheatley Hill and for groups of collieries (including Northumberland), (c.1950 - c.1980)

• National Coal Board — 27th Deposit
• 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

• National Coal Board — 33rd Deposit
• Ref: NCB 33/Box 12/24 — Colliery specification, Wheatley Hill Colliery, 1954

• Photocopies and photographs
• Ref: D/Ph 150/3 — Workmens' Death Fund rules for Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill Collieries, 1930
• Ref: D/Ph 150/11 — Memorial cards (with photographs) of James Loveless of Ferryhill and Private Henry Johnson of Wheatley Hill, 1916, 1918. Both men were killed on active service
• Ref: D/Ph 150/80 — Photograph of Wingate Lane, Wheatley Hill, not dated c.1940-1950
• Ref: D/Ph 204/1 — Copy photograph of colliery manager and other employees of the colliery with the lodge banner at Wheatley Hill, 5 January 1947

• Miscellaneous documents
• 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 832/10 — 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 832/14 — Plan of Wheatley Hill Colliery lease (originally attached to the lease) with colliery cottages and railway added, 23 November 1865. Scale: 1 inch to 5 chains [1 : 3960]
• Ref: D/X 832/15 — Letter to Philip Cooper, Thornley Colliery, from Joseph Hutchinson, The College, Durham City, acting on behalf of Major Wilkinson, concerning the land to be taken for Wheatley Hill leaseholds, 22 October 1873
• Ref: D/X 832/22 — Report by J. R. Crone of Tudhoe, on Green Hills royalty on the eastern boundary of Wheatley Hill Colliery giving the background, estimate of the coal remaining, rent details and recommending the company to secure a lease of the royalty, 22 April 1890
• 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 832/37 — 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 832/44 — Letter to Mr. Ainsley from J. Elwin, Wheatley Hill, giving information about Wheatley Hill Colliery, requested by Mr. Ainsley, 10 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 832/51 — 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 832/70 — 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 832/75 — Statement showing wages paid to shaftsmen at Thornley, Wheatley Hill and Ludworth Collieries, 22 June 1876
• Ref: D/X 832/79 — Notes about explosions at Wingate, 14 October 1906 and at Wheatley Hill, 19 January 1871, not dated [1950s]
• 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 832/94 — Letters to Mr. Ainsley from W. Potts of Wheatley Hill Colliery Office, Ferryhill (the Original Hartlepool Collieries Company, Ltd.), giving details of engines' horse power for Wheatley Hill and Ludworth Collieries, 7 and 8 March 1879
• Ref: D/X 832/99 — Plan of Wheatley Hill electric supply (Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company, Ltd.), prepared by C.S. Verey Brown, M.Inst. C.E., 18 June 1906. Scale: 1 inch to 208.33 feet [1 : 2500 approx.]
• Ref: D/X 832/102 — Letter [to the colliery manager?] from the Rev. E. Coltier Biggs, The Vicarage, Thornley, reporting that he has not received his half yearly bill for coal, light and water; he also says that he has heard that the company are charging a penny less per unit for light at Wheatley Hill and he hopes his rate will be similarly reduced, 15 December 1911
• Ref: D/X 832/110 — A plan of the no. 2 scheme for a proposed water supply for Wheatley Hill village, not dated. Scale: 1 : 2500
• Ref: D/X 832/111 — List of material required to be ordered for laying 4" main up to storage tanks and laying distributing pipes to improve Wheatley Hill water supply, 9 January 1899
• Ref: D/X 832/112 — Letter to Mr. Malcolm, Union Offices, Easington, from Ralph Parker, Miners' Secretary, Wheatley Hill, concerning the numbers of taps per street when the additional water pipes are to be laid, 20 February 1899
• Ref: D/X 832/121 — Plan of the sewers at Wheatley Hill (copied from George Curry's tracing), 31 August 1904
• Ref: D/X 832/122 — Letter to T. H. Warwick, Tudhoe Ironworks, Spennymoor, from J. Little, Viaduct Chambers, Carlisle, making a report on the provision of such drains in Thornley and Wheatley Hill as are necessary to comply with Section 23 of the Public Health Act, 1875, 20 September 1904
• Ref: D/X 832/123 — Correspondence between T.H. Warwick, Tudhoe Iron works and J.W. Laverick, Thornley Colliery, with reference to drainage at Thornley and Wheatley Hill, 21 September and 5 October 1904
• Ref: D/X 832/124 — Letter to George A. Curry, Thornley Colliery, from J. G. Heslop, Surveyor of Highways, Easington Rural District Council, concerning problems with a drain at Wheatley Hill, 4 March 1910
• Ref: D/X 832/127 — Correspondence between J. H. B. Forster of Tudhoe Iron works and J. T. Simpson, concerning an appointment with G. C. Clark, about additional land for refuse heaps at Wheatley Hill Colliery, 22 November and 2 December 1916
• Ref: D/X 832/128 — Plan showing land required for stone heap, Wheatley Hill Colliery, 1916. Scale: 25.344 inches to 1 mile [1 : 2500]
• Ref: D/X 832/131 — Letter to J. W. Laverick, Thornley Colliery, from T. H. Warwick, secretary, The Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company, Ltd., Tudhoe Iron Works, Spennymoor, concerning letter from Messrs. Stanton, Atkinson and Hodson, relating to a proposed road at Wheatley Hill, 15-16 December 1904. Includes: plan of the land which the company had agreed to surrender to the Easington Rural District Council, 1904. Scale: 1 inch to 40 feet [1 : 480]
• Ref: D/X 832/141 — Plan of part of Greenhills Estate, Wheatley Hill Colliery, showing proposed sites of houses, 10 October 1872. Scale: 1 : 2500 or 26.344 inches to 1 mile. Attached is a note of the dimensions of fields, 32, 33 and 34, not dated [1872?]
• Ref: D/X 832/142 — Plan of part of Greenhills Estate, Wheatley Hill Colliery, showing proposed sites of houses, 12 November 1872. Scale: 1 : 2500 or 26.344 inches to 1 mile. Also attached is a note of the dimensions of fields 23, 25 and 29, not dated [1872?]
• 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 832/161 — Rough drafts and correspondence from Martin Fleming concerning the work of the Housing Committee, including reference to getting possession of four houses in Wheatley Hill, not dated to 1 October 1953
• Ref: D/X 832/185 — An extract from the supplement to the London Gazette no. 30287, mentioning 50816 gunner (a Bdr.) T. W. Oswald (Wheatley Hill) 37(5) Btl R.Gd. for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty under an intense and accurate enemy bombardment", 21 February 1918
• Ref: D/X 832/186 — Letter to George A. Curry from Edward Kitto, 24 Robson Street, Wheatley Hill, bandmaster, accepting the invitation for the band to play in the procession on Peace Day; he promises the loan of his mother's copper tea urn and requests that they should not be placed near the pit ponies in the procession as they had injured some of the band two years previously, 17 July 1919
• Ref: D/X 832/189 — Unsigned letter from Wheatley Hill to George A. Curry, Thornley Colliery, informing him that James Champley is running the trap nearly every day since his accident, 25 March 1912
• Ref: D/X 832/199 — Correspondence to Philip Cooper from Theo. Wood Bunning, Secretary of Durham Coal Owners' Association, Neville Hall, Coal Trade Office, Newcastle upon Tyne, concerning matters such as regulations for boys under 16 working on the surface with the smiths and joiners, disputes at Wheatley Hill and Thornley, 17-18 January and 11 February 1873
• Ref: D/X 833/1 — Account of cottages belonging to, or rented by, The Weardale Iron and Coal Co. Ltd. at their Wheatley Hill Colliery; arranged by street and gives the names of the occupiers, job of occupiers, dates of entry and departure of each tenant from each property and other relevant remarks relating to each household, c.1890 - c.1940s
• Ref: D/X 1103/32 — Easington Rural District Council: Wheatley Hill Private Street Works: Back Granville Terrace with cross street and Back Alexandra Terrace with two cross streets: plan by G. Waterhouse, surveyor, June 1913. Scale: 40 feet to 1 inch [1 : 480]. [Gives names of occupiers of properties]
• Ref: D/X 1420/12 — Memorandum from M. Barrass, Manager, Wheatley Hill Colliery, Thornley, to Mr. Laidler, concerning the licence for storing mixed explosives, 13 November 1913