Durham Mining Museum - Margaret Pit (original) (raw)

Location:	Philadelphia5½ miles [9 km] SW of Sunderland
Map Ref:	(Sheet 88) NZ331519, 54° 51' 39" N, 1° 29' 1" W
Opened:
Closed:	1930's
Pits:	Shaft details for Margaret Pit
Owners:	1700s - Nesham Family
1819 - Earl of Durham
1896 - Lambton Collieries Ltd.
1910s - Lambton & Hetton Collieries Ltd
Output:	1888 - Coal.
1894 - Coal: Household, Manufacturing.
1896 - Coal: Household, Manufacturing.
1900 - Margaret - Coal: Household, Manufacturing.
1902 - Margaret - Coal: Household, Manufacturing. Fireclay.
1905 - Margaret - Coal: Household, Manufacturing. Fireclay.
1910 - Margaret - Coal: Household, Manufacturing. Fireclay.
1915 - Margaret - Coal: Household, Manufacturing. Fireclay.
1921 - Coal: Household, Manufacturing. Fireclay.
1923 - Coal: Gas, Steam. Fireclay.
1924 - Coal: Gas, Steam. Fireclay.
Employment:	Year Pit Total Below Above 1883484484 189457348093 189660852385 1900Margaret58350578 1902Margaret60951198 1915Margaret64655987 1921981828153 19231,003827176 1924959789170
Colliery Management (prior to 1970)
Seams Worked:	1905 - Margaret - Brass Thill, Hutton, Main Coal
1910 - Margaret - Brass Thill, Harvey, Hutton, Low Main, Main Coal, Maudlin
1915 - Margaret - Brass Thill, Busty, Harvey, Hutton, Low Main, Main Coal, Maudlin
1921 - Brass Thill, Busty, Harvey, Hutton, Low Main, Main Coal, Maudlin
1923 - Brass Thill, Five Quarter, Hutton, Low Main, Main Coal, Maudlin
1924 - Brass Thill, Five Quarter, Hutton, Low Main, Main Coal, Maudlin
	Catalogue of plans of abandoned mines for Margaret Pit
Notes:	1857 - Commenced to sink the Margaret Upcast Pit, Newbottle Colliery, a few fathoms lower, 13 February, and then put down a boring to prove the lower coals.
1912 - Low Main, Harvey, Busty seams abandoned
Miscellaneous Notes and Incidents for Margaret Pit

Description

Here [_Newbottle Township_] are extensive collieries, which were carried on for many years by the Nesham family, from whom they were purchased in 1819 by the Earl of Durham. The Margaret pit, working the Maudlin seam, at a depth of 115 fathoms, and 4 feet 6 inches in thickness, with an output of 700 tons per day of gas-coal, gives employment to 590 men and boys. At this pit electricity is extensively used for hauling, winding, pumping, and lighting. Dorothea pit, working the Five Quarter seam, at a depth of 98 fathoms, and 8 feet 6 inches in thickness ; the Maudlin at 120 fathoms, and 4 feet 6 inches thick. The daily output is 700 tons ; number of hands employed, 660. The various collieries belonging to the Earl of Durham are connected by about eighteen miles of private railways, and the coals are shipped at Sunderland.

Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham

Disasters (5 or more killed)

| | 3rd | Jun | 1885 | | Inrush of water from old workings, 14 lives lost (Show Names) | | ---------- | ------- | -------- | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

Names of those killed at this colliery

Please note that this collection of names is by no means complete!

| | | | | | | Adamson, Joseph, 03 Jun 1885, Hewer, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings), left a wife and 1 child [More information ...] | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | Bailes, John, 03 Jun 1885, aged 31, Hewer, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings), left a wife and 2 children, Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle [More information ...] | | | | | | | | Bainbridge, George, 07 Jul 1920, (accident: 06 Jul 1920), aged 47, Hewer, Deceased went on to the heap to descend at 3.45 a.m. and went on the gangway until it was time to go down. Whilst sitting, the rail on which he was seated gave way and he fell a distance of 23 feet. He was taken to Sunderland Infirmary and died as stated on the 7th | | | | | | | | | Bellamy, Thomas, 08 Oct 1902, aged 25, Coal Filler, he was assisting to get a tub on to the way, in a gateway, when he got a shock from the coal cutting electric cables, caused by a short circuit on the armouring of the cable ; a fall of stone had fallen on to the cable and caused the armour wire to penetrate the insulation and come in contact with the internal copper wire [More information ...] | | | | | | | | | Brown, John Simpson, 27 Apr 1915, aged 25, Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle | | | | | | | | | Bryson, James Patterson Malcolm, 22 Jun 1920, aged 26, Stoneman, Died on 22nd June, 1920, as the result of injuries received by a fall of stone on 16th June, 1920 | | | | | | | | | Cain, Thomas, 19 Sep 1901, aged 16, Engine Plane Lad, he was hanging tubs on to an endless rope, when two tubs ran back down an incline and fatally crushed him between them and those he was hanging on to the rope [More information ...] | | | | | | | | | Calligan, John, 03 Jun 1885, aged 28, Hewer, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings), left a wife and 2 children [More information ...] | | | | | | | | Carr, Joseph, 03 Jun 1885, aged 25, Hewer, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings), left a wife and 1 child [More information ...] | | | | | | | | Carter, Rennison, 03 Jun 1885, aged 35, Deputy, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings), left a wife and 3 children [More information ...] | | | | | | | | Combie, Emanuel, 23 May 1861, aged 25, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone | | | | | | | | | Curry, Thomas, 06 Oct 1909, aged 63, Wasteman, He came out of a return airway, with three others on to the engine plane. The set was running, so he told the others to stay in the stenton whilst he went to see where the set was. No sooner had he left the stenton than he was run over by the set and fatally injured. As he had three quarters of an hour in which to travel about three quarters of a mile out to the shaft, there was no need for him to have gone out of the stenton until he had seen the set pass. Had he waited a minute or two he would have been safe [Sunderland Echo reports: accident - 08 Oct 1909], Buried: All Saints Churchyard, Penshaw | | | | | | | | | Curry, William Stokoe, 23 Jul 1902, aged 19, Shovelling out after Coal Cutter, a coal cutting machine was at work in the face of some longwall workings, there was a "hitch" on the goaf side of the machine, and when cutting the wheel cut into a slip in the roof and a large stone fell, without any warning, and killed these two men [More information ...] | | | | | | | | | Davison, William, 03 Jun 1885, aged 22, Hewer, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings), left a wife and 1 child, Buried: All Saints Churchyard, Penshaw [More information ...] | | | | | | | | Forster, John Smith, 06 Jul 1918, (accident: 03 Jul 1918), aged 40, he suffered serious injuries to his head, shoulders and back when he was caught by a fall of stone, he died in Sunderland Infirmary 3 days after the accident. Left a wife and three children, address: Chandler Row, Shiney Row, Buried: Bournmoor | | | | | | | | | Foster, Robert, 23 Jul 1902, aged 26, Road Layer, a coal cutting machine was at work in the face of some longwall workings, there was a "hitch" on the goaf side of the machine, and when cutting the wheel cut into a slip in the roof and a large stone fell, without any warning, and killed these two men, Buried: St. Cuthberts Churchyard, West Herrington [More information ...] | | | | | | | | | Gibbons, John, 20 Jan 1904, (accident: 15 Jan 1904), aged 36, Filler, shoulder injured owing to a shot exploding which was holding the cable near the charge [More information ...] | | | | | | | | | Gray, James Wilson, 03 Jun 1885, aged 37, Hewer, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings), left a wife and 5 children [More information ...] | | | | | | | | Green, William, 16 Apr 1918, aged 34, Labourer, while in a stooping position, he was caught between a metal column and the axle box of a truck, and killed. He had only been discharged from the Army about ten weeks earlier | | | | | | | | | Hardie, Alexander, 27 Dec 1922, aged 29, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone, Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle | | | | | | | | | House, John George, 03 Jun 1885, aged 46, Back Overman, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings), left a wife, Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle [More information ...] | | | | | | | | Hunter, William, 26 Jun 1887, aged 14, Driver, one of the tubs of his set fell over and crushed him to death, pony supposed to have turned round | | | | | | | | | Jarvis, George, 03 Jun 1885, Driver, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings) [More information ...] | | | | | | | | Laidler, James, 15 Nov 1890, aged 33, Master Wasteman, he told one of the wastemen to knock out a prop to let down some stone, which fell, killing him and breaking the back of the other man, who was his brother [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 17 Nov 1890 pg 3 col 3], Buried: St. Cuthberts Churchyard, West Herrington [More information ...] | | | | | | | | | Laidler, Joseph, 03 Jun 1885, aged 19, Shifter, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings), single, Buried: St. Cuthberts Churchyard, West Herrington [More information ...] | | | | | | | | Laidler, Percival, 23 Feb 1899, aged 47, Timber Drawer, He was drawing a jud, and had finished with the exception of drawing the crossing baulk at the jud end; he was taking out the prop under this baulk, when the stone broke down the timber under which he was working, and killed him., Buried: St. Cuthberts Churchyard, West Herrington | | | | | | | | | Laidler, Richard, 15 Nov 1893, (accident: 09 Nov 1890), aged 21, Wasteman, Died from injuries received from a fall of stone while drawing a prop on November 15th, 1890., Buried: St. Cuthberts Churchyard, West Herrington | | | | | | | | | Langan, William, 23 Aug 1906, aged 43, Deputy, He drew out a prop set under a plank. The crumbly roof above thrust this plank and two others down, and a large stone falling, he was held fast by the leg. More crumbly roof followed, and he was buried up and smothered. His life would probably have been saved had he used a proper timber-drawing appliance. There was one at hand., Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle | | | | | | | | | Lister, Thomas, 01 Apr 1895, 3:35 p.m., 7th hour of shift, aged 46, Hewer, coupling chain of the engine set broke and part of lead ran amain and caught deceased while he was on his way outbye [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 04 Apr 1895 pg 3] | | | | | | | | | Lowrey, George, 03 Jun 1885, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings), left a wife and 3 children [More information ...] | | | | | | | | Maddison, William, 23 Apr 1861, aged 39, Hewer, killed by a fall of stone from roof | | | | | | | | | McChesney, Robert, 09 Jun 1882, aged 15, Putter, blow from fall of incline wheel frame, the two sets collided and jerked the wheel and frame out of its place | | | | | | | | | McKinlay, Francis, 15 May 1878, aged 16, Putter, injury to head by falling on tub-yoker - supposed injury to brain | | | | | | | | | Million, Robert, 27 Jul 1920, aged 16, Putter, struck by the set | | | | | | | | | Nicholson, Robert Armstrong, 18 Sep 1894, 12:00 p.m., 6th hour of shift, aged 13, Driver, run over by a set of full tubs, supposed to have been hanging on his pony when the hook slipped off [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 20 Sep 1894 pg 3], Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle | | | | | | | | | Pickering, George, 21 Jun 1917, aged 18, Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle | | | | | | | | | Poulter, Henry, 12 Feb 1906, aged 31, Machine Attendant, He was caught and severely injured by the bar of a coal-cutting machine, with which and its hauling rope he, by some means, became entangled. He died when being taken to the infirmary. [More information ...] | | | | | | | | | Quinn, Michael, 03 Oct 1896, (accident: 02 Oct 1896), aged 21, Putter, When getting on to the limbers the pony started away suddenly and he was knocked down and dragged eight or 10 yards, and was so severely crushed that he died the following day | | | | | | | | | Robertson, Alexander, 09 Nov 1915, aged 55, Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle | | | | | | | | | Robson, Jacob, 03 Jun 1885, Hewer, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings), single, son of Joseph [More information ...] | | | | | | | | Robson, Joseph, 03 Jun 1885, Hewer, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings), left a wife and 2 children, father of Jacob [More information ...] | | | | | | | | Roland, Leonard, 26 Jan 1882, aged 14, Driver, crushed by engine set while crossing the line | | | | | | | | | Sanderson, Thomas Jackson, 03 Jun 1885, aged 32, Hewer, killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings), left a wife and 3 children [More information ...] | | | | | | | | Shaw, William, 28 Jul 1902, aged 15, Driver, when driving a full tub it by some means up-ended and crushed him to death, Buried: St. Cuthberts Churchyard, West Herrington | | | | | | | | | Stafford, John, 24 Jun 1885, (accident: 04 Apr 1885), aged 53, Labourer, said to have sprained himself while lifting a tub, afterwards said he was seized with a pain in the bowels while walking up a bank in the pit | | | | | | | | | Stewart, Alexander, 22 Jan 1878, (accident: 17 Jan 1878), aged 51, Shifter, back injured by fall of stone from a slip | | | | | | | | | Teasdale, Matthew, 11 Feb 1898, aged 54, Hewer, died while travelling out-bye on the engine plane from heart failure; ventilation all right | | | | | | | | | Thirtle, James, 05 Nov 1923, aged 37, Hewer, died suddenly in the pit | | | | | | | | | Turbin, Robert, 27 May 1879, aged 29, Collier, while assisting to put the engine set on the way it ran back and broke the chain, and he was crushed between tubs and wall | | | | | | | | | Wallace, Robert, 29 May 1878, (accident: 15 May 1878), aged 21, Collier, severe bruises across the loins by a fall of stone while working in a broken jud | | | | | | | | | Watson, Matthew William, 25 Jul 1874, aged 21, Hewer, crushed by tubs, engine set got off the way, Buried: St. Cuthberts Churchyard, West Herrington | | | | | | | | | Watt, John George, 21 May 1901, aged 19, Putter, died from injuries alleged to have been received when lifting a tub on to the way. but a post-mortem examination showed death was due to natural causes | | | | | | | | | Wilcox, James, 07 Apr 1913, aged 42, Back Overman, deceased was found at the bottom of a staple pit injured, having fallen from part way down; he thought he had fallen a distance of 5 ladders, i.e., about 50 feet; he died the same day, Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle | | | | | | | | | Wilson, Robert, 09 Jan 1916, aged 47, Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle | | | | | | | | | Youll, William, 05 Mar 1895, 3:05 p.m., 8th hour of shift, aged 15, Screener, he was crossing a driving belt where he had no business, when he fell and was drawn up to the sheave and crushed [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 07 Mar 1895 pg 3] | | | | | | | | | | | | 55 names found | | | | | | |

If you know of any fatalities missing from the above list then please contact us with the details and we will add them to our database.

For those names marked the text of the Mines Inspectors report into the incident is available online. Click on the icon to display the report.

Those names marked with , have a web page providing individual details of the accident, the page may also include a photograph of the deceased. Click on the symbol next to the name to see the web page.

Some of the names of mining fatalities on this web site have been kindly provided by Jim Grainger from his research into early newspapers (primarily the _Durham Advertiser_and Durham Chronicle) and are marked with.

Some of the names of mining fatalities on this web site have been extracted from material deposited at the North East England Mining Archive and Research Centre (NEEMARC) — principally the records of the Durham Miners' Association and are marked with.

more information on some of the fatalities shown above

Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)

a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of Margaret Pit

list of collieries/pits etc. near to Margaret Pit

Gallery Images:

Credits

Sources:

• NEEMARC - Ref: NUMDA/6/1/1/6, Reports of the Compensation Department, Vol VI covering Jan-Dec 1926
• 1861 Mines Inspectors Report, Southern District by John J. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines
• 1878 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2321), Durham District by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
• 1879 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2604) Where to find this report
• 1881 Mines Inspectors Report (C 3241)
• 1882 Mines Inspectors Report (C 3621) Where to find this report
• 1885 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4760) Where to find this report
• 1887 Mines Inspectors Report (C 5450) Where to find this report
• 1888 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
• 1890 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
• 1890 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6346), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
• 1893 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7339), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
• 1894 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
• 1894 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7667), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
• 1895 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8074), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines 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
• 1896 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8450), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
• 1898 Mines Inspectors Report (C 9264), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
• 1899 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 134), Durham District (No. 4) by Ronald D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
• 1900 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
• 1901 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1062), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
• 1902 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
• 1902 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1590), Durham District (No. 4) by R. Donald Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
• 1904 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2506), Durham District (No. 4) by R. Donald Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
• 1905 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
• 1906 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 3449), Durham District (No. 4) by R. Donald Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
• 1909 List of Mines - from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
• 1909 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 5177), Durham District (No. 4) by R. Donald Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
• 1910 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
• 1913 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 7439), Northern Division (No. 2) by J. R. R. Wilson, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
• 1915 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
• 1919 List of Mines - from Reid's Handy Colliery Guide
• 1921 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
• 1923 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
• 1924 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
• Banners of the Durham Coalfield, Norman Emery, 1998, Sutton Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-7509-1708-3
• Contributions by members of the Public
• Headstone(s) in All Saints Churchyard, Penshaw
• Headstone(s) in St. Cuthberts Churchyard (Church Demolished), West Herrington
• Headstone(s) in St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle
• History, Topography, and Directory of the County Palatine of Durham by Francis Whellan. Second edition published in 1894.
• 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 1884 - Government report from the Mines Department (C 4430), published in 1885 — includes List of Mines and Openworks
• Sunderland Daily News
• Victoria History of the Counties of England � Durham. Published in three volumes in 1907.

Pictures:

• Colliery picture provided by David Kitching

Related Links:

Further Reading:

• Mines Inspectors Report into the 1885 Disaster (C. 4497)
• Durham Mining Disasters, c.1700 - 1950s by Maureen Anderson, Published by Wharncliffe Books, 2008, ISBN 1-845630-73-4

Further Research:

Research Notes for Margaret Pit