Durham Mining Museum - Local Records Extracts (original) (raw)

1826

January 17. — The first coals from the new colliery on the Springwell estate, belonging to the right honourable Lord Ravensworth, and partners, were, on the 17th of January 1826, conveyed down the new railway (about five and a half miles in length) to the river Tyne, and put on board the ship Industry, at the improved new drop, erected on the Jarrow Grange estate of Cuthbert Ellison, esq. About half-past eight o'clock on the morning, the excellent band composed of his lordship and partners' colliers at Mount moor, in their new uniforms, with cockades at their caps, marched to the pit, playing several pleasing airs, and followed by a great concourse of spectators, amongst whom was an individual nearly 100 years old, (who had expressed a wish to see the first coals go from the pit, having, when a girl, on a like occasion, seen the first coals sent from the old colliery to the Wear,) for the accommodation of whom the agents sent a carriage to convey her thither, and gave her a cockade which she displayed at her bonnet. The procession left the pit at nine o'clock in four waggons, fitted up for the accommodation of the band, the agents of the colliery, and several ladies and gentlemen visitors, with a numerous concourse of persons on foot, and with eight chaldron waggons of coals, descended the inclined plane, and, preceded by the band, passed onwards towards the Tyne. On the coal waggons crossing the turnpike road from Sunderland to Newcastle, the company gave three cheers, the band playing "God save the king." On the procession arriving at Monkton, it was joined by some of the agents of the other collieries of his lordship and partners, and other gentlemen, and finally arrived at the top of the inclined plane, near the river, about half-past eleven o'clock, where numbers had assembled to join the procession, and view the operation of shipping the coals, which are called Lord Ravensworth and Partners' Peareth's Wallsend. After placing the band in front of the cottages built on the spot, the coal waggons passed down the plane, one at a time, and landing upon the platform of the drop, were lowered on to the deck of the ship. The emptying of the first waggon was announced by a discharge of cannon, returned by a like discharge from the opposite shore. After the emptying of the coal waggons, the agents with a few select friends proceeded to Newcastle, and partook of an excellent dinner provided for the occasion by Mr. Richardson, of the Three Indian Kings Inn. Many local toasts were given, with songs ; one composed for the occasion, and sung by Captain Welsh, gave much satisfaction. [_LHTB_]

January 17. — On the morning a terrible explosion of fire-damp, took place in Jarrow colliery, near South Shields, Durham, belonging to Thomas and Robert Brown, esqrs., of London, by which thirty-four men and boys were killed; and some others much burnt. Forty-five horses and two asses were also killed in the mine. The explosion took place in the Bensham pit, which had been recently sunk to the lowest seam. The cause could not be ascertained, as none who were in the place where the blast originated, were saved. It appeared on the coroner's inquest, on the body of Richard Bell, one of the sufferers, that the overmen and deputies had inspected all the workings on the morning of the day on which the accident occurred, and the wastemen had gone through the waste. There was no appearance of danger, but on the contrary, the pit seemed well ventilated, and in a perfectly safe state. The number down the pit at the time was forty-eight. [_LHTB_]

January 26. — The first ship laden with coals from the Tees sailed this day. She took in her loading at the newly erected staiths, Cottage row, Stockton. [_LRSN_]

February 1. — Died, after a few hours� illness, at his seat, Gosforth House, in Northumberland, Charles John Brandling, esq., M.P. for Northumberland, and lieutenant-colonel of the Northumberland and Newcastle cavalry. He was interred on the 10th of February, at Gosforth church, with great solemnity. At an early period of the day, carriages of the wealthy and powerful began to arrive at Gosforth House; and many persons on horseback and on foot went from Newcastle and the neighbourhood. At two o�clock, the body, in a splendid black coffin, was placed in the hearse; four mourning coaches then drew up at the hall door, and received the sorrowing mourners; and about half-past two the solemn procession moved for the final depository. The procession occupied nearly half a mile in extent. There were, including the hearse, upwards of thirty vehicles, nearly one half of them drawn by four horses each. After these came, in deep mourning, a troop of the Newcastle cavalry. A number of his tenantry closed the line. On arrival at the church-yard, where a stone vault of considerable dimensions had been constructed, the body was met by the rev. Mr. Walker, who performed the service in a very impressive manner. The pall was supported by Sir M. W. Ridley, M.P., Sir Charles Loraine, Sir C. M. L. Monck, barts.; R. J. Lambton, C. W. Bigge, and C. J. Clavering, esqrs. As chief-mourners, appeared the rev. R. H. Brandling, John Brandling, R. W. Brandling, Thomas Creevey, M.P., R. Burdon, Matthew Bell, William Linshill, Walter Fawkes, G. Wentworth, and Charles Ogle, esqrs. After these followed a number of gentlemen with scarfs and hatbands. The church was crowded to excess, indeed the whole way from Gosforth House to the church was lined with sorrowing spectators. [_LRS_]

May 30. — An explosion took place in Townley Main, (Stella) colliery on the river Tyne, by which lamentable occurrence thirty eight human beings lost their lives. [_LHTB_]

September 5. — About six o'clock on the morning, an explosion took place in Heworth colliery, when three men and two boys were unfortunately killed, and ten others scorched and bruised. This explosion dashed to pieces the stoppings, brattices, and props, and brought down the roof in several places. Some of the men who were working in a distant part of the mine, were unhurt and even unconscious, until they came to bank, of the accident having happened. [_LHTB_]

October 27. — An explosion took place in the high pit of Benwell colliery, near Newcastle, by which two young men, named Joseph Whitfield, and William Peel, were killed almost instantaneously. Several men were much injured. There were upwards of 100 men and boys in the mine at the time. The cause assigned for this explosion was, that Peel went with a candle into a part of the mine which he and the rest had been cautioned to avoid. [_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.
• LRS — Local Records or Historical Register of Remarkable Events by John Sykes, Published in 1833 in two volumes
• LRSN — Local Records of Stockton and the Neighbourhood by Thomas Richmond. Published in one volume in 1868.