Durham Mining Museum - Local Records Extracts (original) (raw)
1843
February 25. — The first cargo of coals from Trimdon colliery was shipped at Hartlepool. Much rejoicing took place at the successful termination of the undertaking. [_LRL_]
April 5. — An explosion occurred at Stormont Main colliery, near Gateshead, the property of J. Grace, Esq., and Partners. At the time of the accident, upwards of fifty men were at work, and the most praiseworthy exertions were made to rescue the survivors. Twenty-six men were brought out alive, but four of them died soon after of their injuries, and twenty-four persons were brought up in whom life was quite extinct. It appeared that there had been much foul air in the pit for some days previous, and the men had been advised to use extreme care. A subscription was entered into for the fourteen widows and twenty-three children left destitute by the calamity, and a considerable sum was raised for their support. [_LRL_]
July 20. — The owners of South Wingate colliery entertained a large party of their friends at Hartlepool, to celebrate the first shipment of coals from their new winning at Catley Hall, near Hutton Henry. The five-quarter seam had been reached at a depth of 116 fathoms, and the main coal seam at 123 fathoms. [_LRL_]
August 10. — Died, at Wallsend, in the county of Northumberland, in the 70th year of his age, John Buddle, esq. The deceased was born at Kyo, near Tanfield, Durham, his father being then the schoolmaster at that place, though ultimately the manager of the celebrated Wallsend Colliery, a situation in which his son succeeded him in 1806. As a mining engineer and colliery manager, Mr. Buddle had long stood in the front rank of his profession, and the extensive and varied scientific knowledge which he possessed, and the almost unrivalled skill and judgement with which he applied that knowledge to actual practice, procured for him the highest professional reputation, not only in this country, but abroad. His sterling honesty and unaffected kindness of heart caused him to be loved and respected by his friends, and the liberality with which he privately bestowed large sums in acts of charity will be long and gratefully remembered by those numerous individuals who were the objects of his unostentatious benevolence. Mr. Buddle left a fortune of not less than £150,000, as a monument of his skill and enterprise. October 16th, the remains of the deceased were interred at Benwell. Sixty gentlemen on horseback preceded the hearse, which was followed by nine mourning coaches, upwards of sixty private carriages, and a great number of workmen from various collieries. [_LRL_]
October 9. — A sudden influx of water occurred at Pasture Hill colliery, near Belford, by which seven workmen lost their lives. [_LRL_]
October 21. — The pitmen of Northumberland and Durham held a meeting at Shadon Hill, for the purpose of presenting Thomas Slingsby Duncombe, esq., M.P., with an address expressive of their high admiration of his zealous and unwearied advocacy of the interests of the people. At least 25,000 persons were present on the occasion. [_LRF_]
October 27. — This morning, one of the boilers attached to the Spital Tongues Colliery exploded, when the engineman was thrown a considerable distance, and shortly afterwards expired. [_LRF_]
November 8. — The Bishop Auckland and Weardale Railway was opened, when several trains proceeded from Crook, the western end of the line, to Middlesbro', where they were received with great rejoicings. The wagons brought down the line, for shipment, a quantity of coals from Woodifield colliery, the property of Mr. T. C. Gibson, the boring of which had only commenced seven weeks before. In the evening, a dinner took place at Darlington, to commemorate the day. [_LRL_]
December. — This month, coal was won at High Bitchburn, near Crook, Durham. The seam was 7 feet 4 inches thick. About the same time, coal was won on the Grange Estate, near Durham, by the Hetton Coal Company. [_LRL_]
- 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