HOUGHTON. Houghton, Durham. 11th. November, 1850.

The pit was sunk by Thomas Crawford in 1828 and laid off in 1838 but re-opened in 1849. The shaft was 116 fathoms deep to the Hutton seam and was 14 feet in diameter. The pit fired between 5 and 6 a.m. when 150 people were at work in the pit killing twenty-six men and boys. One hundred and fifty who were at work in the mine were rescued after hours of dangerous work and any of them came out of the mine unconscious. The men had remained about 400 yards from the shaft and most of the dead lost their lives trying to pass through the afterdamp to get to the shaft. Several others were burned and some of the victims were mutilated.

After the explosion, the mine was inspected by Mr. Tremenheer and Mr. Foster, colliery viewer. The inquiry heard that John Rutherford, the viewer of the colliery went down about twice a fortnight. The explosion was put down to the foolhardiness of a miner who ignited some gas that had accumulated in an old working. Hunter, the overman, was killed. The verdict stated that:

The explosion was caused by a naked lamp which had been negligently and improperly used by John Watchman, either contrary to orders given to him, or in consequence of the overman not having given him such orders.

The local burial registers give the following names:

Buried November 12th.

  • William Anderson aged 18.
  • Henry Anderson aged 11.
  • John Anderson aged 14.
  • Samuel Gardner aged 15.
  • George Gardner aged 13.
  • Buried November 13th.
  • Thomas Morpson.
  • William Fairley aged 14.
  • Edward Fairley aged 17.
  • Abel Burness.
  • William Elliott aged 14.
  • John Watchman aged 25.
  • John Dixon aged 19.
  • James Anderson aged 42.
  • Thomas Artkinson aged 16.
  • John Bearney aged 15.
  • George Watson aged 12.
  • William Walker aged 17.
  • Buried November 14th.
  • John Fenwick aged 22.

 

REFERENCES
Annals of Coal Mining. Galloway. Vol. 2. p. 54.
Mining Journal Vol. xx, p.549.
Latimers’ Local Records. p.288.
Houghton-le-Spring Parish Burial Register.

Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.

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