SHERIFF HILL. Isabella Pit. Gateshead, Durham. 27th. June, 1815.
The colliery was also known as Ellison Main Colliery and was near the summit of Gateshead fell about two and three-quarter miles from Newcastle. It was leased to Messrs. Lamb and Hutchinson under Cuthbert Ellison of Hebburn Hall. The Isabella Pit was sunk, about 50 years before the disaster. The High Man Seam was at a depth of sixty fathoms.
On the morning of the 27th June 1815, an explosion took place with the loss of eleven lives. Mr. Scott, the overman, four men and two boys and Mr Froggitt, the viewer of the colliery, was below ground with his two brothers. They were killed by the blast and eight other workmen were suffocated by the afterdamp.
Those who died were:
- George Froggitt aged 70 years.
- William Froggitt, aged 60 years.
- Robert Froggitt, aged 45 years.
- James Jamerson, aged 18 years.
- James Young, aged 23 years.
- William Wind, aged 50 years.
- George Wind, aged 20 years.
- Hugh Barker aged 17 years.
Another man named Froggett went in search of his brothers after the blast and was suffocated. A boy was found to be alive after twelve hours; he was not injured but unconscious. Reports stated that he survived.
REFERENCES
Annals of Coal Mining. Galloway. Vol.1, p.404.
A History of Coal Mining in Great Britain. Galloway, p. 161.
Sketches of the Collieries of Northumberland and Durham. T.H. Hair.
Sykes’ Local Records. p.103.
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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