WHEATLEY HILL. Ferryhill, Durham. 22nd. January, 1871.

The colliery was owned by the Original Hartlepool Collieries Company and the colliery had recently reached the coal at the dip portion of the royalties belonging to the Company who also owned the Thornley Collieries which were on the rise part of the royalty. Holings had been made between the two collieries for the purpose of getting water out of the Thornley Colliery. These holings did not free the water from a detached part of the colliery and they were not intended to do so. To get this water out, another place was being driven to join a pair of headways.

The plan did not match with the reality of the situation. The headways were abandoned for a time and as far as was known to the management of the colliery there was a face of about 80 yards nearly at a right angle to the advancing place. If this had been the actual position a front borehole a few yards ahead would have given sufficient protection.

While the place was advancing, boreholes were made, front holes of three yards and flank holes of two yards at an angle of 45°. It was considered from the head of water in the drowned seams and the hardness and compactness of the coal, that holes of this length were sufficient to keep the workmen safe. There was a great irregularity in the boring of the flank holes, sometimes they had been completed and sometimes they had not but the front holes had always been made. On the night before the accident, the hole on the right had been put in but not the one on the left.

In his report Mr. Willis commented:

Under the supposition of the 80 yards face which was expected according to the plan, there was some excuse for having the flank holes only two yards in length. Boreholes of this kind should not be less than six to eight yards in length and the flank holes at not more than five yards distance from each other and probably a less angle than 450, would be of greater certainty but there is some difficulty in commencing the holes because of the cleavage of the coal. Where there is any doubt as to the accuracy of the plans, or where there are no plans of old workings, these lengths shall be increased to not less than 10 yards and the flank holes three yards apart.

Those who lost their lives were:

  • James Hall, hewer aged 42 years.
  • John Bell, hewer aged 29 years.
  • William Ragan, hewer.
  • Robert Smith, hewer aged 29 years.
  • John Smith, hewer aged 22 years.
  • John Walker, hewer aged 25 years.
  • George Cooper, putter aged 13 years.

The Coroner’s jury found a verdict of “Manslaughter” against William Spencer, the chief viewer, William Hay, the resident viewer and Thomas Watson, the overman. The case was heard at the March assizes at Durham before Baron Martin who did not think that that a verdict should lead to a warrant and the bill was thrown put.

Counsel for the prosecution wanted the case to proceed to which the Judge consented. After hearing a few witnesses the Judge remarked, “At present, there is no shadow of a case, ”upon which the prosecution was withdrawn. The judge observed, “after an experience of 20 years on the bench, I have never known a case carried on the Coroners, inquisition after the grand jury had thrown out the bill”. He ordered the cost of the case to be stopped.

 

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report. 1871. Mr. Willis.
Colliery Guardian, 27th January p.96.

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

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