Fatfield Colliery Judith Pit Explosion – Chester-le-Street – 1825

FATFIELD. Judith Pit. Chester-le-Street, Durham. 3rd. July, 1825.

Fatfield formed part of the original Harraton Estate and the explosion caused the deaths of eleven men and boys. It was referred to in some old records as the Judith Pit, Harraton Outside. The colliery was the property of W.M. Lamb and Co. and the explosion killed everyone down the pit including eleven horses.

Those who died were:

• Ralph Curry, overman.
• Mark Curry, deputy. Son of Ralph.
• William Gray, deputy.
• John Solsbey, stoneworker. Curry’s son-in-law.
• Joseph Harrison, waggonway wright.
• George Hambling, coal hewer.
• Edward Ranson, stoneworker.
• Joseph and Robert Brown, brothers, cranemen.
• Robert Robinson, watchman.
• William Simpson, watchman.

No cause was found for the disaster and at the inquest, at Fatfield a verdict of accidental death was returned.

REFERENCES
Annals of Coal Mining. Galloway, Vol.1, p.496.
Sykes’ Local Records.
Sykes’ List.
Durham Chronicle 9th July 1825.

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