Harraton Colliery Explosion – Harraton – 1794

HARRATON. Harraton, Durham. 11th. June, 1794.

It was recorded that the colliery, on the West side of the River Weir, was very profitable during the time of the Commonwealth. In 1647, Josiah Primat, a London leather seller opened out the Five Quarter and Nine Quarter seams which had been flooded since 1642 when they had been flooded by Cromwell’s army. The work was finished at a cost of £2,000

An explosion was reported at the colliery with the loss of twenty lives. The following is an entry from the Chester-le-Street burial Register but there is no reference to the disaster.

Buried 12th June 1794:

• John Thompson, son of Edward Thompson of Lambton.
• George Nevill of Harraton.
• John Corvel of Rickleton.
• George Corvel, son of John of Rickleton.
• William Corvel, son of John of Rickleton.
• Joseph Bambridge of Harraton New Row.
• Thomas Lee of Harraton New Row.
• Matthew Allan of Harraton New Row.
• Robert Allan, son of Matthew of Harraton New Row.
• John Harding of Harraton New Row.
• Robert Stoddart of Harraton New Row.
• John Lee of Harraton New Row.
• Andrew Tale of Harraton New Row.
• Joseph Hall, son of George of Harraton New Row.
• William Hepple of Lambton.
• George Summerson of Harraton New Row.
• John Tale of Harraton New Row.
• Robert Rogerson, son of George of Picktree.
• Roger Rogerson, son of George of Picktree.
• John Rogerson, of Birtley Lane.
• Thomas Humble of Birtley Lane.
• Joseph Robinson, son of Joseph of Harraton.
• George Mowbray, son of George of Harraton.
• Matthew Roxby of Harraton.

Buried 13th June 1794:

• Robert Elliott, son of Thompson Elliott of Harraton.

Buried on 14th June 1794:

• John Hall, son of George Hall of Harraton New Row.
• George Kellett, of Harraton.

Buried 26th June 1794:

• John Elliottson of John of Pit Hill deceased.
• Ralph Carr son of Ralph of Pit Hill.

REFERENCES
Annals of Coal Mining. Galloway, Vol.1, p. 312.

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