North Biddick Colliery Explosion – Washington – 1773

NORTH BIDDICK. Washington, Durham. 6th. December, 1773.

There was an explosion at the colliery but there is no definite agreement of the number of victims. Galloway says twenty and Fynes reports nineteen. Sykes reports:

A colliery near the River Weir, Durham, 6th December 1773.

It was reported that the foul air from an old waste took fire at the pit about noon and burned through a partition between an old waste and the working pit which was eighty fathoms deep. There was a terrible explosion throwing material about two hundred feet into the air.

Most of those in the pit discovered the danger and were drawn to safety but some boys and a man were left behind and lost their lives. Four horses also were killed and thrown put of the shaft by explosions which occurred at five minute intervals for the rest of the day.

REFERENCES
Annals of Coal Mining. Galloway, vol.1, p.273.
Sykes, Local Records.  Vol. 1, p.296.
Fynes. A History of the Northumberland and Durham Miners.

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