Stormont Main Colliery Explosion – Wrekenton – 1843

STORMONT MAIN. Wrekenton, Durham, 5th. April, 1843.

The colliery was known as the Wrekenton, King Pit and there had been foul air in the pit for some days and the men had been advised to take extreme care. The colliery was the property of John Grace. A man left the pit half an hour before the explosion saying that his life was in danger. There were about fifty men in the pit at the time and only twenty-six were brought out alive of which four died from their injuries. The explosion was said to be slight but claimed the lives of twenty-eight, sixteen men and twelve boys and caused serious injury to seven others. It was thought that gas in a working place had been ignited by a candle as someone passed the place.

Those who died were:

• Matthias Gray aged 20 years the son of the Felling underviewer.
• Thomas Charlton aged 25 years, overman left a wife and two children.
• Robert Spence aged 34 years, deputy overman.
• Thomas Hedley aged 32 years, hewer left a wife and three children.
• Humphrey Ditchburn aged 58 years, hewer left a wife.
• George Ditchburn aged 21 years, hewer, son of Humphrey and left a wife.
• Michael Cleghorn aged 30 years, hewer left a wife and two children
• Thomas Cleghorn, his brother aged 28 years a single hewer.
• John Robson aged 28 years, hewer who left a wife and three children.
• Edward Robson aged 23 years a single hewer.
• Thomas Moulters aged 31 years, shifter who left a wife and two children.
• John Jacques aged 21 years, single hewer.
• James Waters aged 20 years, hewer who left a wife.
• John Richardson aged 26 years, hewer left a wife.
• James Young aged 29 years, hewer who left a wife and four children. This was the first time he had been down the pit.

The following were drivers and putters:

• David Kidman aged 14 years.
• John Kidman aged 10 years, brother of David.
• Matthew Doxford aged 19 years.
• Thomas Dixon aged 16 years.
• John Dixon aged 12 years, brother of Thomas.
• George Felton aged 13 years.
• John Young aged 12 years.
• John Tulip aged 15 years.
• John Smith aged 14 years.
• Abraham Field aged 12 years.
• Hugh Hughes aged 11 years.
• Thomas Morris aged 16 years.

The inquest was held at the Half Moon Inn, Wrekenton. Several pitmen were examined. George Ritchie stated that he had been down the pit on Wednesday morning and had remained there until seven o’clock. He had been cautioned by the deputy overman to put out his light as he passed a board in the west district. he went to the board where James Young was working but as the air was foul. He remained there only a quarter of an hour. He told the court that this foulness shad been standing in the board for two mornings.

John Burns said that he was down the pit on Tuesday morning and had been in the company of George Ditchburn and found that the air in their board was foul and they could not stay. He went the next morning and the danger had been removed.

The jury heard from many more witnesses but no light was thrown on the cause of the disaster and it was concluded that every device had been made by the owner for the ventilation and the safety of the men. The jury recorded a verdict of accidental death.

REFERENCES
Annals of Coal Mining. Galloway. Vol.2, p.47.
Mining Journal, p.131, 159.
Durham Advertiser.
Newcastle Courant.

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