BIGGES PIT. Willington, Northumberland. 19th. April, 1841.

There was an accident reported at the colliery which claimed thirty-two lives. An explosion occurred at about two o’clock in the Besham seam. At the time of the explosion it was raining and a very strong wind was blowing and the force of the explosion shook the earth like an earthquake and the noise like that of a cannon with smoke rushing from the pit mouth that blacked out the daylight. There were only three survivors of those down the pit. These three were working in a stone drift in another part of the mine. Two or three of the victims were brought to the surface alive but all later died.

Those who died were:

  • Thomas Wood aged 38 years who left a wife and six children.
  • Michael Martin aged 36 years, who left a wife and four children.
  • William Martin aged 10 years, son of Michael.
  • John Campbell, unmarried.
  • George Campbell aged 20 years, recently married. The Martins and the Campbell’s were related.
  • Thomas Dodshon, a young man recently married.
  • William Dodshon, brother of Thomas.
  • Jonathan Crosier aged 51 years, unmarried.
  • John Joyce aged 21 years, unmarried.
  • William Howe aged 22 years, who left a wife and two children.
  • Robert Brown aged 20 years, unmarried.
  • George Martin aged 21 years, unmarried.
  • William Coxon, widower, who left one child.
  • Joseph Johnston aged 26 years, unmarried.
  • Thomas Bainbridge aged 19 years, unmarried.
  • W. Bainbridge aged 9 years, brother of Thomas.
  • Simpson Mason aged 9 years.
  • T. Bolton aged 9 years.
  • J. Liddell aged 16 years.
  • T. Pearson aged 15 years.
  • R. Pearson aged 9 years, brother of above.
  • J. Pearson aged 20 years, unmarried.
  • J. Reed aged 18 years, unmarried.
  • R. Black aged 15 years.
  • J. Crawford aged 20 years, unmarried.
  • R. Cooper aged 10 years.
  • M. Ranson aged 16 years.
  • J. Hall aged 18 years, unmarried.
  • J. Brown aged 9 years.
  • R. Campbell aged 14 years.
  • J. Crosby aged 18 years, unmarried.
  • George Scott aged 18 years, unmarried.

At the inquest into the disaster Thomas Campbell, deputy viewer of the colliery stated:

I have been employed in the Bersham seam, Bigges pit for the last three months. I was accustomed to going down every day and remained down for seven hours. On the morning of the explosion, the men complained of being cold. That was an indication that the air was good and the pit safe. The pitmen used candles. The pit was considered safe. The explosion had originated at the main door in the middle of three occasioned by the neglect of it. The trap doors are made to shut by themselves, the current of air passing upon them, that is, they open against the current of air. I am further of the opinion that the accident happened as I have stated, from the body of the boy, the trapper, Cooper, being found at a place he could not have been forced by the explosion and who must, in all probability, gone there to play with two other boys, who had also charge of trap doors near to where he was found, add one of whom was found close to him. My son had come through the supposed deserted trap door, to put some coals from the board where the explosion took place. The consequence of that door being left open would be the accumulation of the gas in the middle and northwards boards, from the total absence of the proper current of air which would have passed through them had the door been kept shut.

Several other witnesses were of the same opinion and the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death from the explosion of hydrogen gas.”

 

REFERENCES
J.W. Bell. A collection of newspaper cuttings.
Newcastle Journal.

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

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