Collieries

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The name of this page is "Collieries." This is deliberate naming, because although most local people are aware that a pit existed here which was known as "Chatershaugh" (though the spelling of the name varied greatly), several pits actually existed in the vicinity over the years.

Chatershaugh Colliery

Above: 1857 map showing Chatershaugh Colliery

1753, 2 June. A machine was going at this time at a colliery at Chartershaugh, in the county of Durham, belonging to William Peareth, esq., invented by Michael Menzies, esq., (for which he had obtained an act of parliament to secure the property to himself) by which coals were drawn up, not by the power of horses, but by the descent of a bucket full of water, to a weight superior to that of the coals dawn up, lifting a corf of above 600lb. weight out of a pit 50 fathoms deep in two minutes

1756, 11 August. At about two o’clock in the morning, a dreadful accident happened at Chartershaugh colliery, on the river Wear. The foul air in one of the pits ignited, by which four men were instantly killed and torn to pieces. The explosion was so violent, that a corf full of coals was blown up the shaft from a depth of 80 fathoms into the open air, and a vast quantity of coal dust and rubbish was thrown to a great distance, discolouring the surface of the ground round about. The explosion was so loud as to be heard by people in their beds two miles off, rumbling like thunder, or the discharge of many cannon. Had it happened an hour later, the whole of the workmen would have been in the mine, consequently the destruction of human life would have been dreadful

1771, 17 November. The collieries at North Biddick, Chartershaugh, and Low Lambton, on the Wear, were all filled with water, and upwards of thirty horses in the several workings drowned. Several wagons, with horses, and a great quantity of coals were swept off, and the fire engines belonging to the two former collieries entirely destroyed.

1778: A severe explosion occurred at Chatershaugh Colliery on 8 December 1778, twenty-four lives being lost.

Known Fatalities:

Ashley, Ralph, Buried: January 6th 1779

Ashley, Walter (jnr), Buried: December 9th

Brown, George, Buried: January 6th 1779

Brown, Thomas, Buried: January 4th 1779

Coulson, Thomas, Buried: December 9th

Forster, Robert, Buried: December 9th

Henderson, William, Buried: January 6th 1779

Hobson, Francis, Buried: January 4th 1779

How, David, Buried: December 9th

Kirtley, John (jnr), Buried: December 9th

Mason, Ralph, Buried: December 9th

Peal, John, Buried: December 9th

Taylor, William, Buried: January 6th 1779

Thompson, Joseph, Buried: January 5th 1779

Thompson, Marshall, Buried: January 6th 1779

Woolfe, Joseph, Buried: January 6th 1779

1845 Chartershaugh Colliery was re-opened after having lain idle since being drowned out by the great flood on the River Wear in 1771

1932, 27 February. Main, Maudlin, Low Main and Hutton seams abandoned.

Charlotte Pit

Above: 1862 map showing the location of Charlotte Pit to the west of Chatershaugh (centre-left of map)

Dolly Pit

Above: 1862 map showing the location of Dolly Pit to the west of Chatershaugh (far centre-left of map)

Hedge Pit

Above: 1862 map showing the location of Hedge Pit to the south of Chatershaugh village

Scrogg Pit

1832: Edward Smith, the viewer, introduced Fire Lamps at Fatfield Colliery in 1832 and they were first introduced in that year at the Scrogg Pit, Chatershaugh Colliery.

Stable End Pit

Above: 1862 map showing the location of Stable End Pit (centre of map)