Newbottle Collieries continued.....

1799 there was an explosion and standing fire recorded in the Jane Pit when one man who was killed. The shaft was filled up leaving the body of the man in the pit.  

In a written report by Mr William Lishman (Colliery Engineer) about a later explosion at the Newbottle Colliery, which occurred on the 8^th April 1864, it was stated that sometime between 8^th April 1864 and   1866, the body of the man killed in 1799 was found, which is some 64 years later. (mans name not yet found)

    The explosion had been caused by the old working full of gas, being disturbed by men working in the Newbottle Colliery, a pressure of 71 lbs per square inch was recorded. Samples of the gas was sent to the laboratory Neville Hill, Newcastle, where it was  found that the gas was mainly a mix of Hydrogen, Nitrogen a quantity of oxygen, some mix!.

The list of pits below are in the area covered by this web site , the owner(s) may have changed during the life of the pit thus the name recorded may not be accurate

Underground railways

The size of the pits (Newbottle colliery) can be gauged by the following reference (July 3rd 1863) to the underground railway :-

Houghton pit 3+ 7/8 miles.

Margaret pit 6/8 mile.

D pit  1 + 2/8 miles.

Lady Ann 1 + 5/8 miles

        Valuation of the late Earl of Durham's collieries 27th November 1879

The expected  annual profit of these collieries is £7000 during the next 45 years (the remaining term of the lease).

Herrington Colliery

The royalty at this colliery being freehold, therefore there will be no rent charges. The profit may therefore be estimated at £5000 a year, for the next 70 years.

valuations of the collieries.

Newbottle and Houghton £44324 - 17s - 5d

Herrington £31272 - 17s

Bournmoor £10449 - 9s - 4d

Newbottle Wagon way.

The Newbottle Colliery had it's own wagon way, build by Nesham to carry it's coals to the river wear, completed in 1812.

     The Colliery passed into the Lambton Family, and after a number of years the route passing close to West Herrington  was changed, and now crossed what became the Herrington Engine (later site of the New Pit ) then moved towards the Fox cover woods, then up to Hastings Hill, then on to Sunderland. the line would become known as the "Lambton Railway".   

Mining Terms.

Back Shift- the afternoon shift or night shift, or any shift which does not fill coal or is not the main coal production shift

Baff week- miners were paid fortnightly, this was the week without pay.

Buttons- scars on miners backs caused by catching on the roof.

Bywork- back work, datel work, day work, wage work.

Checkweighman- union official checked the weight of each tub coming out of the mine.

Down Cast- shaft where air enters the pit.

Fandrift - the enclosed air tight passage from the mine to the fan.

Keeker - bank inspector examines loaded tubs for excessive amounts of stone.

Kist- deputy's desk.

Knobber - miner  who straightens by hand before a coal cutting machine can start work.

onsetter -the person in charge of winding operations underground from his inset he gives signals to the banksman.

Trapper - a young boy who opens and closes doors on the main airway.

Upcast - the return (ventilation ) shaft

 Further information is available on the following collieries or articles  "click"  on the appropriate colliery or article

   Dorothea | Margaret | Success | New Pit | Apprentices  | Mines act| The bond contract