NEIMME: papers
Plain Pit, Rainton Colliery, and the two Explosions.
Introduction.
I was born and lived approximately ¾ mile from the site of the former Plain Pit, near to Chilton Moor at Fence Houses – formerly within County Durham but now within the City of Sunderland. I had known from an early age that there had been two explosions that involved considerable loss of life but I knew little else about the pit other than that there was a former pit pond on the site and signs of an extensive railway system in the general area.
I always felt sorry for Plain Pit in that there was no memorial anywhere to those who died in the explosions and I vowed to find out as much as I could about the pit and its role as part of Rainton Colliery. This project is the result of my research.
A copy of part of the First Edition Ordnance Survey map for the area is included as part of the project.
Wherever possible National Grid References are given for the sites referred to, these relate to the 6 inch to 1 mile Ordnance Survey Sheets NZ34NW and NZ35SW for the area.
Background information.
Plain Pit (NGR NZ 322 487) was one part of the original Rainton Colliery which was opened in the mid 1770s. The pits were leased from the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral to ancestors of the Londonderry family and there is much useful material relating to Rainton Colliery included in the Londonderry Papers that have been deposited by the 9th Marquess of Londonderry in Durham County Records Office. An excellent catalogue of these papers is available. (1)
There has been coal mining activity in the Rainton area for many years and there are documents dated 1683 which relate to leases from the Dean and Chapter to Sir John Duck of Mines at Rainton, Moorsley, Pittington, Moorhouse, etc, for 21 years at £22 per annum rent. (2) Five years later, the leases of various lands in the area were assigned to Richard Wharton of Durham. (3)
Following the death of Richard Wharton the leases passed to his daughter, Jane Wharton, who, in 1700, acquired other leases by further assignments. Jane Wharton was by then the owner of many coal mining leases in the Rainton area. John Tempest (1679-1737) married Jane Wharton bringing to the family lands in the Houghton and Penshaw areas and, as a result, the wealth of the family must have been very considerable at this time.
Further lands and properties were added during the life of John Tempest II and also by John Tempest III. (1)
In 1778 Rainton Colliery was owned by John Tempest III, Esq., of Wynyard and Brancepeth Castle, who sat as MP for the City of Durham from 1768. He died in 1794, and as his only son had predeceased him, his estates passed to Sir Henry Vane-Tempest, Bart, M.P. for Durham City from 1794 to 1800. The latter died in 1813 in his early 40s, leaving a 13 year old daughter, Lady Emily Frances Anne Vane-Tempest, who inherited the estates and Trustees were appointed to manage them until she became of age. Lady Frances Anne, after her marriage, became the Marchioness of Londonderry.
Little is known about the early years of the pit, but it is probable that throughout its life, it closed and re-opened to suit the demands of the market. The coal from the pit was transported along the wagonway through Chilton Moor, Dubmire, Sedgeletch to the Jane Pit (a part of Newbottle Colliery at NZ 327 515). From here the waggons travelled on the railway owned by John Nesham and on to the staithes at Doghole Spouts at Low Lambton on the River Wear (NZ 317 541) where the coal was tipped into keels and taken down the river, there to be loaded into the holds of ships. At some period coal was also shipped from nearby staithes rented from John Nesham (possibly the Penshaw staithes at NZ 314 541). The Londonderry papers contain leases to Jane Wharton dated 1697-1703 for the wayleaves for the wagonway to the Jane Pit. (4) Later, in 1737 and 1743 there were further leases made to John Tempest of wayleaves for a wagonway through Dubmire Moor, Hall Moor and Sedgeletch at Newbottle. (5)
The Houghton Parish registers contain a reference dated 27th March 1731 to ‘Mrs Wharton’s Waggon way’ and also a reference to ‘Renton Pitts’ from 1614. (6)
Early coal staithes.
In 1831 a new railway line was constructed from Rainton Bridge to Seaham and from then on coals were shipped at Seaham instead of Sunderland, thereby cutting out the high cost of using the keels from the staithes at Penshaw. The construction of this railway line together with its various features and also the construction of the port at Seaham Harbour have not been researched and therefore they do not form a part of this project.
Mention is also made in the Houghton Parish Registers, in March 1782, of ‘Rainton Engine.’ (6) It is possible that this may be a reference to a stationery engine used as a form of haulage on the wagonway but equally it could be a reference to cottages at either the Main Engine Pit or the Old Engine Pit, later referred to. It is probable that a pumping engine was located at the nearby North Pit (NZ 332 487) as research has shown that there was only one production shaft there but the Coal Authority ‘Seam Plans’ show two shafts. (7)
The sinking dates which are available from the published Borings and Sinkings - Northumberland and Durham Sections of Strata give the following :
Bottom of
Hutton seam In existence A,O.D. *
fm ft ins by August ft.
Plain Pit 81 4 6 3/4 1814 180
* - Above Ordnance Datum.
The shaft details for Plain Pit are available on the website of the Durham Mining Museum and these indicate the thickness of the five workable coal seams and the depths at which they occur:
Seam Thickness Depth
ft. ins. ft. ins.
Three Quarter 2 7¾ 96 0
Five Quarter 5 3¼ 196 0
Main Coal 2 7¾ 258 0
Low Main 3 4 432 0
Hutton 4 3 480 0
A slightly different depth of the shaft of 480 feet is quoted on this webpage. (8)
There was only one shaft at the pit but the workings were connected to adjacent Rainton pits – e.g. North Pit and Nicholson’s Pit (NZ 328 483).
The 1814 valuation of the pit.
In 1814 a valuation of the stock at Rainton pits and farms was carried out and the following pits were listed :
North Pit Plain Pit Nicholson’s Pit
Dunwell Pit Main Engine Pit Old Engine Pit.
In the valuation, the underground equipment at Plain Pit included :
80 hewer’s mauls, 97 shovels, 81 rakes, 98 crackets (low stools), 161 wedges, 35 sets of drills, 26 trams, 162 single rolley wagons, 4 cranes.
Railway sidings, excluding points included :
1023 rolley ways, 1440 tramways, 5463 straight tramways, 57 brattice lengths 6’ x 4’ high, 11 doors 4’ square.
The pit possessed a steam-powered Machine for Drawing Coals, with boiler, shaft frame, pulley wheels etc., valued at £1,327. It also had a 21 foot diameter whim gin and a horse net. There were four trams on the heap and a 20 - peck measuring tub for use in case of disputes with workmen or customers, and five heap lamps. (9)
A photo of a whim gin also showing a ‘corf’ basket.
Sir Henry’s heiress was still under-age at this time, but the trustees undertook major colliery developments. The Main Coal seam was exhausted after some forty years’ working and by September 1817, Plain Pit and two of the other working pits at Rainton - Hunter’s House (NZ 315 483) and Nicholson’s, had all been sunk through the Five Quarter, Main Coal, and Low Main seams to the Hutton seam. The Hutton seam was some 4 to 4 1/2 feet in thickness and was an excellent quality house coal. Some of its quality may be gauged from the fact that in the early 1820s it brought 22s 6d a ton against the 17s 6d for the Main Coal and Low Main seams.
The 1817 explosion.
On 18th December, 1817 there was an explosion by which twenty-seven were killed (eleven men and sixteen boys). The Durham Advertiser reported that :
‘The blast occurred before all the men had descended. Had it occurred a little later there would have been 160 men and boys in the pit. Early reports of the total number of lives lost amounted to twenty-six, and those principally boys. The explosion took place at 3 o’clock in the morning, before the hewers had descended the pit and from this circumstance about 160 lives have been preserved. Every exertion was made to render assistance to those in the mine and two men fell having been suffocated by the impure state of the air. The pit in which the accident occurred, was always considered to be quite free from explosive matter and in consequence of this supposed security the safety lamps had never been introduced into it the miners continuing to work by the light of candles.’ (10)
The 1818 valuation of the pit.
An interesting notebook covering the period January 1823 to October 1827, kept by John Robson, Underground Manager at Rainton Colliery, provides much valuable information on a period of active development of the colliery. (11) This notebook was used as the basis of an article by John Goodchild and from this some information has been extracted for Plain Pit. (12) The notebook supplements the information held in the Londonderry papers. (9)
In John Robson’s valuation for 1818 there were :
5 hewer’s mauls, 3 shovels, 2 rakes, 3 crackets, 10 wedges, 2 sets of drills. (12)
This suggests that at that time the pit was operating more or less on ‘a care and maintenance basis’.
Underground stowage of coal was begun at the beginning of 1823, and the direction of air in the pit was changed in May 1823, losses of air at doors and at stoppings having been considerable prior to that date. (12)
The 1823 explosion.
On Monday 3rd November, 1823, at approximately 6.00 a.m. there was an even greater explosion at Plain Pit.
Sykes Local Records for Northumberland and Durham states the number killed as fifty-nine - fifty-three men and six boys, but a report in the York Courant stated that fifty-five were killed in the explosion and two died later which made a total of fifty-seven men and boys. (13)
Of the eighteen horses that were in the pit, twelve were killed, and of the others, three were in the workings and three in the stables and they escaped unhurt.
The inquest into the disaster was held before Peter Bowley, Coroner of the Easington Ward, and a jury, on the body of Thomas Golightly and the others.
Nicholas Dixon, collier, descended the pit on Sunday evening and remained there until two hours before the explosion and he told the court that the air was good all the time. He had examined the air course and found it all right and the doors were in proper order.
Richard Cole, on-setter, descended the pit about 3 o’clock on that Monday morning. He was employed to attach corves to the chain of the rope from the pit from that time until about 6 o’clock when the explosion took place. A short time before the accident, three boys named Johnson, Lowton and Robinson came to the shaft and told Cole that the Davy lamps were ‘standing on fire.’ After about one minute, an explosion took place, followed immediately by a second blast and smoke and fire ascended the shaft. Cole told the court that he was stupefied by the blast. The first shock threw him down but he was back on his legs when the second came. He washed his mouth which revived him and he and several other men and boys were able to ascend the pit by means of the rope which brought down the empty corves.
An early Davy lamp.
It was reported that one of the survivors made his way to the shaft and took hold of the rope which would take him to the surface. Just as he was about to go up, he saw a small boy within his reach and almost overcome by the after-damp. He grabbed him by his collar and held on to him until they reached the surface.
It was supposed that the accident was caused by an overman going through a ventilation door into an explosive mixture and he either dropped his heated lamp on some hay or had blown the flame through the gauze in trying to extinguish it.
After hearing all the evidence the Coroner summed up and the jury brought in a verdict of ‘Accidental death.’
Those who died were :
Thomas Adamson. (a)
John Anderson, of West Rainton.
George Armstrong, Putter, of Collier Row.
Richard Carr, Hewer. (b)
Thomas Carr, Putter. (b)
John Cowie, Putter, of Collier Row.
Thomas Crake.
Thomas Dawson, Deputy Overman, of Middle Rainton.
William Dawson, Overman, of Overman’s Row.
Matthew Dial, Hewer, of The Knot. (c)
Henry Dinning, Hewer, of Collier Row.
George Elliott, Deputy Overman, of Collier Row. (d)
? Elliott, of Collier Row. (d)
Wardle Elliott, Hewer, of Middle Rainton.
Robert Gibson, Hewer, of Collier Row. (d)
? Gibson, Putter, of Collier Row. (d)
? Golightly, Putter, of Low-bud-mire. (e)
? Golightly, Putter, of Low-bud-mire. (e)
? Golightly, Putter, of Low-bud-mire. (e)
Thomas Hall, Shifter, of Collier Row.
John Hann, Hewer, of Mitchinson’s Farm. (d)
? Hann, Putter, of Mitchinson’s Farm. (d)
Charles Harburne, Putter, of Collier Row.
? Harrison. (f)
? Harrison. (f)
John Hull, Hewer, of Middle Rainton. (g)
? Hull, Putter, of Middle Rainton. (g)
? Hull, Waggon Driver, of Middle Rainton. (g)
William Hutchinson. (a)
? Johnson, Putter, of Houghton. (b)
? Johnson, Putter, of Houghton. (b)
Francis Lowrey, Putter, of Hetton.
. George Nealson, Putter, of Collier Row.
? Mason, Putter, of Houghton.
John Ord, Hewer, of Middle Rainton.
Cuthbert Pratt, Putter, of West Rainton.
John Pudley, Hewer, of Houghton.
Edward Ramshaw, Putter, of Houghton.
Joseph Roddson, Hewer.
Robert Shield, Hewer, of Collier Row. (b)
James Shield, Hewer, of Collier Row. (b)
? Short, Putter, of Collier Row. (h)
? Short, Driver, of Collier Row. (h)
Christopher Smith, Hewer, of Nicholson’s Pit.
George Thompson, Putter.
John Welsh, Hewer, of Collier Row.
and others unnamed.
Notes.
a. - brought out of the pit alive but died two days later.
b. - two brothers.
c. - probably ‘The Knott Pit.’ (NZ 325 474)
d. - father and son.
e. - three brothers, probably of ‘Low Dubmire.’
f. - the two sons of Joseph Harrison.
g.- John Hull, the father and his two sons.
h.- the two sons of William Short.
Nine of the victims were interred at Houghton-le-Spring on Tuesday and on the following day a further thirty-five were buried. Eight were buried at Penshaw and three others at Chester-le-Street. Thomas Adamson and William Hutchinson, who were brought out of the pit alive, died on Wednesday and were buried on Thursday.
The furnace was re-lit some days after the explosion and the coals in the South East district of the pit had started to be worked again in September 1824, the district having laid idle since the explosion. (12)
Some time after 1824 a furnace was built in the Hutton seam at the nearby Nicholson’s Pit to draw air through the Plain Pit, and an eight feet diameter chimney was built to provide even better draught. Nicholson’s Pit thereby became an upcast shaft.
New tubbing 10 feet in height, with 20 feet of wall set in cement above it was put in the shaft of Plain Pit in 1824. It is possible that this was to repair damage caused by the explosion. (12)
In August 1825, a new system of ventilating the exhausted coal areas or ‘wastes’ was introduced. This was done in a chain, which included Nicholson’s Pit, Plain Pit, Meadows West Pit (approximately NZ 324 477 opened between 1821 and 1824) and Dunwell Pit (NZ 338 481). (12)
It is recorded that in June 1826 the first, or North East district of Plain Pit was worked again but a few weeks later, in July 1826, working at the whole pit was abandoned but this must have been for only a short period as it is recorded that it was abandoned again in January 1827. At that time the other Rainton pits were able to supply the vend with the Plain Pit’s men divided between them. (12)
Records of three fatal accidents have been identified :
In c1822 a man named Cross was killed after falling down the pit shaft. (14)
On 9th October 1863, Thomas Gibson, age 37, a Deputy at Plain Pit, was killed as a result of a fall of stone whilst he was setting timber supports. (15)
On 12th June 1867, John Thompson, age 16, an Apparatus Boy at Plain Pit, was killed after being crushed by the apparatus tub when the chain broke. (15)
John Buddle’s work.
John Buddle, the distinguished colliery viewer was appointed viewer of the Londonderry coal concerns in 1819 in succession to Arthur Mowbray who was the viewer appointed by the trustees of Lady Frances Anne Vane-Tempest. Buddle remained in this position until his death in 1843. The Londonderry papers contain some of Buddle’s own working papers and two of these, produced in 1835 and 1839, relate to the cost of charges on a 13-keel ship loading at Seaham and Sunderland,
and a valuation of the wagonway from Rainton Meadows to the Jane Pit. The use of the wagonway to the Jane Pit had been very much reduced from the opening of the Rainton to Seaham Railway in 1831 – this railway was operated by contractors. The line to the Jane Pit was then mainly used for sending coal from North Hetton Colliery to Penshaw staithes, however this ceased from 1840 when the Rainton to Seaham Railway was bought by Lord Londonderry. Buddle’s valuation does provide much useful information on the line to the Jane Pit as it includes much descriptive detail. (16)
Later years.
In the 1990s the Rye Hill opencast coal scheme extracted the remaining coal in the four upper seams of the area previously worked by Nicholson’s Pit and Plain Pit. The area has been restored and now forms the Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve that has created an oasis of wildlife on the urban fringe of Sunderland. (17)
A recent application to carry out opencast operations on an area of land at Wheatley Head, slightly to the west of Plain Pit, was to extract approximately 125,000 metric tons of coal remaining in the area in probably the same seams that were worked at Plain Pit, together with 500,000 metric tons of brickshale and 50,000 metric tons of fireclay. (18) Although the application was rejected this illustrates that there is a large quantity of suitable brick-making material available and it is presumed the opencast activities at the Rye Hill site also extracted substantial quantities of brickshale and fireclay.
This therefore suggests that this activity may have been carried out at Plain Pit, and also at other Rainton pits, and it is possible that they may have produced quantities of seggar and/or fireclay for use in the manufacture of bricks. Indeed there were brickworks located to the East of Nicholson’s Pit which was worked as part of the colliery and the former clay pit for this now forms ‘Joe’s Pond’ at the nature reserve. This was an extensive brickworks and it is recorded that in a period of 5½ months in 1823 it produced 758,276 bricks and a total of 831,990 in the following year. (12) There was also a brickworks at the Meadows Pit.
No evidence has been formed to show that seggar or fireclay was used in this way and this is purely speculation on my part.
Conclusions.
It will be clear from the foregoing that Rainton Colliery, of which Plain Pit formed part, had been a very important coal producer. There had been a wagonway from Rainton Colliery leading to the Jane Pit from about 1697 and the pit had been connected to the system from its inception. The First Edition Ordnance Survey map shows that the wagonway system had been a complicated one. In 1784 coal produced from Tempest pits, mainly from Rainton, and shipped from the staithes on the river Wear were the second largest tonnage, i.e. 31,001 Newcastle chaldrons or 82,153 tons, and this was only beaten by the output from Lambton Collieries. # (19) This was a few years before the Rainton pits really began to develop.
# - the Newcastle chaldron is a measure containing 53 cwts. of coal
There had been a ‘steam-powered Machine for Drawing Coals’ in use at an early date as the 1814 valuation shows. Many years earlier, in 1724 there had been a ‘grant by Samuel Anderson of Penshaw staiths (NZ 314 541) to Jane Wharton of liberty to erect an engine-house at Houghton-le-Spring with machinery for pumping water’. (D/Lo/F/341.)
Coal mining in the area had been developed by Jane Wharton, then by the Tempests and Vanes – each family being predecessors of the Londonderry’s.
There is now no trace of Plain Pit other than of the wagonway that led up to it. However, the adjacent pit, Nicholson’s, is still in use today as one of nine shafts used for dewatering the former County Durham coalfield. The line of the old wagonway can be followed in parts as far as the Jane Pit.
Time Line for Plain Pit, Rainton Colliery.
Date Event
- Wayleave granted to Jane Wharton for a wagonway from Rainton Colliery to the Jane Pit.
Mid 1770s Plain Pit opened as part of the original Rainton Colliery.
7th October 1776 Two men killed at Ovington’s Pit, East Rainton as a result of using gunpowder.
This is the earliest recorded mention of the use of gunpowder in the north of England. Ovington’s Pit may have later been called Plain Pit.
- Rainton Colliery was owned by John Tempest, Esq., of Wynyard and Brancepeth Castle.
- John Tempest died and his estates passed to Sir Henry Vane-Tempest, Bart.
- Sir Henry Vane-Tempest died in 1813 and the estates passed to
his 13 year old daughter, Lady Emily Frances Anne Vane-Tempest, and Trustees were appointed to manage them until she became of age.
- A valuation produced for Rainton Colliery, that listed the underground equipment at Plain Pit.
1814 – 1817 The trustees developed Rainton Colliery and sank the pit shafts
to allow the lower seams to be worked.
early 1820s Rainton Colliery Hutton Seam coal selling for 22s 6d a ton
against the 17s 6d of the Main Coal and Low Main seams.
18th December 1817 An explosion at Plain Pit by which eleven men and sixteen boys were killed.
- John Robson produced a valuation for Rainton Colliery that listed the underground equipment at Plain Pit.
c1822 A man named Cross killed after falling down Plain Pit shaft.
- Underground stowage of coal was begun at Plain Pit.
May 1823 The direction of the air in Plain Pit was changed.
3rd November 1823 An even greater explosion at Plain Pit. One report states that fifty-three men and six boys were killed, another report states that fifty-five were killed in the explosion and two died later which made a total of fifty-seven men and boys.
Of the eighteen horses that were in the pit, twelve were killed.
September 1824 Coal was being worked again in the explosion district.
- Shaft repairs carried out at Plain Pit. It is possible that this was to repair damage caused by the explosion.
After 1824 A furnace was built in the Hutton seam at Nicholson’s Pit to draw air through Plain Pit
August 1825 A new system of ventilating the exhausted coal areas or ‘wastes’ was introduced.
January 1827 Plain Pit not working, the other Rainton pits were able to supply the vend with the Plain Pit’s men divided between them.
1831 A new railway line was constructed from Rainton Bridge to Seaham and from then on coals were shipped at Seaham instead of Sunderland.
- Legislation introduced requiring a full investigation of pit accidents.
9th October 1863 Thomas Gibson, age 37, a Deputy at Plain Pit, was killed as a result of a fall of stone.
12th June 1867 John Thompson, age 16, an Apparatus Boy at Plain Pit, was killed after being crushed by the apparatus tub when the chain broke.
1890s The seams of coal at Plain Pit were worked out.
1990s The Rye Hill open-cast coal scheme extracted the remaining coal in the four upper seams of the area previously worked by Nicholson’s Pit and Plain Pit.
Late 1990s The area was restored and now forms the Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve.
References.
- The Londonderry Papers – Catalogue of Documents deposited in the Durham County record Office by the 9th Marquess of Londonderry, published by Durham County Council.
- Lease, Dean and Chapter to Sir John Duck. Mines at Rainton, Moorsley, Pittington, Moorhouse, etc. for 21 years at £22 p.a. rent Durham Record Office Ref. D/Lo/D/871. (1683)
- Assignment of lease, Sir John Duck to Richard Wharton of Durham. Mines at Finchale, Priors Close, Rainton, etc. for 21 years at 10/-d. rent while unworked and £5 if worked. D/Lo/D/872. (1688)
- Leases to Jane Wharton of wayleave for wagonway across Hall Moor and Dubmire Moor, Newbottle. D/Lo/F/338-340. (1697-1703)
- Lease by William Rawson of Sunderland to John Tempest of a wagonway through Dubmire Moor and Sedgeletch at Newbottle; for 21 years at £28 rent and 8 ‘fothers’ of best main coal. (1737) D/Lo/F/314.
Lease by the trustees of Robert Chilton of Houghton-le-Spring to John Tempest of a wayleave through Hall Moor, Newbottle; for 5 years at £25 rent and 30 ‘fothers’ of limekiln coals and 25 ‘fothers’ of good fire coal. (1743) D/Lo/F/315.
6. Extracts from the Houghton Registers. A paper by H Maxwell Wood read to Sunderland Antiquarian Society on 11th February, 1908 and published in the society’s journal, ‘Antiquities of Sunderland’.
7. Coal Authority Seam Plans for Fence Houses, based on Ordnance Survey Sheets NZ34NW and NZ35SW.
- Durham Mining Museum website for Rainton Colliery, Plain Pit Shaft Details at www.dmm.org.uk/shafts/r013-02.htm
- Schedules and valuations of the stock at Penshaw and Rainton collieries and farms by Sober Watkins, John Wood and John Robson (2 volumes). (1814, 1818.) D/L0/B/52-53
10. The Durham Advertiser for 21st December 1817.
- John Robson’s Notebook – a thin and damp-stained volume of notes made by the Underground Manager for Rainton Colliery during the period January 1823 to October 1827. The notebook now forms part of ‘The John Goodchild Collection’ located in the basement below Central Library, Drury Lane, Wakefield.
12. John Robson’s Notebook : The Development of Rainton and Pittington Collieries in the 1820s, by John Goodchild. Published in British Mining No 50, the Journal of The Northern Mine Research Society, 1994.
- Sykes’ Local Records.
York Courant for 11th November 1823.
- Newcastle Courant for 11th November, 1826.
15. North of England Mining Accident Victims, 1859 - 1879, indexed by George Bell and published by Original Indexes.
16. Comparison of charges on a 13-keel ship loading at Seaham and Sunderland. (1835) D/Lo/B/306 – 1.
Valuation of the engines and railway from Meadows (Rainton) to Jane pit. (1839) D/Lo/B/306 – 10.
17. An invitation to come and look at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve. A leaflet
published by Durham Wildlife Trust.
18. “Villages celebrate collapse of mine bid” – an article in Sunderland Echo, 1st February 2003.
19. Annals of Coal Mining and the Coal Trade, by Robert L. Galloway. Published in
1898.
Alan Vickers
30th April 2003
Updated 18th September, 2007