Topics > County Durham > Murton > Murton Colliery (1843-1991)

Murton Colliery (1843-1991)


The sinking of Murton Colliery began on the 19th of February 1838. After encountering significant problems with quicksand, the colliery was eventually 'won' and opened in April 1843. It was owned by the South Hetton Coal Co. In 1925 there were 3,636 employed at the colliery (2,799 working below ground, and 837 working on the surface).[1] On the 26th of June 1942 an explosion of firedamp resulted in the deaths of 15 miners at the colliery.[2] Murton Colliery closed on the 29th of November 1991.

Murton Colliery was commenced in 1838, and after tremendous difficulties, was sunk to the Hutton seam, a depth of 246 fathoms. The other workable seams won in sinking were the Five Quarter seam, 178, Main coal, 204, and Low Main, 226 fathoms. There are three shafts, two of which are sub-divided, and used for drawing coals and men ; the third, or West pit, is used as an upcast shaft for ventilating purposes. The ventilating arrangements are on a most extensive scale, a volume of not less than 460,000 cubic feet of air per minute being made to circulate through the workings, which is supposed to be the largest quantity passing the workings of any single colliery. Electricity and gas are used for lighting. The daily output is over 3000 tons, and includes steam, gas, household coal, etc., in the production of which, including the coke-works, nearly 2000 men and boys are employed. The coals from this colliery are shipped principally at Seaham Harbour and Sunderland, the company having a private line of their own to the former port.....

William Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham
Murton Cold Hesledon Collieries Seaham Harbour
from Beamish (flickr)
Murton Colliery lads - 1921

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Opening of Murton Pit head Baths, 1939

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
032622:Murton Colliery C.1900

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Murton Miners, Pithead Baths - 1939

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
New headframe at Murton Colliery, 1950s

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Pit ponies and handlers, Murton Colliery - 1970s

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Underground Tunnelling machine, Murton Colliery - 1970s.

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Man carrier in underground roadway, Murton Colliery

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Dangerous Roof conditions on C20, Murton Colliery - 1970's

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Tunnelling machine in underground roadway, Murton Colliery

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Drum shearer on longwall face - Murton Colliery, 1970s.

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Pit pony and handler at work, Murton Colliery - 1970s

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Pit ponies in underground stables, Murton Colliery

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Inserting roof bolts, Murton Colliery - 1970's

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Murton Miners, Pithead Baths - 1939

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Weightlifter Fred Pursers, Murton Colliery - 1947

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Beamish (flickr)
Pit ponies and handlers, probably Murton Colliery - 1970s

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
058508:Murton Colliery CWS North Shields unknown not dated

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from http://www.dmm.org.uk/collier…
Murton Colliery

Added by
Simon Cotterill
from https://commons.wikimedia.org…
John Wilson Carmichael A View of Murton Colliery near Seaham, County Durham, 1843
- "This is a faithful photographic reproduction of a two-dimensional, public domain work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain for the following reason: Public domain …

Added by
Simon Cotterill
from Geograph (geograph)
Murton pit

Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from https://www.nmrs.org.uk/mines…
MURTON COLLIERY EXPLOSION – 1942
- "Murton, Durham. 26th. June, 1942. The Murton Colliery was very extensive and had been mined for about one hundred years prior to the explosion. It was in the heart of …

Added by
Simon Cotterill
Seaham Harbour
  Co-Curate Page
Seaham Harbour
from IllustratedChronicles (flickr)
Pte. W. SAVAGE, Yorks., Murton Colliery, (Wounded).

Pinned by Simon Cotterill

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