Research Projects

by John G. Milburn

1727		Causay Arch, the oldest railway bridge in the world (but no steam engine ever crossed it), designed by Ralph Wood, he committed suicide before it was opened.
1754		Bushblades Colliery was sunk it was closed c1850. At the time it was sunk it was owned by the Silvertop family.
1773		John Buddle was born at Kyo. He began his working career at Bushblades Colliery. He went to work as a viewer and engineer at collieries on the Tyne. He died in 1843, aged 70.
1829		Tanfield Lea Colliery sunk. At the time the Marquis of Bute owned it. It produced annually at its peak 305,540 tons per year and employed 1469. The colliery was closed in 1962 by the NCB.
1837		South Tanfield Colliery sunk. At the time it was owned by Joseph Smith. It produced at its peak 250,000 tons per year, and employed 607. James Joicy & Co closed the colliery in 1915.
1909		West Stanley, Burns Pit disaster. Where an explosion occurred killing 168 men and boys. There is a memorial at St Andrew’s cemetery and another in the Stanley Cemetery.
1914		World War One began and ended in 1918. In the war, many miners served in the trenches. One of the publications which records this is Ritson’s roll of honour, which gives all the men from his collieries who served their country, with regiments etc.
1923		Coal mining reaches its peak in County Durham, employing 170,000 men.
1926		The General Strike.
1939		World War Two began and ended in 1945. In this war, unlike WW1, men were conscripted to work down the pit (called Bevin Boys), rather than fight in the forces. No choice was given. It depended upon your call up number. The training centre was at the Morrison Busty Pit.
1947		Coal Companies were nationalised to form the Nation Coal Board.
1994		Wearmouth Colliery was closed by the NCB. This was the last deep mine to be closed in County Durham. It was opened in 1826 by Thompson & Pemberton. It employed 2430 men at its peak.

Digitised by John G. Milburn
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