MineArchiveBeamish Colliery inundation, 1832
An unexpected rush of water at Beamish Colliery on 7 March 1832 drowned the viewer, William Millar, and Robert Moody; a third man escaped with difficulty, and the bodies were not found until the water had been drawn off on 23 March.
| Date | 7 March 1832 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Beamish Colliery |
| Region | County Durham |
| Type | Flooding / Inundation |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two: William Millar, the viewer, and Robert Moody, 35, who left a widow far advanced in pregnancy and four children. A third man escaped.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An unexpected rush of water into the workings.
What happened
On 7 March 1832 an unexpected rush of water broke into Beamish Colliery. William Millar, the viewer, and Robert Moody were drowned, and a third man escaped with difficulty. The colliery's Water Pit had been begun only a month earlier, on 7 February.
Rescue & recovery
The bodies were found on 23 March, once the water had been drawn well down, in a shocking condition; when Moody's shoes were taken off, his feet came away with them. They were buried at Tanfield the next day.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- William Millar and Robert Moody were drowned at Beamish Colliery on 7 March 1832. 1,2
- Two were killed by an inundation at Beamish in 1832. 3
- An unexpected rush of water drowned them; a third man escaped with difficulty. 2
- The bodies were found on 23 March after the water was drawn off and buried at Tanfield the next day. 1,2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “An unexpected rush of water at Beamish Colliery on 7 March 1832 drowned the viewer, William Millar, and Robert…” - Viewer (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…rush of water at Beamish Colliery on 7 March 1832 drowned the viewer, William Millar, and Robert Moody; a third man escaped with…”
Sources
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Beamish Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Colliery Accident 1832 (Beamish) — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Accidents in the North East coalmines, 1800-1850 — North East Bylines
Record created: 6 October 2026 · Last researched: 6 October 2026