MineArchiveByermoor Colliery fall of stone, 1894
On 16 January 1894 two shifters were killed on the spot by a fall of stone at Byermoor Colliery, in County Durham.
| Date | 16 January 1894 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Byermoor Colliery |
| Region | Tyne and Wear |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (William Henderson (29) and James Sylkie (47), shifters.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A large fall of post stone, after the men had apparently undermined the props supporting it.
What happened
William Henderson, aged 29, and James Sylkie, aged 47, both shifters, had almost finished bottom cutting at two in the morning when a large fall of post stone killed them on the spot. The place was said to be well timbered, and it was surmised that they had undermined the props: six were afterwards found under the fallen stone.
Sources
- (secondary) Durham Mining Museum - Byermoor Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) William Henderson, Byermoor Colliery, 16 January 1894 — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 21 September 2026 · Last researched: 22 September 2026