Croxdale Colliery roof fall, 1893

Early on 19 August 1893 a stone fell at Croxdale Colliery, south of Durham, killing two young hewers, James Hunter and Charles Robinson, who had taken out the timber holding it up after being told to leave it in place.

Cause

The two men had taken out the timber set to support the stone, although one of the officials had told them that it must not be removed.

What happened

Croxdale Colliery belonged to the Weardale Iron Company. About half past four on the morning of 19 August 1893, in the second hour of the shift, two hewers, James Hunter, 23, and Charles Robinson, 22, were taking off a loose end of a broken jud when the roof suddenly fell. The stone came away from three slips, one at each side of it and one at the end next to the face of the coal, and killed both men.

Investigation & inquiry

Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines for the Durham District, recorded it as accident No. 38 in his report for 1893. He noted that he and his assistants had repeatedly drawn attention, in reports, on visits and at inquests, to the danger of removing timber, yet accidents from the practice still occurred.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• About 4.30 a.m. on 19 August 1893 a fall of stone at the Weardale Iron Company's Croxdale Colliery killed two hewers, James Hunter (23) and Charles Robinson (22). ^1,2,3
• The stone fell away from three slips, one at each side of it and one at the end next to the face, while the men were taking off a loose end of a broken jud. ^1,2
• It was found afterwards that the two men had taken out the timber set to support the stone, although an official had told them it must not be removed. ¹
• The inspector, Thomas Bell, wrote that despite his repeated warnings in reports, on visits and at inquests, accidents from the dangerous practice of removing timber still occurred. ¹

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Coal (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…one at each side of it and one at the end next to the face of the coal, and killed both men.”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Early on 19 August 1893 a stone fell at Croxdale Colliery, south of Durham, killing two young hewers, James Hunter and Charles…”
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines for the Durham District, recorded it as accident No. 38 in his…”
• Hewer (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…stone fell at Croxdale Colliery, south of Durham, killing two young hewers, James Hunter and Charles Robinson, who had taken out the timber…”

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.

Sources

1. (primary) Colliery Accident 1893: Croxdale, 19 August 1893 — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Mining victims, 1890s, H (Hunter) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's list of mining victims)
3. (secondary) Mining victims, 1890s, R (Robinson) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's list of mining victims)

Record created: 4 October 2026 · Last researched: 5 October 2026