Elswick Colliery inrush, 1900

Water from unknown old workings broke into the Beaumont seam at South Elswick Colliery, Newcastle, early on 4 May 1900; about thirty men raced it to safety, but two hewers were drowned and not recovered for a month.

Cause

Water broke through from old workings whose presence was unsuspected, at a point other than the known accumulation of water the workings had been stopped short of.

Contributing factors

The management knew of a large body of water in old workings and had stopped the faces 45 yards short of it by the plan, behind what appeared a solid barrier of coal. Watson's brother had warned him, and told the under-manager, of water coming down in their place, and water had been seen in the headway that morning.

What happened

South Elswick Colliery, worked by the Elswick Coal Company, was driving in the Beaumont seam of its Stevenson district when, at about half past five on the morning of 4 May 1900, the men heard a noise like a shot and water rushed in. About thirty men were in the district. William Thompson, who was beside Thomas Watson, waded out with him until the water reached the roof, then dived under it and came out where he could stand; Watson did not follow. Robert Hankinson, working in a neighbouring place, was thought to be just behind the others as they faced the water with one lamp between them, but was missed when they reached safety. All the rest got out.

Rescue & recovery

Watson's body was found in the fifth north headway on 1 June and Hankinson's, floating, on 3 June.

Investigation & inquiry

The coroner for South Northumberland, J. R. D. Lynn, held the inquest with the inspector J. L. Hedley present. The evidence showed that the water came from workings that were unknown, that the requirements of the Coal Mines Regulation Acts had been observed, and the jury found no blame attached to the management.

Recorded claims

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

• At South Elswick Colliery on 4 May 1900 water broke through from old workings that were quite unsuspected; of about 30 men in the district all escaped except Thomas Watson and Robert Hankinson. ¹
• The bodies were not recovered until 1 June and 3 June. ¹
• The inquest evidence showed the regulations had been observed, and the jury found no blame attributable to the management. ¹
• A large quantity of water burst into Elswick Colliery, near Newcastle, from old workings on the morning of 4 May 1900 and two men were drowned. ²

Related terminology

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

• Coal (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s contributing factors: “…short of it by the plan, behind what appeared a solid barrier of coal. Watson's brother had warned him, and told the under-manager, of…”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…unknown old workings broke into the Beaumont seam at South Elswick Colliery, Newcastle, early on 4 May 1900; about thirty men raced it to…”
• Hewer (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “…early on 4 May 1900; about thirty men raced it to safety, but two hewers were drowned and not recovered for a month.”

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, 4 May 1900: South Elswick (1900 Mines Inspector's report, Cd 536, and Newcastle Chronicle inquest reports) — Durham Mining Museum
2. (primary) Colliery flooded: two men drowned - South Wales Daily News, 5 May 1900 — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)

Record created: 29 September 2026 · Last researched: 2 October 2026