MineArchiveFatfield Hall Pit explosion, 1808
On 31 August 1808 an explosion at the Hall Pit, Fatfield, killed three: the deputy James Carr and the overman Matthew Robson with his seventeen-year-old son.
| Date | 31 August 1808 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Fatfield Colliery |
| Region | Tyne and Wear |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 3 (James Carr, 46, deputy; Matthew Robson, 62, overman; Benjamin Robson, 17, his son.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An explosion of inflammable air (firedamp).
What happened
The Hall Pit stood at Fatfield, on the Wear near Chester-le-Street. On 31 August 1808 inflammable air exploded in its workings and killed three men: James Carr, 46, the deputy; Matthew Robson, 62, the overman; and Matthew's son Benjamin, who was seventeen. The three were buried at Chester-le-Street at the beginning of November, Matthew Robson on the 2nd and the other two on the 3rd.
It was one of three explosions at the Hall Pit that each killed three men before the pit fired on 28 September 1813 and killed thirty-two.
Memorials & commemoration
The three were buried at Chester-le-Street on 2 and 3 November 1808.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 31 August 1808 an explosion at the Hall Pit, Fatfield, killed three. 1,2
- The dead were the deputy James Carr, 46, the overman Matthew Robson, 62, and his son Benjamin Robson, 17. 1
- Carr and Benjamin Robson were buried at Chester-le-Street on 3 November and Matthew Robson on 2 November. 1
- Three explosions at the Hall Pit before 1813 each killed three men. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Deputy (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…1808 an explosion at the Hall Pit, Fatfield, killed three: the deputy James Carr and the overman Matthew Robson with his…” - Firedamp (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “An explosion of inflammable air (firedamp).” - Overman (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…the Hall Pit, Fatfield, killed three: the deputy James Carr and the overman Matthew Robson with his seventeen-year-old son.”
Sources
- (primary) Fatfield, Hall Pit — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Fatfield and Riverside - Collieries — Fatfield and Riverside
Record created: 5 October 2026 · Last researched: 6 October 2026