Hebburn Colliery scalding, 1890

Two blacksmiths at Hebburn Colliery on Tyneside were scalded to death on 13 September 1890 when a valve was opened on the steam pipes to an underground engine.

Cause

Scalding by steam released when a valve was opened on the pipes to an underground engine.

What happened

At half past eleven on 13 September 1890, five hours into the shift, a valve was opened on the steam pipes connected to an underground engine at Hebburn Colliery, on the south bank of the Tyne, and two blacksmiths, William Gatis and Thomas Rawlings, were scalded to death.

Recorded claims

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

• At 11.30 a.m. on 13 September 1890 two blacksmiths at Hebburn Colliery, William Gatis, 44, and Thomas Rawlings, 55, were scalded to death. ^1,2,3
• A valve was opened on the steam pipes connected to an underground engine. ^1,2,3
• The accident happened in the fifth hour of the shift. ¹

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two blacksmiths at Hebburn Colliery on Tyneside were scalded to death on 13 September 1890 when a valve…”

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum — Hebburn Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames G (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
3. (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames R part 1 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)

Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026