MineArchiveHerrington Colliery roof fall, 1898
Three deputies clearing a fall on the Hutton Seam engine plane at Herrington Colliery were killed by a second fall from the roof on 17 August 1898.
| Date | 17 August 1898 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Herrington Colliery |
| Region | Tyne and Wear |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 3 (Three killed: the deputies Joseph Coffey and two men named Anderson (Henry and Thomas Henry in one list, Thomas and Thomas Henry in another).) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Side stone displaced the timber while a first fall was being cleared, bringing a second fall from the roof.
What happened
On 17 August 1898 a fall of stone blocked the Hutton Seam engine plane at Herrington Colliery, near Houghton-le-Spring. While it was being cleared, some side stone fell and displaced the timber, and a second fall came down from the roof onto three deputies, Joseph Coffey, 49, and two men named Anderson, killing all three.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 17 August 1898 three deputies, Joseph Coffey, 49, and two men named Anderson, were killed by a fall of stone on the Hutton Seam engine plane at Herrington Colliery. 1,2,3
- A first fall of stone was being cleared from the engine plane when side stone fell and displaced the timber, bringing a second fall from the roof onto the three men. 1,2,3
- Two of the men were buried at St Cuthbert's, West Herrington, and St Matthew's, Newbottle. 1
- The colliery belonged to Lambton Collieries Ltd. 2,3
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: “…clearing a fall on the Hutton Seam engine plane at Herrington Colliery were killed by a second fall from the roof on 17 August 1898.” - Deputy (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Three deputies clearing a fall on the Hutton Seam engine plane at Herrington…”
Sources
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Herrington Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Alphabetical list of mining victims 1890-1899: A (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames C part 3 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026