Jarrow Colliery explosion, 1828

At 3 a.m. on 15 March 1828 an explosion at Jarrow Colliery killed eight men, most of them shifters working the night shift. The coroner and jury found that no one was to blame, the pit having been considered in a good state and well ventilated.

What happened

The dead were the men who kept the pit in order between the coal-getting shifts: four shifters, George Bell, Thomas Bewick, Thomas Gibson and Thomas Jefferson; the deputy Richard Fletcher; the inspector Michael Whitfield; the wood leader George Johnson; and the rollyman Joseph Robson.

No exact account of the cause could be given. Local papers reported six men killed in the explosion and two others badly burnt, one of whom later died; other accounts give the total as eight. It was the third fatal explosion at Jarrow in eleven years.

Investigation & inquiry

The coroner and jury were satisfied that no blame attached to anyone, as the pit was considered to be in a good state and well ventilated.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• Six men were killed in the explosion and two badly burnt, one of whom later died. (disputed) ³

Recorded claims

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

• The explosion on 15 March 1828 killed eight men. ^1,2,3,4
• Six men were killed in the explosion and two badly burnt, one of whom later died. (disputed) ³
• The dead were shifters, a deputy, an inspector, a wood leader and a rollyman, killed at 3 a.m. ^1,4
• The coroner and jury found that no blame attached to anyone, the pit being considered in a good state and well ventilated. ⁴

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “At 3 a.m. on 15 March 1828 an explosion at Jarrow Colliery killed eight men, most of them shifters working the night shift. The…”
• Deputy (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…George Bell, Thomas Bewick, Thomas Gibson and Thomas Jefferson; the deputy Richard Fletcher; the inspector Michael Whitfield; the wood leader…”

Photographs & further reading

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

Sources

1. (primary) Jarrow Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Jarrow Colliery (Alfred Pit) — Tyne and Wear Historic Environment Record (Sitelines)
3. (secondary) Jarrow Colliery Explosion - Jarrow - 1828 — Northern Mine Research Society
4. (primary) Colliery Disaster: Jarrow, 15 March 1828 — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 3 October 2026 · Last researched: 3 October 2026