MineArchiveMoorsley Colliery explosion, 1833
In November 1833 an explosion of fire-damp at the Low Moorsley pit, near Houghton-le-Spring, burnt the viewer, the overman and four men; six lives were lost.
| Date | 22 or 23 November 1833 |
|---|---|
| Mine | North Hetton Colliery |
| Region | Tyne and Wear |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 6 (Six lives lost (Northern Mine Research Society, from Galloway and the Durham Advertiser); among the burnt were the viewer Mr Appleby, the overman Mr Dawson, and men named Embleton, Brown, Errington and Dawson.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An explosion of fire-damp.
What happened
Moorsley Colliery lay near Houghton-le-Spring, east of Durham. On 22 or 23 November 1833 fire-damp exploded at the Low Moorsley pit. The viewer, Mr Appleby, the overman, Mr Dawson, and four men were dreadfully burnt; contemporary reports named among them men called Embleton, Brown, Errington and Dawson. Six lives were lost.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- The explosion took place on 22 November 1833. (disputed) 1
- The explosion of fire-damp took place on 23 November 1833 at the Low Moorsley pit, near Houghton-le-Spring. (disputed) 2
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- An explosion at Moorsley Colliery in November 1833 killed six people. 1
- The explosion took place on 22 November 1833. (disputed) 1
- The explosion of fire-damp took place on 23 November 1833 at the Low Moorsley pit, near Houghton-le-Spring. (disputed) 2
- Mr Appleby, the viewer, Mr Dawson, the overman, and four men were dreadfully burnt. 1,2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “Moorsley Colliery lay near Houghton-le-Spring, east of Durham. On 22 or 23 November…” - Overman (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…the Low Moorsley pit, near Houghton-le-Spring, burnt the viewer, the overman and four men; six lives were lost.” - Viewer (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…at the Low Moorsley pit, near Houghton-le-Spring, burnt the viewer, the overman and four men; six lives were lost.”
Photographs & further reading
This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.
T. Fordyce's 1867 register of remarkable events in Northumberland and Durham, with the contemporary account.
View sourceThe Northern Mine Research Society's note of the explosion, from Galloway and the Durham Advertiser.
View sourceSources
- (secondary) Moorsley Colliery Explosion - Moorsley - 1833 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) Local Records; or, Historical Register of Remarkable Events, vol. 3 (T. Fordyce, 1867) — Internet Archive
Record created: 4 October 2026 · Last researched: 5 October 2026