MineArchiveNorth Biddick Colliery explosion, 1773
Foul air in an old waste at North Biddick Colliery took fire about noon on 6 December 1773 and burst through into the working pit; most of the men were drawn out in time, but some boys and a man were killed, nineteen or twenty in all, and explosions went on through the day.
| Date | 6 December 1773 |
|---|---|
| Mine | North Biddick Colliery |
| Region | Tyne and Wear |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 19 (Nineteen in the museum's list and in Fynes; Galloway gives twenty. Some boys and one man; none are named.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Foul air in an old waste took fire and broke down the barrier between the waste and the working pit.
What happened
About noon on 6 December 1773 the foul air in an old waste at North Biddick Colliery, near the Wear, took fire and broke down the barrier between the waste and the working pit, which was 80 fathoms deep. Everything in the path of the blast was thrown out of the shaft high into the air. Most of the pitmen had seen the danger just in time and were drawn up unhurt, but some boys and one man were left behind and killed, and four horses were torn apart and thrown out of the shaft. Explosions went on about every five minutes for the rest of the day.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- Galloway gives the toll as twenty. (disputed) 2
- Sykes says the blast threw material 200 yards into the air; the NMRS account gives 200 feet. (disputed) 2,3
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- An explosion on 6 December 1773 killed nineteen. 1,2,3
- Galloway gives the toll as twenty. (disputed) 2
- Foul air in an old waste took fire about noon and broke through into the working pit, 80 fathoms deep. 2,3
- Most of the men were drawn up in time; some boys and one man were killed, and four horses. 2,3
- Sykes says the blast threw material 200 yards into the air; the NMRS account gives 200 feet. (disputed) 2,3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Bad Air (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Foul air in an old waste at North Biddick Colliery took fire about noon on 6…” - Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Foul air in an old waste at North Biddick Colliery took fire about noon on 6 December 1773 and burst through into the…” - Fathom (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…down the barrier between the waste and the working pit, which was 80 fathoms deep. Everything in the path of the blast was thrown out of the…” - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…deep. Everything in the path of the blast was thrown out of the shaft high into the air. Most of the pitmen had seen the danger just in…”
Sources
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: North Biddick Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) North Biddick Colliery Explosion - Washington - 1773 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Colliery Disaster 1773 (North Biddick) — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 6 October 2026 · Last researched: 6 October 2026