North Biddick Colliery gas accident, 1890

Three young men were suffocated by gases from old workings at North Biddick Colliery, Washington, on the evening of 16 December 1890.

Cause

Suffocation by gases from old workings.

What happened

At half past eight on the evening of 16 December 1890, four hours into their shift, two shifters, George Gouldsbro and Thomas Maddison, and a borer, Thomas Laverick, were suffocated by gases from old workings at North Biddick Colliery, the 'Butney' at Washington. All three were in their twenties.

Recorded claims

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

• At 8.30 p.m. on 16 December 1890, in the fourth hour of their shift, three men were suffocated at North Biddick Colliery by gases from old workings. ^1,2,3,4
• The dead were the shifters George Gouldsbro, 22, and Thomas Maddison, 25, and the borer Thomas Laverick, 22. ^1,2,3,4
• The colliery is listed under Sir George Elliot. ^1,2

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: “…men were suffocated by gases from old workings at North Biddick Colliery, Washington, on the evening of 16 December 1890.”

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: North Biddick Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames G part 3 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
3. (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames L (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
4. (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames M (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)

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