Page Bank Colliery shaft fire, 1858

At eight in the morning on 30 September 1858 the back overman at Page Bank, Thomas Kellet, was knocked from the top of the cage by something falling in the shaft and fell to the bottom. Fire followed at the shaft, and ten people died. Fire engines were called from the surrounding towns to pump river water down the pit while the colliery's own pumping engine was turned on the flames; the inspector thought the case unusual enough to set out the inquest evidence at length in his annual report.

Cause

A fire at the shaft, following an accident in which something fell from above a rising cage.

What happened

About eight o'clock on the morning of Thursday 30 September 1858, Thomas Kellet, a back overman at Page Bank Colliery who also had general charge of the shaft, descended the pit. As he and a man named Mould were being drawn about ten fathoms up the shaft, something fell from above them and knocked Kellet off the top of the cage; he fell to the bottom of the shaft, though the cage itself continued up. Fire took hold, and ten people died.

Rescue & recovery

Once at the surface the overman and others went to the spout or landry box into which the water raised by the large pumping engine was discharged, and, so far as they could amid the smoke, diverted it into the shaft. Messengers and telegrams were sent to the surrounding towns and collieries for as many fire engines as could be had, to pump water from the river into the shaft, and carts were sent out in various directions. Mr Johnson, the viewer, and the inspector arrived a little after ten to find the flames at the surface subdued but dense smoke still issuing from the pit top; Mr Armstrong of Wingate Grange, viewer to the lessor of the royalty, arrived shortly after noon and joined them in directing the work.

Investigation & inquiry

HM Inspector of Mines set out an epitome of the inquest evidence in his annual report for 1858, saying that the accident was of an unusual character, at least in its results; the evidence included the viewer's description of the colliery and accounts of the measures taken to put out the fire and rescue the workmen.

Memorials & commemoration

Unknown.

Recorded claims

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

• About eight o'clock on the morning of Thursday 30 September 1858 Thomas Kellet, a back overman at Page Bank who also had general charge of the shaft, went down the pit; something fell from above the cage as he and another man were being drawn up about ten fathoms, knocking Kellet off the top of the cage to the bottom of the shaft. ¹
• Fire took hold at the shaft, and the men at the surface tried to divert the water discharged by the pumping engine into the shaft amid the smoke; the inspector called it an accident of an unusual character. ¹
• Messengers and telegrams went to the surrounding towns and collieries for fire engines to pump water from the river into the shaft, and carts were sent out in various directions; Mr Johnson, the viewer, and the inspector reached the colliery a little after ten, by which time the flames at the surface had been subdued though dense smoke still came from the pit top. ¹

Sources

1. (secondary) Page Bank Colliery Inquest (1858 Mines Inspector's report) (Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Page Bank Colliery (Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 17 September 2026 · Last researched: 20 September 2026