MineArchiveSeghill Colliery explosion, 1864
Late on the night of 8 September 1864 gas exploded in the Low Main seam of Joseph Laycock's Seghill Colliery, Northumberland, killing seven, among them a putter of sixteen and a timber leader of seventy. The jury blamed an injured lamp; the inspector could not say where the explosion began.
| Date | 1864 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Seghill Colliery |
| Region | Northumberland |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 7 (Seven by the Durham Mining Museum; NMRS names six. Eleven more were injured.) |
| Injuries | 11 |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An explosion of gas, found by the jury to have come into contact with an injured lamp.
Contributing factors
Naked lights were allowed in parts of the pit; lamps were found unlocked or opened afterwards; the pit was subject to blowers.
What happened
Seghill, sunk about 35 years earlier, employed some 400 at the time, after a strike. At about 11 p.m. the gas fired in the 'Old Flat' district, where two hewers, Thomas Heep and Henry Whitehouse, and a boy were working with lamps. The deputy found the putter William Taylor, 16, in the Moor House Way with his lamp lying separated a few yards away. The others killed were George Jackson, 70, John Mills and John Nieland, both 18, and Richard Robinson, 58, a shifter who carried a lamp key because he supervised men; his lamp was found open. Brick stoppings were blown out for 600 yards.
Rescue & recovery
Explorers were driven back by chokedamp before recovering the bodies.
Investigation & inquiry
At the inquest at the Hope and Anchor, Seghill, the inspector Matthias Dunn said he could not say where the explosion originated or account for it. The fore-overman thought gas had come from a fall in the goaf and met a naked light.
Legal & regulatory aftermath
The jury found the men accidentally killed by gas that had come into contact with the injured lamp.
Changes to practice & legislation
Unknown.
Memorials & commemoration
Unknown.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- NMRS files the explosion under 1854 but its account dates it 9 September 1864 and cites the 1864 Inspector's report and the Colliery Guardian of 10 September 1864. (disputed) 1
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- NMRS files the explosion under 1854 but its account dates it 9 September 1864 and cites the 1864 Inspector's report and the Colliery Guardian of 10 September 1864. (disputed) 1
- Seven killed in the 1864 explosion at 11 p.m. on 8 September: Heep, Jackson, Mills, Nieland, Robinson, Taylor and Whitehouse. 2
- The jury found that they were killed by an explosion of gas in the low seam caused by gas coming into contact with the injured lamp. 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Blower (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s contributing factors: “…were found unlocked or opened afterwards; the pit was subject to blowers.” - Chokedamp (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s rescue and recovery: “Explorers were driven back by chokedamp before recovering the bodies.” - Firedamp (direct cause)
Gas thought to have come from a goaf fall. - Putter (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…Seghill Colliery, Northumberland, killing seven, among them a putter of sixteen and a timber leader of seventy. The jury blamed an…” - Safety Lamp (contributing factor)
Lamps were found open; the jury blamed an injured lamp.
Sources
- (secondary) Seghill Colliery Explosion - Seghill (1864) — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Durham Mining Museum - Seghill Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 21 September 2026 · Last researched: 21 September 2026