MineArchiveShankhouse Colliery inrush, 1867
Water from old workings on Wellington Flat broke into Shankhouse Colliery, Cramlington, on a Thursday afternoon with two shifts down, and rose to within a few feet of the top of the shaft. First reports spoke of great loss of life, but about 150 men got out, many by a temporary pulley; one man, the sinker Robert Allan, drowned. The press reported it in November 1867; the NMRS dates it November 1866.
| Date | 1867 (dated November 1866 by the NMRS) |
|---|---|
| Mine | Shankhouse Colliery |
| Region | Northumberland |
| Type | Flooding / Inundation |
| Fatalities | 1 (1: Robert Allan (45), sinker, who fell from the scaffold in the shaft and drowned while trying to lessen the damage.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Men working towards old workings on Wellington Flat holed into them, and the water rushed in with terrible force.
What happened
Four Cornishmen, brought in during industrial unrest, were driving towards the old workings when the water broke through. It rose very quickly, flooding the pit to within a few feet of the shaft top; a good many ponies were drowned and the pit property was much damaged. The first reports, of very great loss of life, reached papers as far off as Yorkshire and Manchester.
Rescue & recovery
Under the viewer, Mr Telford, and the engineer, Mr Maughan, a temporary pulley was rigged and most of the men were got out.
Investigation & inquiry
An inquest on Robert Allan was opened at the colliery on the Saturday following before Mr Cockroft, coroner for South Northumberland, with the Government Inspector of Mines, Mr Atkinson, and the viewer, Mr Telford, present. The colliery then belonged to Messrs E. Potter, Hugh Taylor and R. O. Lamb, owners also of Cramlington, Dudley and Hartford.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- Reports of the inundation and inquest appeared in November 1867. (disputed) 3,2
- The NMRS dates the inrush to November 1866. (disputed) 1
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Water from old workings broke into Shankhouse Colliery, Cramlington, with two shifts down, and rose to within a few feet of the top of the shaft. 1,2
- About 150 pitmen escaped with their lives; a good many ponies were drowned and the pit was much damaged. 2
- A sinker, Robert Allan, aged 45, lost his life trying to lessen the damage, and an inquest was opened at the colliery before the coroner for South Northumberland. 3
- Reports of the inundation and inquest appeared in November 1867. (disputed) 3,2
- The NMRS dates the inrush to November 1866. (disputed) 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Water from old workings on Wellington Flat broke into Shankhouse Colliery, Cramlington, on a Thursday afternoon with two shifts down, and rose…” - HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s investigation: “…Mr Cockroft, coroner for South Northumberland, with the Government Inspector of Mines, Mr Atkinson, and the viewer, Mr Telford, present. The colliery then…” - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…two shifts down, and rose to within a few feet of the top of the shaft. First reports spoke of great loss of life, but about 150 men got…” - Shaft Sinking (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…but about 150 men got out, many by a temporary pulley; one man, the sinker Robert Allan, drowned. The press reported it in November 1867; the…” - Viewer (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the rescue and recovery: “Under the viewer, Mr Telford, and the engineer, Mr Maughan, a temporary pulley was…”
Sources
- (secondary) Shankhouse Colliery Inrush - Cramlington - 1866 (Northern Mine Research Society) — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) Welsh Newspapers: Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, 23 November 1867, 'Colliery explosions' (from The Builder) — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)
- (primary) Welsh Newspapers: Monmouthshire Merlin, 9 November 1867, 'The Northumberland pit inundation' — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)
Record created: 29 September 2026 · Last researched: 16 October 2026