MineArchiveStormont Main Colliery explosion, 1831
On 9 July 1831 an explosion of gas at the King Pit, Wrekenton, killed two overmen, John Dakers and John Boggon, and by one account a boy, before most of the men had gone down.
| Date | 9 July 1831 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Stormont Main Colliery |
| Region | Tyne and Wear |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 3 (Two overmen, John Dakers and John Boggon, and a boy who is not named; the Durham Mining Museum lists only the two men.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An explosion of gas, supposed to have been caused by a door left open in the mine.
What happened
Stormont Main Colliery, known as the King Pit, stood at Wrekenton on Gateshead Fell and in 1831 belonged to the owners of the Birtley iron works. On 9 July 1831 gas exploded in the pit, killing two overmen, John Dakers and John Boggon; the contemporary register adds a boy, who is not named. Not all the workmen had yet descended, or the loss would have been much greater. The explosion was supposed to have been caused by a door left open in the mine.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- A boy was also killed. (uncertain) 2
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 9 July 1831 an explosion of gas at the King Pit near Wrekenton killed the overmen John Dakers and John Boggon. 1,2
- A boy was also killed. (uncertain) 2
- The pit belonged to the owners of the Birtley iron works. 2
- The explosion was supposed to have been caused by a door left open in the mine; not all the workmen had yet gone down, or the loss would have been greater. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “Stormont Main Colliery, known as the King Pit, stood at Wrekenton on Gateshead Fell and in…”
Photographs & further reading
This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.
John Sykes's register of remarkable events in Northumberland and Durham, with the contemporary account.
View sourceSources
- (primary) Stormont Main Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) Local Records; or, Historical Register of Remarkable Events, vol. 2 (J. Sykes, 1866 edition) — Internet Archive
Record created: 3 October 2026 · Last researched: 5 October 2026