Stormont Main Colliery explosion, 1843

At 7.45 a.m. on 5 April 1843 gas exploded at J. Grace and Partners' Stormont Main Colliery at Wrekenton, near Gateshead, killing 27 men and boys. Foul air had stood in the workings for days, and one man had left the pit half an hour earlier saying his life was in danger.

Cause

Gas that had accumulated in a working place, thought to have been ignited by a candle carried past it.

Contributing factors

Foul air known to have stood in the boards for days; naked lights in use.

What happened

There had been foul air in the pit for some days and the men had been told to take extreme care. George Ritchie, down that morning, was warned by the deputy overman to put out his light as he passed a board in the west district, and found the air in James Young's board too foul to stay long; John Burns had found the same the day before in George Ditchburn's board. It was thought the gas in a working place was fired by a candle as someone passed.

About fifty men were below. Twenty-six were brought out alive, four of whom died soon after. Twelve of the dead were boys, the youngest John Kidman, aged ten, who died with his brother David; Humphrey Ditchburn died with his son George. James Young and John Jacques were on their first day in the pit. Fourteen widows and twenty-three children were left, and a subscription raised a considerable sum for them.

Rescue & recovery

Twenty-six men were brought out alive, four of whom died of their injuries.

Investigation & inquiry

The inquest at the Half Moon Inn, Wrekenton, heard many witnesses, but no light was thrown on the cause.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

The jury concluded that the owner had done everything for the ventilation and safety of the men and returned a verdict of accidental death.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• The explosion claimed twenty-eight lives, sixteen men and twelve boys. (disputed) ³

Recorded claims

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

• The explosion on 5 April 1843 killed 27 men and boys. ^1,2
• The explosion claimed twenty-eight lives, sixteen men and twelve boys. (disputed) ³
• There had been foul air in the pit for some days and the men had been advised to take extreme care. ^3,1
• Gas in a working place was thought to have been ignited by a candle as someone passed. ³
• The jury found every precaution had been taken for ventilation and safety and returned accidental death. ³

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Bad Air (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Main Colliery at Wrekenton, near Gateshead, killing 27 men and boys. Foul air had stood in the workings for days, and one man had left the pit…”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “…on 5 April 1843 gas exploded at J. Grace and Partners' Stormont Main Colliery at Wrekenton, near Gateshead, killing 27 men and boys. Foul air had…”
• Deputy (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…extreme care. George Ritchie, down that morning, was warned by the deputy overman to put out his light as he passed a board in the west…”
• Naked Light (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s contributing factors: “Foul air known to have stood in the boards for days; naked lights in use.”
• Overman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…care. George Ritchie, down that morning, was warned by the deputy overman to put out his light as he passed a board in the west district, and…”

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.

Sources

1. (primary) Colliery Disaster: Stormont Main, 5 April 1843 — Durham Mining Museum
2. (primary) Stormont Main Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
3. (secondary) Stormont Main Colliery Explosion - Wrekenton - 1843 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 3 October 2026 · Last researched: 3 October 2026