MineArchiveThornley Colliery explosion, 1865
Firedamp exploded in the downcast shaft at Thornley Colliery, County Durham, on 23 August 1865, killing a rapperman and two shaftmen who were brothers.
| Date | 23 August 1865 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Thornley Colliery |
| Region | County Durham |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 3 (Three killed: a rapperman and two brothers who were shaftmen.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An explosion of firedamp in the downcast shaft.
What happened
On 23 August 1865 firedamp exploded in the downcast shaft at Thornley Colliery in County Durham. It killed the rapperman Matthew Hewitson, 48, and two shaftmen, the brothers George and Liddell Wallace, aged 41 and 31. All three were buried in St Cuthbert's churchyard at Shadforth.
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 colliery's owner at the time is given as the Thornley Coal Company. (disputed) 2
- The colliery passed to the London Steam Colliery and Coal Company in 1865. (disputed) 1
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 23 August 1865 an explosion of firedamp in the downcast shaft at Thornley Colliery killed three men. 1,2
- The dead were the rapperman Matthew Hewitson, 48, and the shaftmen George and Liddell Wallace, brothers, aged 41 and 31. 1,2
- All three were buried at St Cuthbert's churchyard, Shadforth. 1
- The colliery's owner at the time is given as the Thornley Coal Company. (disputed) 2
- The colliery passed to the London Steam Colliery and Coal Company in 1865. (disputed) 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Firedamp exploded in the downcast shaft at Thornley Colliery, County Durham, on 23 August 1865, killing a rapperman and two…” - Downcast Shaft and Upcast Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Firedamp exploded in the downcast shaft at Thornley Colliery, County Durham, on 23 August 1865, killing a…” - Firedamp (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Firedamp exploded in the downcast shaft at Thornley Colliery, County Durham,…”
Sources
- (primary) Thornley Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1860-1869, surnames H, part 3 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026