MineArchiveWalker Colliery explosion, 1765
In April 1765 Walker Colliery, near Newcastle, fired at a depth of about a hundred fathoms and badly burnt the men at work, none fatally. The next day overmen and others went down to examine the mine and it fired a second time, killing eight of them and seventeen horses.
| Date | 2 April 1765 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Walker Colliery |
| Region | Tyne and Wear |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 8 (Eight persons and seventeen horses, all in the second explosion.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Firedamp ('foul air') fired, and fired again when the mine was entered to examine it.
Contributing factors
Unknown.
What happened
Walker's first shaft, the West Engine Pit, had reached coal at 600 feet in 1762. On 2 April 1765 the foul air fired in an instant with a report as loud as thunder; no one was killed, but the workmen were brought up scorched and burnt and sent to the infirmary. On the following day several overmen and others went down to examine the state of the mine, and it fired a second time, killing eight of them and seventeen horses.
Rescue & recovery
The men burnt in the first explosion were drawn up and sent to the infirmary.
Investigation & inquiry
Unknown.
Legal & regulatory aftermath
Unknown.
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.
- Sykes's account places the eight deaths on the day after the first explosion, which the Durham Mining Museum dates 2 April 1765. (uncertain) 1
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- A first explosion burnt the workmen without loss of life; on the following day it fired a second time while overmen examined the mine, killing eight persons and seventeen horses. 1
- On 2 April 1765 an explosion killed 8 miners. 2
- Sykes's account places the eight deaths on the day after the first explosion, which the Durham Mining Museum dates 2 April 1765. (uncertain) 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Bad Air (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “Firedamp ('foul air') fired, and fired again when the mine was entered to examine it.” - Fathom (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…Walker Colliery, near Newcastle, fired at a depth of about a hundred fathoms and badly burnt the men at work, none fatally. The next day overmen…” - Firedamp (direct cause)
The 'foul air' fired twice. - Overman (contextual relationship)
Overmen were among those killed examining the mine. - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “Walker's first shaft, the West Engine Pit, had reached coal at 600 feet in 1762. On 2…”
Sources
- (secondary) Colliery Disaster: Walker, 1765 (Local Records, John Sykes (1833), as transcribed by the Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) Walker Colliery B Pit (HER 4206) — Tyne and Wear HER (Sitelines)
Record created: 17 September 2026 · Last researched: 21 September 2026