MineArchiveOn 26 September 1876 an explosion of gas killed four at Whea
On 26 September 1876 an explosion of gas killed four at Wheatley Hill Colliery, in County Durham, and they were buried together at Thornley.
| Date | 26 September 1876 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Wheatley Hill Colliery |
| Region | County Durham |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 4 (George Dixon Dobinson (34), back overman; James Kelly Ayack (24) and Thomas Quinn (22), colliers; and William Edward Johns Abram (16), putter.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An explosion of gas in the workings.
What happened
George Dixon Dobinson, a back overman of 34, James Kelly Ayack, a collier of 24, Thomas Quinn, a collier of 22, and William Edward Johns Abram, a putter of 16, were all killed by an explosion of gas. The four were buried in St Bartholomew's churchyard at Thornley, and the disaster is marked by a memorial. The colliery belonged to the Original Hartlepool Collieries Co.
Sources
- (primary) Wheatley Hill Colliery explosion, 26 September 1876 (from the 1876 Mines Inspector's Report, C. 1734, Durham, Thomas Bell) — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Wheatley Hill Colliery (Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 22 September 2026 · Last researched: 22 September 2026