MineArchiveWillington Colliery Boiler Explosion, 1867
A boiler exploded at Willington Colliery on 2 January 1867 and killed three of those working at the surface: George Farnaby, a fireman of eighteen, George Young, a screenman of seventeen, and George Webster, a screen boy of eleven. All three deaths were at the pit bank rather than underground.
| Date | 2 January 1867 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Willington Colliery |
| Region | County Durham |
| Type | Machinery |
| Fatalities | 3 (George Farnaby, 18, fireman; George Young, 17, screenman; George Webster, 11, screen boy. The Durham Mining Museum's accident page for the day gives three lives lost.) |
| Injuries | None recorded beyond the three deaths. |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
The explosion of a boiler at the colliery surface.
Contributing factors
Nothing further is recorded. Boiler explosions were a standing hazard of the colliery surface in this period, where the screens, the engine house and the boiler range stood close together and were worked largely by boys and young men.
What happened
The three who died were all working at the pit bank when the boiler let go: the fireman who tended it, the screenman and the screen boy who picked stone from the coal as it came over the screens beside it. Farnaby was eighteen, Young seventeen and Webster eleven.
Rescue & recovery
Nothing is recorded of the aftermath.
Investigation & inquiry
The Durham Mining Museum records the accident under Willington with the company given as Strakers and Love and the cause as a boiler explosion, three lives lost. Some of the museum's names for this period come from Jim Grainger's research in the Durham Advertiser and Durham Chronicle, which would be the place to look for a fuller account.
Legal & regulatory aftermath
No proceedings are recorded.
Changes to practice & legislation
Nothing recorded.
Memorials & commemoration
No memorial specific to the accident is known.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Three were killed: George Farnaby, 18, fireman; George Young, 17, screenman; and George Webster, 11, screen boy. 1
- The cause is recorded simply as the exploding of a boiler, with the company given as Strakers and Love. 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Engine House (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s contributing factors: “…of the colliery surface in this period, where the screens, the engine house and the boiler range stood close together and were worked largely by…” - Fireman (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…and killed three of those working at the surface: George Farnaby, a fireman of eighteen, George Young, a screenman of seventeen, and George…” - Heapstead (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…George Webster, a screen boy of eleven. All three deaths were at the pit bank rather than underground.” - Pithead (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “The explosion of a boiler at the colliery surface.” - Screens (contextual relationship)
Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…George Young, a screenman of seventeen, and George Webster, a screen boy of eleven. All three deaths were at the pit bank rather than…”
Sources
- (primary) Colliery accident, Willington, 2 January 1867: boiler explosion, three lives lost — Durham Mining Museum, from the mines inspectors' records
- (primary) Willington Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 4 September 2026 · Last researched: 4 September 2026