Workington Colliery Inundation, 1837

On the evening of 28 July 1837 the sea burst into the workings of Workington Colliery, which had been driven 1,500 yards out under it with only about 150 feet of strata above. The Isabella, Union and Lady pits were submerged and 27 men and boys drowned, along with a comparable number of horses. The danger had been common talk in the town for months, and the owner had been written to about it.

Cause

A crush in workings under the sea, following the removal of the pillars supporting ground where only about 150 feet of strata separated the mine from the sea bed.

Contributing factors

Until about ten months before, the colliery had been managed by Matthias Dunn. After he left, a considerable robbing of the pillars under the sea was carried on. The danger of it was common talk about the town, disaster was foretold by many, and a number of colliers left the work rather than continue.

What happened

The workings ran out beneath the Solway — 1,500 yards from the shaft, rising towards the sea bed until only about 150 feet of strata lay between. After Matthias Dunn gave up the management, the pillars holding that ground up began to be taken out. What followed was not unforeseen. Galloway records that the danger 'was a matter of common talk about the town', that disaster was foretold by many, and that a number of colliers simply left the work. There was correspondence between men on the spot and Dunn, who thought the danger imminent enough to lay the matter before a north of England coal-owner and get him to write to Mr Curwen, the owner, drawing his attention to the risk. No steps were taken. Eventually a crush ensued, and on the evening of 28 July 1837 the sea burst in. The Isabella, Union and Lady pits were submerged. Men standing on the shore could see the swirl of the water several hundred yards out to sea. Because it happened in the evening rather than during the day, fewer were below than might have been.

Investigation & inquiry

No inquiry report has been read for this record. Galloway's account, written in 1898, cites Dunn's own Coal Trade, the Children's Employment Commission appendices and the 1849 Report.

Recorded claims

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

• The Durham Mining Museum records 27 lives lost. Galloway notes the toll was 'variously stated at from twenty-seven to forty human beings, and an almost equal number of horses'. (disputed) ^1,2
• The workings had been carried 1,500 yards out under the sea and were rising rapidly towards it, until only about 150 feet of strata intervened. (high) ²
• After the manager Matthias Dunn left the colliery some ten months before the accident, a considerable robbing or removal of the pillars under the sea was carried on. (high) ²
• The danger was a matter of common talk about the town and disaster was foretold by many; a number of colliers left the work, and Dunn induced a north of England coal-owner to write to Mr Curwen, the owner, drawing his attention to the risk being run. No steps were taken. (high) ²
• The Isabella, Union and Lady pits were submerged by the inrush. (high) ^1,2
• Had the accident occurred during the day rather than in the evening, the number of lives lost would have been greater. (high) ²

Related terminology

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

• Coal (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “…this record. Galloway's account, written in 1898, cites Dunn's own Coal Trade, the Children's Employment Commission appendices and the 1849…”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…of 28 July 1837 the sea burst into the workings of Workington Colliery, which had been driven 1,500 yards out under it with only about 150…”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “The workings ran out beneath the Solway — 1,500 yards from the shaft, rising towards the sea bed until only about 150 feet of strata lay…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Durham Mining Museum: Workington Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Robert L. Galloway, Annals of Coal Mining and the Coal Trade (1898), on the Workington inundation of 1837 — Durham Mining Museum, quoting Galloway

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