Biteabout Colliery

Overview

A single-shaft colliery near Lowick in north Northumberland, owned in the 1870s by Saulsbury, Sons and Jackson, whose elderly manager fell to his death down the shaft in 1873; it had closed by 1902 and its ruined masonry survives.

History

Biteabout Colliery lay near Lowick, about ten miles south of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in a part of north Northumberland where many small collieries and bell pits were worked. It was worked from a single shaft that reached several coal seams. In the 1870s its owners were Saulsbury, Sons and Jackson. On 8 November 1873 its manager, David Brown, aged 72, was killed when he fell down the shaft.

The colliery had closed before 1902. The heritage record suggests that it may have worked only for a few years between the Ordnance Survey's second-edition mapping of 1899 and 1902, which does not square with the ownership and the accident of the 1870s; both accounts are given here. Ruined masonry from the pit still stands in pasture.

Geology

Several coal seams were worked from the one shaft.

Workings

A single shaft working several seams.

Closure

Closed before 1902.

What remains

Ruined masonry stands in pasture.

Ruined masonry of the pit buildings.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• Biteabout Colliery may have operated only for a few years between 1899 and 1902. (uncertain) ²

Recorded claims

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

• Biteabout Colliery was owned in the 1870s by Saulsbury, Sons and Jackson. ¹
• On 8 November 1873 Biteabout Colliery's manager, David Brown, aged 72, was killed when he fell down the shaft. ¹
• Biteabout Colliery was worked from a single shaft that exploited several coal seams, and had closed before 1902. ²
• Biteabout Colliery may have operated only for a few years between 1899 and 1902. (uncertain) ²
• Ruined masonry of Biteabout Colliery survives in pasture. ³

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (primary) Biteabout Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Biteabout Colliery — North East Heritage Library (Coals Archive)
3. (observational) The remains of Biteabout Colliery (James T M Towill, 2021) — Geograph

Record created: 22 October 2026 · Last researched: 22 October 2026