MineArchiveFollonsby Colliery
| Location | White Mare Pool, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear — 54.9517, -1.5222 (approximate) |
|---|---|
| Commodity | Coal |
| Type | Coal |
| Worked | 1911 (sinking begun)–8 August 1974 |
| Maximum depth | Unknown. |
| Operators | John Bowes & Partners Ltd (1911–?), Washington Coal Company Ltd (?–1946), National Coal Board (1947–1974) |
Overview
A colliery sunk from 1911 at White Mare Pool to replace Wardley, which grew to 1,495 men by 1935 and in 1959 became Wardley No. 1 pit; it closed with Wardley on 8 August 1974.
History
Follonsby Colliery was sunk from 1911 at White Mare Pool, about three and a half miles east-south-east of Newcastle, to replace the neighbouring Wardley Colliery, and John Bowes & Partners were its first owners. An account of strata below the Low Main seam, taken at a boring 12 chains east of North Follonsby Farm in 1901, is filed under Wardley Colliery. Employment grew from 450 in 1915 to 736 in 1921, 1,076 in 1925 and 1,495 in 1935. The colliery closed in 1939-40 and reopened in 1942. It was held by the Washington Coal Company until the National Coal Board took over in 1947. In 1959 Wardley Colliery reopened and merged with Follonsby, whose shaft became Wardley No. 1 pit and was linked with Usworth Colliery by an underground locomotive road. The merged colliery closed on 8 August 1974.
Geology
The Coal Authority holds an abandonment plan for the Beaumont seam at Follonsby, dated 1 January 1922.
Workings
From 1959 the Follonsby shaft, known as Wardley No. 1, was linked with Usworth Colliery by an underground locomotive road.
Closure
The colliery closed on 8 August 1974 with the merged Wardley unit.
What remains
Unknown.
Redevelopment
Unknown.
Related mines
- Usworth Colliery — From 1959 the Follonsby shaft (Wardley No. 1) was linked with Usworth Colliery by an underground locomotive road.
- Wardley Colliery — Follonsby was sunk to replace Wardley in 1911 and became Wardley No. 1 pit when the two merged in 1959; Bowes, then the Washington Coal Company, then the NCB owned both.
Nearby mines
- Wardley Colliery — 0.0 miles (0.1 km) W
- Walker Colliery — 1.9 miles (3.0 km) NW
- Felling Colliery — 1.9 miles (3.1 km) W
- Springwell Colliery — 2.3 miles (3.8 km) SW
- Usworth Colliery — 2.4 miles (3.8 km) S
Straight-line distance, within 9 miles (15 km). Show on the map.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- The colliery started sinking in 1911 to replace Wardley Colliery. 1,2
- Owned by John Bowes & Partners from 1911, the Washington Coal Company in the 1940s and the National Coal Board from 1947. 1,2
- Employment was 450 in 1915, 736 in 1921, 1,076 in 1925 and 1,495 in 1935. 1
- The colliery closed in 1939-40 and reopened in 1942. 1
- In 1959 Wardley Colliery merged with Follonsby, whose shaft became Wardley No. 1 and was linked with Usworth by an underground locomotive road. 1,2
- The colliery closed on 8 August 1974. 1,2
- The Coal Authority holds an abandonment plan for the Beaumont seam at Follonsby, dated 1 January 1922. 3
Photographs & further reading
Owners, output, employment 1910-1935, the 1939-42 and 1959 changes and a list of those killed.
View sourceThe county Historic Environment Record entry with the 1911 opening, owners and 1959 merger.
View sourceSources
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum - Follonsby Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) Follonsby Colliery (HER 6943) — Tyne and Wear Historic Environment Record (Sitelines)
- (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority abandonment plan: FOLLONSBY (Beaumont seam) — British Geological Survey
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum - Wardley Colliery Shaft Details (1901 boring near North Follonsby Farm) — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 29 September 2026 · Last researched: 29 September 2026