Shildon Lodge Colliery

Overview

A colliery west of Shildon begun on Robert Surtees's land in 1830 and worked for most of its life by Bolckow, Vaughan, which raised 800 tons a day from the Brockwell in the 1890s and employed nearly 900 in 1915; it was largely abandoned in 1928 and closed in 1937.

History

Shildon Lodge Colliery lay to the west of Shildon, ten and a half miles south-south-west of Durham. Boring was in progress on the estate of Robert Surtees in 1830, and the Engine Pit was sunk on his land about that year. By the 1850s Bolckow, Vaughan and Co. held the colliery. The Furnace Pit was sunk to the Brockwell seam in November 1864, reaching it at about 385 feet.

In 1894 Bolckow, Vaughan worked the Brockwell, five feet six inches thick at 120 fathoms, for 800 tons a day. The colliery employed 807 men in 1883 and between about 500 and 900 until 1927, with 892 in 1915, in the Brockwell, Busty, Harvey, Main and Low Main seams.

The Main, Low Main, Harvey, Busty and Brockwell seams were abandoned on 6 November 1928. A company, Shildon Lodge Colliery Co. Ltd, worked it on a small scale in the 1930s, with 34 men in 1930, and the colliery closed in 1937. The museum's list of those killed holds 79 names; two men fell from the cage on 3 November 1854, and two sinkers were killed when a cradle fell in the new pit on 23 April 1864.

Geology

Durham coalfield: the Brockwell (5 ft 6 in at 120 fathoms in 1894), Busty (top and bottom), Harvey, Main and Low Main seams.

Workings

The Engine Pit (about 1830) and the Furnace Pit (sunk November 1864 to the Brockwell).

Closure

Most seams abandoned on 6 November 1928; worked on a small scale until it closed in 1937.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Recorded claims

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

• The Engine Pit was sunk about 1830 on land owned by Robert Surtees. ^1,2
• The Furnace Pit was sunk in November 1864. ^1,3,2
• In 1894 the Brockwell was worked at 120 fathoms for 800 tons a day. ¹
• The colliery employed 610 people in 1902. ^1,2
• Closed in 1937. ^1,2

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Shildon Lodge Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Shildon Lodge Colliery (1830 - 1937) — Newcastle University (Co-Curate)
3. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Shildon Lodge Colliery Furnace Shaft shaft details — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 6 October 2026 · Last researched: 6 October 2026