MineArchiveMarquess of Londonderry
The Vane-Tempest-Stewart family, Marquesses of Londonderry, were among the largest private coalowners in County Durham. The third Marquess sank Seaham Colliery from 1849 and built Seaham Harbour to ship his own coal rather than pay another port’s dues; the family held the colliery, later through Londonderry Collieries Ltd., until nationalisation in 1947. The third Marquess also commanded the 2nd (Seaham) Durham Artillery Volunteer Corps, a unit recruited largely from his own pitmen.
Mines operated
| Mine | Region | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Carnlough Limestone Quarries | County Antrim | 1853–1864 |
| Framwellgate Moor Colliery | County Durham | 1859–? |
| Old Durham Colliery | County Durham | 1849–? |
| Penshaw Colliery | County Durham | ?–? |
| Pittington Colliery | County Durham | ?–? |
| Rainton Meadows Colliery | County Durham | ?–? |
| Rainton Plain Pit | Tyne and Wear | ?–? |
| Ryhope Colliery | Tyne and Wear | ?–? |
| Seaham Colliery | County Durham | 1849–1947 |
| Seaton Colliery | County Durham | 1864–? |
Record created: 26 August 2026 · Last researched: 26 August 2026