Marquess of Londonderry (Londonderry Collieries Ltd.)

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

Record created: 26 August 2026 · Last researched: 26 August 2026