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. The Collieries Of Thomas Harrison Hair
edited by
Bernard Mc Cormick
Thomas Harrison Hair was a painter and engraver, his initial preference being ships and landscapes. Later he completed beautiful water colour paintings of north of England Collierys and industrial engines and machinery. The paintings were so good that they amazed experts and people that eppreciated fine painting. Hair was born in Newcastle upon Tyne around the year 1810, the son of John Hair, who was a tanner and black lamp manufacturer based in the region of Scotswood. It is strongly believed that Thomas learned his early trade of an engraver, Lithographer from Mark Lambert (1781-1855)who himself had been taught his trade by Thomas Bewick (1753-1828) the celebrated Master wood engraver from Cherryburn, Northumberland.Thomas Hair was also strongly believed to have been tutored by Luke Clennel (1781-1840) who himself had been apprenticed to Thomas Bewick when based in Newcastle . Hair’s grandmother was Elizabeth Hair who orrininally came from East Sleekburn, Northumberland, deep in coal mining areas, Hair’s grandfather also came from the same area. When Thomas was around twenty like most other young ambitious people who wished to progress their careers he travelled to London . There is evidence that he stayed at two addreses in Camden Town. Hair never lost his love of his native North East and this was reflected over this period with the following, ‘On Derwant’, ‘Winlaton Mill’, 1842, The Barque ‘Bomarsund’, off Tynemouth 1857, ‘The Tyne at Ryton’, 1863, ‘The Tyne at Scottswood’, Northumberland, 1863, the great international Sculling match Newcastle, 1868. Thomas Hair exhibited his brilliant work not only in the North East but also in London mainly at the Suffolk Street, Gallery from 1838; also at the Royal Acedemy around 1840. The pictures exhibited at tbe Royal Acedemy around the year 1841 were on Tynedale Fell, Cumberland. Later in 1844 ‘Burning for Blood, ‘Long and Gaunt’, ‘Grim Assembling of Wolves’, later in 1849, ‘Botwell Castle’, and other brilliant paintings were exhibited. T homas Hair produced a series of paintings between 1828-the Royal Acedemy around 1840. The pictures exhibited at tbe Royal Acedemy around the year 1841 were on Tynedale Fell, Cumberland. Later in 1844 ‘Burning for Blood, ‘Long and Gaunt’, ‘Grim Assembling of Wolves’, later in 1849, ‘Botwell Castle’, and other brilliant paintings were exhibited.Thomas Hair produced a series of paintings between 1828-1842 which prepared the way for his book ‘Views of Collieries’, in Durham And Northumberland’, these are held in permanent collection at the Hatton Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne; a number of these were completed when he was in London and he used most of them to illustrate the book which was published in 1844. This version was much larger than the first edition and included an essay by M. Ross on the coal trade and gave a lengthy account of the existence of mining in Northumberland and Durham in the early nineteenth century. Each of the forty two illustrations are also explained in detail; it is also made clear that the water colours held at Hatton Garden are meant to be sketches and not finished pieces. This does not lower the standard of the etchings, because they are recognized as being first class works of art; the etchings were meant to be an accurate record of the scenes before Hair, when he required as much detailed information as possible to aid his memory when completing etchings later at his studio. The watercolors were extremely pleasing to the eye and conveyed the whole atmosphere of the area. The coalmines were brilliantly reproduced in a way that was better than the etchings and holding far more detail; the every day working life of the coal mining areas came to life. Hair became interested in Northern coalmines early in his life;’Hebburn Colliery’, A. Pit’, was dated 1828 and was completed when he was just eighteen years of age. This painting is in the Hatton Collection and his eye for colour and detail was simply amazing for someone so young. Watercolors are not easily rectified so an artist’s skill must be of a high standard, because watercolour is transparent and quick drying. Watercolour also has many good points it could be transported easily along with a variety of brushes and other painting materials. The woodwork and headgear on shafts was initially done by ink and pencil; then colour was applied generally and cleverly. It was noted that there was some deteriation in quality of the pigments in some of the watercolors, it was thought initially Hair would limit his colours because they were to be etched and the tonal range was more important than colour at that stage. It was further noted that some of the images had anomalies in perspective; these visual irregularities were usually reflected on the finished etchings; however some were left in the original condition adding to the overall charm of the work. Hair did not produce many industrial scenes after his impressive ‘Views of Collieries’, ‘ Hartley Colliery after the Disaster’, was completed in 1869 seven years after the tragedy when he recorded the colliery where 204 men and boys lost their lives. Hair concentrated on landscapes and views of; topographical studies of the Newcastle area were brilliantly painted in and around the town and along the banks of the ‘River Tyne’, these leave an amazing record of life as it existed in the early 1800s. The hustle and bustle of city life was remarkably accurate, Victorian people could be seen walking at leisure bringing the etchings to life; Roman river crossings was observed and Collier Coastal ships could be observed at sail and waiting to be loaded with coal at the staithes to deliver to the major cities such as London and Liverpool. Thomas Hair produced and left for future generations paintings and etchings of an extremely high standard; little is actually known of his personnel life; his death is recorded in Newcastle on the 11th. August 1875, many said he died in 1882 but this was found to be wrong even though the date was recorded in biographies. Thomas Harrison Hair was buried in an unmarked grave on the 13th August at All Saints Cemetery. It was said that all paintings catalogued as having been produced by Hair after 1875 would need to be considered.
HEBBURN COLLIERY A mile to the west of Jarrow, the Colliery can be traced as far back as 1656, but the present Colliery dates from 1792. It was recorded as being on of the most difficult sinkings to date the amount of water pumped from the pit was upwards of 3000 gallons a minute. Wood tubing eventually controlled the water, which was relatively new at the time. The Monkton seam lies 20 fathoms below the surface with the Bensham seam lying 45 fathoms. In the year 1810 there was a general creep at the colliery and it had to cease working for a long time. Sir Humphrey Davy carried out experiments at Hebburn Colliery and this is where the celebrated chemist tried his lamps under supervision of M. Dunn who was the resident viewer. On October 21st. 1805 there was an explosion at the Colliery, which took the lives of 35 men and boys leaving 25 widows and 81 children. At the C. Pit there was a 30HP. Engine for drawing coals; Messrs. Easton and Co. ran the Colliery and the coal was known on the London market as “Hebburn Main”. “Hebburn Main Colliery” was Thomas Hair’s first attempt at using Collierys for his subject paintings; he completed this painting in 1828 when he was just 18 years of age.
FAWDON COLLIERY The Colliery is situated four miles north/west of Newcastle in the parish of Gosforth. The villages around the Colliery are ‘High Fawdon’, ‘Fawdon Square’, and ‘Low Fawdon’. Men from these villages make a living from the Colliery, The A. Pit was sunk in March 1810, the ‘High Main’, May 1811, the latter being 48 fathoms and a 15hp. Engine was used in this seam. The B. Pit was sunk 1813, - 1814, and it was here a Fossil Tree, was found; this pit was used as a ventilation shaft and was infact a furnace shaft. The E. Shaft was sunken 1822-1823-1824. The shaft was 51 fathoms deep and it was the only shaft that delivered coal, the engine being 30 hp. A further shaft was sunk which was called the F. Pit, in 1836-1837, and was used for drainage, with an engine of 100 hp. The major seam is the ‘ High Main’. The coals are drawn at Kenton Bank Top, or Blakelaw, where a fixed engine is used. On the London market the coal is known as “Newmarsh’s Wallsend”. m.
WALLSEND COLLIERY The end of the Roman Wall built by Emporer Hadrian AD. 120 The Colliery was situated east of Carville Hall. The local inhabitants of the area called it ‘Well Laws’, this was the fortification at the end of the wall and was an area approx. 140 yards square. William Russel esq. around 1780, ‘The Eallsend coal’, brought the highest price possble at the London market, originally owned the Colliery and it was always in demand. Seams were ‘High Main’, which was six feet thick. The original coal was known as ‘Russels Wallsend’, but later officially known as ‘Benshams Wallsend’, and ‘Benshams Main’, the pit had views of the local church and was also known as the ‘Church Pit’, It was said that the coal from Wallsend kindles and cakes easily, while giving off an amazing heat. It was known that local miners took advantage of blowers from the Wallsend Seam and bottled the gas, stemming it with clay. Later they made a small hole in the clay and used the gas for lighting their homes. Between June 1785 and 1835, as many as eight explosions occurred when 186 men lost their lives; there was also many pit ponies killed and injured; the explosions brought terrible sadness to the area:
BURDON MAIN COLLIERY Situated in the township of Chirton on the eastern most point of the North bank of the Tyne; just to the left of North Shields. Burdon Mill had produced coal for a number of years prior to 1800 and in the year 1814 when breaking into an n old shaft found the Skelton of a man at thirty fathoms. At the time the Low Main, was worked and the coal quality was excellent the thickness averaging five foot and extending below the bed of the Tyne. It was notable that the pit had a unique ventilating system controlled by a furnace at the shaft that produced a brilliant current of fresh hair; this was so good the miners were able to keep clean. Messrs. Bell, Robson and Company owned the Colliery.
BENWELL COLLIERY Three miles west of Newcastle and one of the oldest pits on the Tyne. Most seams were available except three Quarter coal; the Main Coal was accidentally set on fire in the middle ages and continued to burn for thirty years. Red ashes and burnt clay could be seen even to the present day at Benwell Hill and soil in the area was found to be non-productive. The Low Main was worked from around 1600 until 1700 then lay dormant until 1789. The present seam is the ‘Beaumont’, and is sixty fathoms deep. For some time the pit was flooded, during the Great Flood, as the working seams came near to the surface; in later years because of more powerful pumps the pit was dried out and the seams worked. On January 19th. 1830, John Buddle esq. speaking at the Natural History Society, described a ‘Whin Dyke’, which passes through ‘The Beaumont ‘, seam at Benwell. Two 40 hp. Engines drain the pit and the Colliery is worked by Messrs. Surtees, Dunn and company and the coals are called ‘Adair’s Main’, on the London
CLARENCE RAILWAY In 1824 a bill was introduced for the formation of this railway; it was unfortunately thrown out but later it was reintroduced and commenced from February 18th. 1829. Later it was proposed that alterations be made to the initial route; whereby the Clarence had a route of forty-nine miles in length, which included many branches. The estimated cost being £243,000 but actually costing £500,000 the line had its objectors such as the Marquis of Londonderry, but it passed the House of Lords May 21st. 1829. The line ran from Port Clarence on the Tees, to Simpasture in the parish of Hieghington which was about sixteen miles in length, there was a branch of three miles to Stockton. Another branch also exists to Coxhoe, which was about nine miles; two others lead to Chilton and Byers Green.
BEAMISH COLLIERY
Situated about eight miles south west of Newcastle; the coals were transported to Fatfield which was on the Wear. The Colliery was first commenced in 1763 by Morton Davidson esq. Who’s family was ‘The Grand Allies’, held the lease for a number of years. In later years the lease was held by Robert Eden Bart; the High Main or Shield Row was worked the seam being four feet thick. The water wheel was used to drain the lower seams.
ST. HILDAS COLLIERY, SOUTH SHIELDS The Colliery was first sunk by Simon Temple Esq. on land owned by the Dean & Chapter of Durham; when the Colliery was known as ‘ Chapter Main Colliery’. On April 23rd. 1810, the first coals were surfaced. Because of the cost of producing the coal the first owners fell behind in their Mortgage payments, and Robert William and John Brandling eventually owned the Colliery. The pit was sunk to the Bensham Seam, in July 1825, which was 143 fathoms deep; the average seam thickness was six feet and these were worked directly under the ‘St. Hilda’s Church’, South Shields. The pumping engine was 90, horse power, there was also two 30hp. engines for drawing coal; there was also a steam engine of 20hp. In the pit and the shaft was divided by brattice for up and down ventilation.
JARROW COLLIERY In the south side of the Tyne, known as the centre of the seams of coal measures and Jarrow is where the seams are at their deepest. The Colliery is situated approx. 5 miles from the sea. Accounts were noted with reference to Jarrow Colliery as early as 1618; the seam noted was near to the surface. Jarrow Colliery was sank by Simon Temple Esq. and opened on September 26th. 1803. It is sunk to the Bensham Seam and is 175 fathoms deep; two steam engines are worked underground. The Bensham Seam supplied writers of the subject 44 specimens of “Fossil Flora”, of Great Britain, the organic
HARTLEY COLLIERY The Colliery is situated six miles north of North Shields; John Jopling and partners worked the Colliery. The shaft was 53 fathoms deep to the ‘Low Main’, and was sunken orrinally in 1830. There was an older shaft 80 fathoms deep which was abandoned; the main seam now is 4feet six in thicknesses; the engine is 40 hp. And the coal is conveyed to the staithes at Seaton Sluice.
PITTINGTON
The Buddle, Adolphus, Londonderry, and Lady Seaham were part of this group owned & Operated by Lord Londonderry. Between 1856 and 1897, the Buddle closed, and it was then operated by the North Hetton Coal Company. The Londonderry & Adolphus, closed in 1891, and after the 1912, strike the Lady Seaham was not re-started.
DROPS AT MIDDLESBROUGH These were based at the south side of the estuary of the Tees, and were the terminating point of the ‘S& D Railway’, the staithes were 450 yards long and leading to eight drops. The entry to the estuary was badly impeded by sandbanks but in later years they were improved.
WHITWELL COLLIERY Situated near to the Durham Sunderland Railway about three miles south east of Durham City. The views of the picturesque city of Durham and the Cathedral are magnificent. The area is known as Whitwell House and is the property of the Master & Brethren of Sherburn Hospital and held under lease for three lives of John Gregson Esq. Of Shotten Hall. The Colliery is run and managed by Messrs. Whites, Robson and Ogden, and the Company is called ‘Whitwell Coal Company’, The A. Pit was sunk on May 2nd. 1836, and the Hutton Seam was won on 20th. June 1837, to depth of 59 fathoms, The B. Pit was sunk to the Hutton a depth of 65 fathoms in 1840; the coals are called ‘Whitwell Wallsend’, produced from the ‘Low Main’, and ‘Hutton’ seams. Two engines are situated at the Colliery one 100 HP. For pumping purposes and a 45 HP. Engine for drawing coals, these are transported via. He Durham & Sunderland railway to the staithes at Seaham. The Colliery is completely free of gas or Firedamp and there were very few accidents but sadly a sinker died when sinking the A. pit:
DROPS at SUNDERLAND The staithes were erected in 1812 with three spouts. The Railway was put in the western fringe and was called ‘Galley’s Gill’, where a depot was erected on March 20th. 1815. At this time a great number of Keel men [Whose living this effected] assembled riotously complaining about the staithes. The wooden bridge was pulled down which led up the staithes; the depot was also set on fire. Later that night a party of Dragoons arrived from Newcastle and dispersed the mob. The damage was said to have cost £6000, later there was a total of eleven drops erected this included the Western side. The coals shipped included coal from Colliery’s owned by the ‘Earl of Durham’, and also included coal from Henry Stobart’s Colliery’s at Lumley. The Marquis of Londonderry’s coals were discontinued, as staithes were erected at Seaham; although coals from Framwellgate Colliery were expected to cover this loss of business. It was possible to ship 150 keels a day from the staithes:
BROOMSIDE COLLIERY Situated near to the Durham Sunderland Railway, and two miles south west of the Letch Colliery. This is also the property of the Marquis of Londonderry. The shaft is 51 fathoms deep to the Hutton, seam that averages four feet thick. There is a 30 HP. Engine used for pumping water as well as coal. A further engine is used for hauling coals. The coals are shipped via. Seaham, which is around ten miles.
ELLISON MAIN COLLIERY Ellison Main or Sheriff Hill was situated on the summit of Gateshead Fell; the Colliery is leased by Messrs. Lamb & Hutchinson under Cuthbert Ellison esq. of Hebburn Hall. The Isabella Pit was sunk around 1750, and it was 125 fathoms to the Hutton Seam, which was five feet thick. The coal is drawn by an engine of 30 H P. while a further one of the same power pumps water out of the Colliery:
ST. HELENS AUCKLAND COLLIERY The Colliery was sank mainly because of the formation of the S&D Railway and was the property of the Milbank Family then ownership passed to the Musgraves with George Musagrave Bart. Half of the Royalty belonged to Sir. T. J. Clavering Bart, and the rev. Matthew Chester. The sinking commenced by Joseph Pease and partners in Feb. 1830. The Main Coal was the main seam and in January 1831 averaged six feet in thickness. The engine pit is eighty fathoms deep; the engine is 100 HP. And the drawing engine is fifty HP. The coals are shipped via the Tees some twenty-six miles.
WIDEOPEN Situated approx. six miles north of Newcastle, in the parish of ‘Long Benton’, on the east of the great north road. The Colliery at the time was owned and worked by Messrs. Perkins and Thackrah. The shaft was sunk in April 1825, and coal was won in May 1827. The Colliery consists of two shafts one is used for the pumping engine. At the time the seam worked was the ‘High Main’, which was at a depth of 80 fathoms, the seam is three feet ten inches in thickness
WALLSEND Church COLLIERY Called ‘Church Colliery because of the vicinity of the Parish Church . Situated a little to the east of Carville Hall, otherwise known as ‘Wall Laws’, signifying ‘Wall Hill’. The High Main seam is six feet thick at Walls End. It bwas that this particular coal was very popular in London and found to kindle easily giving a good standard of heat and with the minimum of smoke. It alw2ays commanded the best of prices and was recognised as ‘Russels Wallsend’.
DROPS AT WALLSEND The wagons are transmitted to the Staith’s by an inclined plain. The Sstaith is constructed to accommodate the steep shores of the Tyne near to Newcastle and Shields. It has a strong timber frame which projects into deep water; the actual drop is a square frame hung on pulleys, counterbalanced by back weights. The loaded wagons uses its own gravity to get to the hatchway of the vessel and after delivering the load it is returned by balance weights, the brakes on the trucks are used when approaching the Staith.
GARESFIELD COLLIERY Property of the Marquis of Bute and Miss Simpson of Bradley. The Colliery is situated in the Township of Winlaton in the Parish of Ryton, seven miles South West of Newcastle. The Colliery was sunk in 1800 and the shaft is twenty-five fathoms deep. The seams worked are ‘Stone Coal’, ‘Five Quarter’, and ‘The Brockwell; the latter being the lowest of the Newcastle Strata. It is reputed to be the best coal for coking purposes for iron. The engine was 25 hp. For drawing the coal and horses was used to transport the coals to the staithes at Derwenthaugh..
PEMBERTON COLLIERY Situated on the North bank of the Wear, one mile from the Iron Bridge, The Colliery began in May 1926. The coal at the Colliery was excellent quality . There was a pumping engine of 300 HP and two winding engines of 90 HP. The wagon way from the Colliery to the Staithes was constructed in November 1822 and this was a distance of eight miles and had to cross Warden Law, which is one of the highest hills in Durham County . The coals ae transported by five of George Stephenson’s engines:
Colliers Loading at South Shields Prior to modern railway drops, the Keels which delivered the coal to the Collier’s are strong and especially made for the task; each able to carry eight chaldrons of coal and managed by three men and a boy who is called a ‘Pee-Dee’, on the Wear one man and one boy handles the Keel. Mr. Buddle the well-known mining expert of the times estimated that there were 400 ships employed to transport the coal to various parts of England.
TEAM COLLIERY Coals have been drawn from Teams and Ravensworth Collieries for centuries. William Wharton Burdon esq. of Hartford House, Co. Durham holds the Team colliery under lease from the right Hon. Lord Ravensworth, and their ancestors have held it since 1796. The seams are Low Main, Five Quarter, the latter being 64 fathoms with coal being 3 feet 2 inches thick, the Low Main being 72 fathoms 4 feet 8 inches thick. A wagon way existed to the Staithes at Dunston 2 miles west from Gateshead.
WILLINGTON COLLIERYxml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> About a quarter of a mile to the east of Wallsend. Willington started in 1806, the colliery consisted of three shafts, one of which was a pumping shaft to the ‘Bensham Seam, The coals were, like most of the Tyne Collierys of brilliant quality. ‘Bell & Brown’, who also owned the estate where the pit was situated and consisted of 297 acres, owned the lease of the Colliery. The coal was known on the London
ST. LAWRENCE COLLIERY Owned and worked by Messrs. Todd Dunn & Ridley, situated very near to the river Tyne, the colliery was worked many years prior to 1800, and had some problems with flooding. In the year 1830, the Friars Goose’, engine drained it inducing Mr. Robert Todd, and the late Mr. John Watson (Colliery Viewer) to re-open it; this led to a new shaft being sunk as far as the ‘Low Main’, to a depth of 92 fathoms, which only took eight months. This paid immense dividends and the pit produced for many years. The colliery was situated below the bed of the River Tyne, and below Sand gate.
WALLSEND COLLIERY The end of the Roman Wall built by Emporer Hadrian AD. 120 The Colliery was situated east of Carville Hall. The local inhabitants of the area called it ‘Well Laws’, this was the fortification at the end of the wall and was an area approx. 140 yards square. William Russel esq. around 1780, ‘The Eallsend coal’, brought the highest price possble at the London market, originally owned the Colliery and it was always in demand. Seams were ‘High Main’, which was six feet thick. The original coal was known as ‘Russels Wallsend’, but later officially known as ‘Benshams Wallsend’, and ‘Benshams Main’, the pit had views of the local church and was also known as the ‘Church Pit’, It was said that the coal from Wallsend kindles and cakes easily, while giving off an amazing heat. It was known that local miners took advantage of blowers from the Wallsend Seam and bottled the gas, stemming it with clay. Later they made a small hole in the clay and used the gas for lighting their homes. Between June 1785 and 1835, as many as eight explosions occurred when 186 men lost their lives; there was also many pit ponies killed and injured; the explosions brought terrible sadness to the area:
OLD ETHERLEY COLLIERY The Phoenix pit Old Etherley, situated three miles west of Bishop Auckland, the Colliery was worked by Henry Stobart, & Partners, the Main Coal is the largest seam at six feet in thickness and the quality of the coal is excellent and it was said to supply the London palaces and estates, the drawing engine was 20HP.
LETCH COLLIERY Receives its name from a Letch or stream , situated a mjile west of Hetton and owned by the Marquis of Londonderry . Yje Colliery was sunk in the summer of 1624; the shaft was 80 fathoms to the Hutton and averaged four feet thick. The Pit was drained via the Pittington Colliery Drift by a winding engine of 32 Horse Power. The coals are shipped from Seaham Harbour by a Railway from Pittington to Hetton:
COXLODGE COLLIERY
The Colliery is situated about a mile to the west of Gosforth ; the Royalty included adjoining land is owned by Ralph Riddel rsq of Felton with R.H. Brandling and partners being involved in the Running of the Colliery . ‘The Jubilee Pit’, commemorated the 50th. Year of the reign of George 3rd.and was 68 fathoms deep. The Regent was named in honour of the Prince of Wales later George . This was the Colliery that John Blenkinsop who had patented an engine and which was tested in front of thousands of people to convey wagons of coal between Kentopn & Coxlodge . The train had 16 wagons totaling 70 tons of coal . The event was very succesful after which many ccoal –mining owners and gentlemen had a dinner party . The coals were known on the London Market as West Kenton & Coxlodge as ‘Riddells Wallsend’, the mine commenced around 1770:
COXLODGE COLLIERY
The Colliery is situated about a mile to the west of Gosforth ; the Royalty included adjoining land is owned by Ralph Riddel rsq of Felton with R.H. Brandling and partners being involved in the Running of the Colliery . ‘The Jubilee Pit’, commemorated the 50th. Year of the reign of George 3rd.and was 68 fathoms deep. The Regent was named in honour of the Prince of Wales later George . This was the Colliery that John Blenkinsop who had patented an engine and which was tested in front of thousands of people to convey wagons of coal between Kentopn & Coxlodge . The train had 16 wagons totaling 70 tons of coal . The event was very succesful after which many ccoal –mining owners and gentlemen had a dinner party . The coals were known on the London Market as West Kenton & Coxlodge as ‘Riddells Wallsend’, the mine commenced around 1770:
WALDRIDGE COLLIERY Situated two miles south west of Chester le Street first opened August 1st. 1831. Held under lease by Colonel Jolliffe and Lady Byron by George Sowerby esq. and partners. There are two coal shafts and one engine shaft. The pumping engine is a high pressure 80 HP and the winding engine is 40 hp. The Stanhope and Tyne Railway transport the coals to the drops at South Shields, which was a distance of fourteen miles.
NEWCASTLE The city of Newcastle was the centre of all of the coal mining activity around the 17th. & 18th. Century. Negotiations were put forward on various plans, canals and railways as forms of transport for the developing coalmines. A Royal Assent was given for the purpose of developing the Railway on May 22nd. 1829 and gradually portions of line started to appear, one line was developed from Redheugh, nr. Gateshead to Carlisle on June 18th. 1838. A branch was also formed on the north side of the Tyne and was here that trains entered Newcastle. The Brandling Junction Railway was formed and was connected to Gateshead, then Monkwearmouth, then to South Shields. A connection line was arranged from Carlisle to Redheugh line. Eventually a line existed from coast to coast from the North Sea to the Irish Sea.
WHITWORTH PARK COLLIERY Six miles south west of Durham City, the Royalty belongs to R.E.D. Shaftoe of Whitworth Hall. The sinking was commenced on June 15th. 1839, by the ‘Durham County Coal Company’, the first coal arriving July 10th. 1841. The depth of the shaft to the Hutton seam was 86 fathoms and the coal measures an average of four feet in thickness. There is a pumping engine of 120 HP. And a drawing engine of 40 hp.; the transportation of the coal this together with ‘Byers Green’, completed by ‘The Clarence’, railway to the drops at ‘Port Clarence’, on the Tees, a distance of 21 miles. On occasions the coal was shipped to Hartlepool. In 1842 the Colliery was laid in after expenditure of £40,000 but was later successfully re-opened.
PELTON COLLIERY Situated two miles south west of Chester Le Street, The pit was run by James Reed & Partners who made major improvements to the Colliery. The sinking commenced on August 12th. 1835, when the shaft was sunk 64 fathoms to the Hutton seam, which measures four feet four inches thick. The winding engine is 25 HP. And the pumping engine 100 HP. The coals are transported via. Stanhope, & Tyne Railway some thirteen miles to the staithes at South Shields:
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