During the eighteenth century hundreds of miners lost their lives by explosion, roof falls and other accidents in order to develop the coal industry in England, as the main power source in the Country; as well as a major export commodity to gain precious currency abroad. In the Collieries, which I have written, there were in excess of, 1200 deaths. Small accidents in the pit were normal and did not attract much press attention, even when fatalities occurred. However these fatalities were noticed when the banners were draped in black at the annual Durham Big Meeting onlookers made special note of these pits.

Each Colliery disaster made coal owners re-think safety but they did not always implement change; except after Hartley when, with the help of William Coulson the one shaft system was outlawed. For years experts pointed to coal dust as being the major factor in the travel of the blast, in an explosion; the force of the blast died out where there was no coal dust, especially near to shafts, and explosions never occurred in wet or damp seams. On trying to find books to research mining disasters I found nearly all were out of print; even in public libraries they were in short supply. I have attempted to redress this situation in a small way by writing this book; like the men who lost their lives in the two main world wars, and are remembered each year, it is only right and proper that the men who lost their lives in the mines, should also be remembered. Without them we would not have been able to survive as a Country, during both wars; as we needed the coal industry for the power to run the factories, and to supply the heat for the home front.

These brave men should be fresh in our thoughts and memories, for the debt we owe them, for our present prosperity.

Hartley Colliery, where William Coulson failed to get over 400 entombed miners out of the one shaft mine

The Hartley Medals awarded to the brave sinkers Coulson's was gold the others silver; designed by Mr. Wyon of the mint