West Harton, Harton (and Whitburn) Colliery

HER Number:
2394

District:
S Tyneside

Site Name:
West Harton, Harton (and Whitburn) Colliery

Place:
West Harton

Map Sheet:
NZ36SE

Class:
Industrial

Site Type: Broad:
Coal Mining Site

Site Type: Specific:
Colliery

General Period:
Early Modern

Specific Period:
C19

Form of Evidence:
Documentary Evidence

Description:
Harton Colliery. This was linked to a railway (HER 2332) by a wagonway (HER 2395). Opened in 1844, closed 25 July 1969. Owners were (1850s) W. Blackett, N. Wood, Anderson and Philipson, later Harton and Hilda Coal Company, then Harton Coal Co, and from 1947 the National Coal Board. In July 1844 the Bensham seam was reached at a depth of 1290 feet - the greatest depth in the Tyne district at that time. The shaft was single, but divided into two by a timber brattice. Cast-iron tubbing was required due to a fault which extended to a length of 474 feet. Whellan, in 1894, reported that Harton was one of the deepest mines. In 1854 it was the scene of the famous pendulum experiments by Astromer Royal, Sir George Buddell Airey.

Easting:
3623

Northing:
6419

Grid Reference:
NZ36236419

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 2394 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, c.1855, 6 inch scale, Durham, 4; Durham Mining Museum www.dmm.org.uk; N. Emery, 1998, Banners of the Durham Coalfield; Whellan, 1894, Directory of County Durham