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Dawdon Colliery, Seaham Co Durham

23/01/2022

The King of Spain Came to Seaham

Item title reads - King of Spain in a coal mine! Royal visitor dons overalls and descends into the Londonderry Pit. Seaham Harbour Colliery. Ireland. M/S ...

09/08/2020

Paul & John at the Colliery Wheel

Another posting of the County Durham Flag from our grand day out. Here my mates Paul and John are at the Colliery Wheel at Seaham, County Durham.
Seaham Colliery was a coal mine near Seaham in County Durham. Sinking of the first pit began on 13th April 1849 for the and by the third Marquis of Londonderry. In the late 19th century, the colliery was producing between 2,500 and 2,800 tons of coal per day, which were shipped at Seaham Harbour and Sunderland Docks.
The mine suffered an underground explosion on the 8th September, 1880, which resulted in the deaths of 164 men and boys (Only 5 survived at the level of the explosion). At it height, in 1914, the colliery employed 2,574 people below ground and 520 above ground. The mine was nationalised in 1947 and in 1988 was merged with Vane Tempest Colliery, and was closed by 1993.
Many thanks to my Shildon Co Durham mates Johnny Peacock and Paul Strophair for this great posting, cheers buds. It was a cracking day.

04/04/2020

A Tribute to all past workers at Dawdon Colliery, if you have any photos please send them in to be added to the Workers Gallery.

04/04/2020

A Collection of various memorabilia and Lodge Banners

15/03/2020

Brothers in Arms.
The six Maitland Brothers of Seaham Colliery all enlisted in the Tyneside Scottish. Four of them survived. A seventh brother David had an eye condition and did not serve.
Photo Credit - Maitland brothers at Alnwick Camp from John Sequin - John Seguin Thomas Maitland with the X, George to the right (we think) and again to the right another Maitland brother, not sure which one and possibly a couple more above them. (Alnwick).

19/01/2020

Who remembers the Pit Pony?

05/12/2019

Film ID: NEFA 20975 DAWDON COLLIERY 1967 Visitor TabsDescription A film produced by Tyne Tees Television and broadcast on 28 November 1967 of Dawdon Colliery to the south of Seaham in County Durham. The film opens with a view of the colliery during the early morning shift change. Men prepare for the...

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Dawdon Solliery, Seaham, Co Durham

Dawdon Colliery also Dawdon Underground The decision to create a new pit at Dawdon was taken by the Marquess of Londonderry in the late 19th century, due to problems at his collieries in nearby Seaham. As Seaham Colliery’s workings pushed out to the south-east, it became increasing expensive to mine the reserves from the old pit’s shafts.

It was therefore decided to sink new shafts in the rocky coastal area of Noses Point, close to the ancient settlement of Dawdon. Sinking work began in March 1900, but soon ran into problems. Water-bearing rocks proved difficult to excavate, which meant freezing techniques had to be used. The colliery finally opened for production in October 1907. Dawdon reached the peak of its employment in 1925, when 3862 men and boys helped to produce over one million tonnes of coal annually.

The men of Dawdon Colliery were forced into several industrial disputes with those who wanted to maintain their profits, but escaped the major tragedies suffered by pits at Seaham and Easington. Many of Dawdon’s men did die within its depths, but usually from individual accidents.

Dawdon was a major coal producer for the Londonderry family throughout their ownership, and was later a jewel in the crown for the National Coal Board too. Under nationalisation, the government claimed that the mines belonged to the miners. This proved to be a nonsense as later industrial disputes proved. However, as the mining industry went into decline in the 1980s, Dawdon suffered too. The colliery was eventually closed in July 1991.

Home to a rich industrial past relating closely with its near neighbour Seaham, Dawdon was home to the Seaham Harbour Blast Furnace, in Dawdon Field Dene. The original Seaham Bottle Works was situated here in 1855. The blast furnaces closed in 1865 but were soon replaced by the Chemical Works.

In 1920 the new colliery, Dawdon, employed 3,300 workers and produced over 1 million tons of coal per year outstripping its local competitors. The ironworks and colliery sites have recently been reclaimed and a modern industrial estate launching Dawdon into the 21st century.

Timeline

1900 March – started sinking of shafts. 1907 October – completed sinking of shafts. 5 October – colliery opened. 1910 Welfare Hall opened. Twenty streets of colliery houses built. 1912 Church of St Hild and St Helen, known as “The Pitmen’s Cathedral” erected by the Londonderry family.

1914 Low Main and Hutton seams being worked. 1921 Low Main, Maudlin, Hutton and Main coal seams being worked. 1921 8 August – Triple Alliance of Miners, Railwaymen and Transport Workers started. 30 June – strike called off plunging Durham into a trade depression that left 20% of miners and over 100 collieries idle.

1925 Employment peaks at 3862 1926 May – General Strike started. November – Durham Miners returned to work having held out for 7 months.

1927 12 Aged Miners’ cottages built in Dawdon. 1929 2 March – Dawdon Miners locked out in dispute over piece work rates. 4 November – Dawdon Miners reluctantly return to work.

1930 1000 Dawdon miners laid off. Seaham Colliery closed for 2 years to ensure production at Londonderry’s new Vane Tempest Colliery.

1930’s Dawdon Welfare Park completed. 1935 Low Main, Maudlin, Hutton and Main coal seams being worked. 1940 15 August – Dawdon bombed by Luftwaffe. 12 dead, 119 people homeless, 5 houses destroyed, Dawdon Church, Vicarage and 230 houses damaged.

1947 Nationalisation of Coal Industry. 2556 miners employed at Dawdon. 647,555 tonnes of coal produced.

1950 Low Main, Maudlin, Hutton and Main coal seams being worked. 1950’s Steam winders replaced by electric Koepe winders. 1960 2348 miners employed. Low Main, Maudlin, Hutton, Main Coal and High Main (Dawdon’s highest producing seam) seams being worked.

1969 13 October – Dawdon on strike for 3 days in support of Yorkshire Miners demanding shorter shifts for surface workers.

1972 High Main and Yard Seams being worked. 8 January – National Strike begins demanding substantial wage rise. 28 February – successful conclusion to National Strike.

1974 9 February – 6-week strike began. Again for improved wages and conditions. 1975 High Main and Yard seams being worked. 1980 2106 miners employed. High Main, Yard and Main coal seams being worked. 1984 14 March – All Durham collieries on strike against the threat of pit closures by the Thatcher Government and it’s planned and premeditated attack on the miners

1985 3 March – National Strike over without agreement. Dawdon Miners returned to work behind their banner and promptly marched back out as a gesture of defiance. Only 133 men had returned to work early. High Main, Yard, Main Coal and “C” seams being worked. 2186 miners employed. 1986 E90 Face lost to water. 1988 1700 miners employed. One million tons of coal abandoned for safety reasons in the “G” seam. 1990 1592 miners employed. High Main, Yard, Main Coal and “C” seams being worked. 1991 27 July – Dawdon Colliery closed. THE END

Dawdon Colliery

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Dawdon Solliery, Seaham, Co Durham

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