Durham Mining Museum - Matthew Hetherington

Matthew Hetherington

Age:
Died:	30^th Mar 1925
Accident:	30^th Mar 1925
Year Born:	abt. 1925
Colliery:	Montagu, View Pit
Company:	William Benson & Son Ltd.
Occupation:
Notes:	killed in the 1925 disaster (inrush of water from old Paradise Pit)
Buried:	[not known]


Description

It is with deep regret that I have to record the loss of 38 lives at Montagu View Colliery, situated at Scotswood, in the county of Northumberland, owned by Messrs. W. Benson and Son, Ltd.

This disaster is the worst that has occurred in the Division for a number of years, and was caused by an inrush of water into the workings of the Brockwell Seam at almost the lowest point in the colliery. The accident happened about 10.30 a.m. on Monday, 30th March, in a district known as Robson's Bord Flat, following the firing of three shots by the deputy in charge.

New pumping plant had to be installed, and the last body was not recovered from the mine until 19th October.

The water broke in from the old Paradise Pit, Brockwell Seam workings, which had been abandoned about the year 1848.

The circumstances of this accident were the subject of a special inquiry by the Right Hon. H. P. Macmillan, K.C., with H.M. Chief Inspector of Mines acting as Assessor. The inquiry was held on 26th and 27th January, 1926, at the Moot Hall, Newcastle-on-Tyne. The report* of the inquiry was published in April, 1926.

A relief fund was opened by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and met with a ready response by the general public.

* Report on the Causes of and circumstances attending the Inrush of Water which occurred at the View Pit of the Montagu Colliery, Scotswood, Northumberland, on 30th March, 1925. by the Right Hon. Hugh Pattison Macmillan, K.C. (Cmd. 2607).


Disaster Memorial


Memorial

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Names in this memorial picture
Name	Died	Age	Born
Christopher BATEY	30^th Mar 1925
Robert Heslop BATEY	30^th Mar 1925
Thomas William BATEY	30^th Mar 1925
Isaac BOOTH	30^th Mar 1925
Ralph CARR	30^th Mar 1925
Thomas DANSKIN	30^th Mar 1925
Frederick Thomas DENT	30^th Mar 1925
David Griffin DIXON	30^th Mar 1925
Matthew H. ERRINGTON	30^th Mar 1925
Samuel George EVANS	30^th Mar 1925
John Robert FITZPATRICK	30^th Mar 1925
William Alnwick FOWLER	30^th Mar 1925
Charles Edward GRAY	30^th Mar 1925
William GUTHRIE	30^th Mar 1925
William HALLIDAY	30^th Mar 1925
Robert HAVELOCK	30^th Mar 1925
George Gill HETHERINGTON	30^th Mar 1925
Matthew HETHERINGTON	30^th Mar 1925
Edward JACKSON	30^th Mar 1925
William James JOHNSON	30^th Mar 1925
Thomas Alfred LATCHMAN	30^th Mar 1925
Alexander LEARMOUTH	30^th Mar 1925
John William LEE	30^th Mar 1925
William Armitage LYONS	30^th Mar 1925
John William MARTIN	30^th Mar 1925
John William MURTHWAITE	30^th Mar 1925
James NIXON	30^th Mar 1925
Joseph NIXON	30^th Mar 1925
John William POTTS	30^th Mar 1925
Richard ROGERS	30^th Mar 1925
John Charles SALMON	30^th Mar 1925	17	1908
Charles SIMPSON	30^th Mar 1925
James STEELE	30^th Mar 1925
John THOMPSON	30^th Mar 1925
Robert THOMPSON	30^th Mar 1925
William THOMPSON	30^th Mar 1925
John Thomas TREWICK	30^th Mar 1925
William Armstrong TREWICK	30^th Mar 1925


Related Newspaper Articles

31 Mar 1925	Flooded Pit, 38 Miners Trapped By Water, Rescuers Baffled (The Times)
01 Apr 1925	The Flooded Mine, Hope Abandoned, 38 Men And Boys Lost (The Times)
02 Apr 1925	The Flooded Mine, Message From The King (The Times)
18 Jun 1925	Montagu View Colliery Inquiry (The Times)
28 Aug 1925	Scotswood Colliery (The Times)
30 Apr 1926	The Scotswood Mine disaster, Official Report On The Causes (The Times)
29 Sep 1927	Charge Against Mine Officials (The Times)
27 Oct 1927	Breach Of Coal Mines Act, Colliery Officials Fined (The Times)


Further Reading

Mines Inspectors Report into the 1925 Montagu View Pit Disaster (Cmd 2607)


Sources

1925 Mines Inspectors Report
Mines Inspectors Report into the 1925 Montagu View Pit Disaster (Cmd 2607)


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