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Miscellaneous documents

Reference: D/X 1567 Catalogue Title: Miscellaneous documents Area: Catalogue Category: Other Records Description: Mountford Collection: collieries

Covering Dates: 1886-1982

Access: Open

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D/X 1567 Miscellaneous documents (Ref: D/X 1567)Seaham and Vane Tempest Collieries (Ref: D/X 1567/1-25)

New Seaham Colliery and Vane Tempest Colliery, Seaham, were both owned by The Londonderry Collieries Ltd. before nationalisation. Thereafter they were part of NCB Durham No. 2 Area. The two collieries were merged on 17 February 1982.

Standard Mine Plans (Ref: D/X 1567/1-16)

These were the most important plans held at a colliery. Their preparation was carried out to a strict code of practice, backed by legislation. They were required to be updated immediately works had progressed 100 yards, and the position of all locations were updated at quarterly intervals.
The material on which they were drawn is specialised, an important feature being its resistance to dimensional variation.
When workings were finally abandoned and all known details added, the plans were countersigned by the colliery manager and the surveyor and submitted for permanent record and storage.
For many years, the mine grid plan was drafted in metric units, but levels, sections and other details were recorded in imperial units. Some surveyors drafted plans in metric units, in anticipation of this becoming a requirement. This particular set of plans was drawn in this way, for abandonment, but the final instruction was for submission of imperial unit plans. This particular set of plans was retained by the surveyor, Eric Birbeck.
Official Standard Mine Plans are held by the Coal Authority at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ3650: outline of the buildings of Warden Law North Farm, June 1977 Scale: 1:2500
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 3651: outline of the buildings of Burdon Pumping Station and Thristley House; as well as the barrier between Seaham and Silksworth Collieries and the A108, May 1977
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 3849: outline of the buildings of Seaton Bank Top and Murton Colliery Workings High Main Seam 'E' with the dates worked, May 1977
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 3850: outline of the buildings of Old Burdon, Pacific Hall Farm, Seaton Station; also the A108, A19 and B1404 roads; the barrier between Seaham and Silksworth Collieries, the Seaham-Murton boundary; Murton Colliery and Seaham High Main Seam 'E' workings, with dates worked and proposed dates, for further workings, June 1976
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 3851: outline of the buildings of Burdon Hall, Burdon Village, East House, Burn Hall and West Cherry Knowle; the barrier between Seaham and Silksworth Collieries; Seaham Colliery High Main Seam 'E' workings, with dates worked, and proposed dates for future workings, June 1976
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 4047: with the revised barrier between Seaham and Murton Collieries, dated 26 January 1962 and 8 February 1967; Murton Colliery and Seaham Colliery High Main 'E' workings, with dates worked, June 1977
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 4048: outline of Deneside School, Stockton Road, The Avenue and Dawdon Dene; the barrier between Seaham and Murton Collieries, Murton Colliery and Seaham Colliery Main Seam 'E' workings, with dates worked, June 1977
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 4049: outline of St. Cuthbert's R.C. Church and School, Christ Church, Low Colliery County School, Seaham Modern County School; Stockton Road, Station Road A1054 and The Avenue; the revised barrier between Seaham and Murton Collieries; Seaham Colliery's No. 1 and No. 3 shafts; Murton Colliery and Seaham Colliery High Main Seam 'E' workings, with dates worked, November 1976
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 4050: outline of Seaham Hall Hospital, Pumping Station, Stockton Road A19, Byron's Walk, the revised boundary between Seaham and Vane Tempest Collieries dated 12 May 1970; Vane Tempest Colliery and Seaham Colliery High Main Seam 'E' workings, with dates worked, September 1976
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 4051: outline of Cherry Knowle Hospital, West Cherry Knowle, Seaham Grange; Stockton Road, and the B1287, Vane Tempest Colliery and Seaham Colliery High Main Seam 'E' workings, with dates worked and proposed dates for future workings, February 1977
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 4052: Outline of Cherry Knowle Hospital, Ryhope General Hospital, Wellfield Farm, Ryhope School, Stockton Road and the B1287; railways; the revised boundary between Vane Tempest/Seaham Colliery and Ryhope Colliery, dated 16 April 1986, May 1977
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 4248: outline of Dawdon Hill Farm, Dawdon Colliery Office, Canteen and baths, Dene Farm, Dalden Tower, St. Hild and St. Helen Church and vicarage; railways; the barrier between Seaham and Dawdon Collieries, Dawdon Colliery and Seaham Colliery High Mark Seam E workings, with the dates of workings, August 1977
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 4249: outline of north and south piers, Seaham, Seaham Station, St. Mary Magdalene Roman Catholic Church, St. John's Church, New Strangford Road; railways; boundary between Seaham and Vane Tempest Collieries; barrier between Seaham and Dawdon Collieries, Dawdon Colliery, Vane Tempest Colliery and Seaham Colliery High Main Seam 'E' workings, with the dates worked, October 1977
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 4250: outline of the hospital and nurses' home, St. Mary's Church; the B1287 road; Tempest Shaft and Vane Shaft; Vane Tempest Colliery and Seaham Colliery High Main Seam 'E' workings, with dates worked, October 1977
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 4448: barrier between Seaham and Dawdon Collieries; Dawdon Colliery and Seaham Colliery High Main Seam 'E' workings, with dates worked, September 1977
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)


Seaham Colliery 'Standard Mine Plan' for the High Main 'E' Seam, formerly known as the Five Quarter Seam, with typical seam section; Sheet NZ 4449: barrier between Seaham and Dawdon Collieries; Dawdon Colliery High Main Seam 'E' workings, with dates worked, August 1977
(1 plan, 85 cm. x 55 cm., card on aluminium)

Master tracings (Ref: D/X 1567/17-19)

Master tracings, hand drawn on linen, were constantly updated as the colliery developed.
The day to day operation of a colliery required working plans for a wide variety of specialised uses, such as ventilation, electricity, power control, signalling, communication, mechanical, rescue and fire fighting, ingress and egress, deputies' districts etc.
The master tracings eliminated the need to draw a completely new plan for each purpose, as it was only necessary to add details required to a print from the master tracing.
Eric Birbeck was Colliery Surveyor at Vane Tempest Colliery and was responsible for the final updating of these plans as Seaham Colliery was, by that time, merged with Vane Tempest.


N.C.B. North East Area, Seaham Colliery, master tracing of the underground plan for the High Main Seam 'E'; also shown are Vane Tempest Colliery and Durham Colliery workings, all with dates worked, and the outlines of some surface buildings, n.d., possibly 1970s Scale: 1:5000
(1 plan, 130 cm. x 101 cm., waxed linen)


N.C.B. North East Area, Seaham Colliery, master tracing of the underground plan for the Main Coal Seam [correctly using the N.C.B. designation on the plan, Yard 'G' Seam]; also shown are Vane Tempest Colliery, Murton Colliery, Eppleton Colliery, Dawdon Colliery workings; all with dates worked, and the outlines of some surface buildings, n.d., possibly 1970s Scale: 1:5000
(1 plan, 130 cm. x 99 cm., waxed linen)


N.C.B. North East Area, Seaham Colliery, master tracing of the underground plans for the Maudlin ['H'] Seam; also shown are Vane Tempest Colliery, Ryhope Colliery, Eppleton Colliery, Murton Colliery and Dawdon Colliery workings; all with dates worked and the outlines of some surface buildings, n.d., possibly 1970s Scale: 1:5000
(1 plan, 130 cm. x 99 cm., waxed linen)

Other plans (Ref: D/X 1567/20-25)

A section of strata sunk through no. 1 shaft at New Seaham Colliery, n.d., but probably pre-dates 1900 with additions made 18 June 1946
(1 plan, 475 cm. x 63.5 cm., linen)


Plan showing the workings in the no. 1 Low Main Seam, Seaham Colliery, August 1903, additions made up to 26 August 1924 [under the N.C.B. reorganisation of seam names, the Low Main Seam retained its name and was lettered 'J'] Scale: 1:2500
(1 plan, 127 cm. x 130 cm., linen suspended from a wooden rod)


Plan of the surface and workings in the no. 1 Low Main Seam, Seaham Colliery; also included are part of the workings of Dawdon Colliery, n.d., but probably dates between 1899 and 1923 Scale: 1:2500
(1 plan, 117 cm. x 186 cm., linen, suspended from a wooden rod)


Plan of the surface and workings in the no. 1 Low Main Seam, Seaham Colliery, which also shows a section of the Low Main Seam and some workings in the Hutton Seam; also included are part of the workings of Dawdon Colliery, n.d., possibly 1926 - 1930 [under the N.C.B. reorganisation of seam names the Hutton Seam retained its name and was lettered 'L'] Scale: 1:2500
(1 plan, 116.5 cm. x 187 cm., linen, suspended from a wooden rod)


Section of strata sunk through in the Vane and Tempest shafts, Londonderry Colliery, n.d., the sinking of the Tempest shaft was begun on 16 February 1926, and after delays arising from the General Strike of 1926, work on the Vane shaft was begun on 18 May 1927; sinking work was completed on 18 June 1928, but production did not begin until 10 June 1929 Scale: 1:1440
(1 plan, 482 cm. x 60.5 cm., linen)


Plan of the Low Main Seam workings, Vane Tempest Colliery, with dates from 15 November 1933 - 21 September 1959 [The ink section of seam names gives the "Main Coal 'G'", whereas under the N.C.B. renaming and lettering of seams, introduced about 1960, the Main Coal was 'F', and 'G' was the Yard Seam - information from Colin Mountford] Scale: 1:2500
(1 plan, 173 cm. x 122.5 cm., linen, suspended from a wooden rod)

Haswell Colliery (Ref: D/X 1567/26)

Haswell Colliery, latterly owned by The Haswell, Shotton & Easington Coal & Coke Co. Ltd., closed on 25 September 1896. It is possible that The South Hetton Coal Co. Ltd. was intending to extend its Hutton seam workings into the old Haswell area, very probably from Murton Colliery; the latter extended its High Main 'E' seam workings under Haswell in N.C.B. days (CEM)


Plan of Hutton Seam workings, Haswell Colliery; the plan carries two endorsements: (1) compared with the original plan and found to be correct, Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, 29 September 1886; (2) This is an exact copy as traced from Home Office plans, 27 November 1931, L. Hutchinson, G.H. Bell, surveyors, South Hetton Coal Co.; additions to plan in pencil including inferences to plans seen at Ryhope Colliery, 3 March 1944 Scale: 1:3168
(1 plan, 236 cm. x 125 cm., linen)

Murton Colliery, Murton (Ref: D/X 1567/27-28)

Murton Colliery, Murton, was owned by The South Hetton Coal Co. Ltd. before nationalisation. Thereafter it was part of NCB Durham No. 2 Area (CEM).


Plan Shewing the Relative Levels in the Middle Pit Hutton Seam Murton Colliery, n.d. Scale: 4 chains to 1 inch [1:3168]
(1 plan, 84 cm. x 134 cm., paper on linen)


Plan of Workings Five-Quarter Seam, Murton Colliery, with dates from 1921 to 1943; the plan also shows royalty areas and their owners Scale: 1:2500 [It should be carefully noted that the Five-Quarter Seam shown on this plan was what the N.C.B. designated later as the High Main 'E' Seam, Colin Mountford]
(1 plan, 206 cm. x 147 cm., paper on linen)

Records on the coke industry in County Durham (Ref: D/X 1567/29-41)Les Maving (Ref: D/X 1567/29-33)Hylton Colliery, Yard Seam (Ref: D/X 1567/29/1-2)

National Coal Board, North East Area, 'C' District Collieries. Proposal to work the Yard Seam in the Whitburn take from Hylton Colliery, December 1972 [From the statistics given on the first sheet, this production would have made a loss. These plans are not believed to have been implemented]
(1 file)


Hylton Colliery, Yard Seam development plan, April 1972
(1 plan, 80 cm x 78.5 cm, printed, seams marked with colours)

Easington Colliery (Ref: D/X 1567/30)

Easington Colliery, Low Main Seam 'J'. Proposed extension to trolley locomotive system showing horizontal and vertical, sections, March 1981 [This was a proposed extension to a system which was then being installed and which was brought into use on 17 August 1981. So far as is known, the system only ever ran to Low Main 7th South District and was extended to 9th South, as proposed here. The use of electric trolley locomotives at Easington was unique in North East England. The plan shows that it ran between the seams. It was dangerous as there were live wires in a gassy environment, but it solved the constant problems with travelling to work. They continued in use until the closure of the colliery]
(1 plan, 97 cm x 69 cm, printed, sections marked with colours)

Undersea reserves (Ref: D/X 1567/31)

W. S. Foster, Deputy Area Production Manager, No. 2 Area, Durham Division The extraction of undersea reserves indicated by the boring tower 7 December 1963
(1 booklet, printed)

Herrington Colliery (Ref: D/X 1567/32-33)

NCB, North East Area, 'D' District, Herrington Colliery, Tilley Seam 'P'. Face investigation on old shaft no. 223, n.d. [1980s]
(1 file)


NCB, North East Area, Herrington Colliery, Proposed development of three-quarter 'R' Seam, 29 May 1980 [Three Quarter 'R' seam was hardly worked in the Durham coalfield, because it was usually regarded as too thin for economic production]
(1 file)

Malcolm D. Eddington (Ref: D/X 1567/34-41)

Photocopied pages with list of mines, under the Coal Mines Act, in Northern Division during the year 1913, n.d. [1960s]
(14 papers)


List of colliery companies, collieries, railways and shipping ports in County Durham, 1942
(19 papers, printed)


Statistics showing output of coal and coke in British coalfields, types of coal carbonised at coke ovens and coke disposals in the UK 1954-56, n.d. [1960]
(4 papers, printed)


Draft notes on coal and coke industry in the North East 1826-1923, n.d. [1950s]
(77 papers)


Photocopied pages on history of Langley Park Colliery 1914-1975, n.d. [1970s]
(5 papers)


Extracts from Coal carbonisation and The Coking Section-The Gas World, 1935-1939 Includes photographs and descriptions of: - Gibbons-Cellan-Jones ovens at the works of Modern Fuels Ltd, Seaham Harbour - Still ovens and by-product plant of Mid-Durham Carbonisation Co. Ltd at Stella Gill, Pelton Fell, Chester-le-Street - The Bawtry coke ovens and by-product plant - Gibbons-Kogag ovens at Robin Hood Coke Works near Wakefield - Coke oven, by-products and coal-washing plants of Stewarts and Lloyds Ltd at Corby - Blackwell Colliery by-product coking plant and Koppers ovens - Collin ovens for Lambton, Hetton and Joicey Collieries Ltd. - Coppee coking plant at Hardwick - Becker ovens at the Cardiff-Dowlais Works of Guest Keen Baldwins Iron and Steel Co. Ltd - Sulzer dry-quenching plant at Southall Gasworks - Gibbons-Kogag silica compound ovens erected for The Cargo Fleet Iron Co. Ltd - Twin-flue underjet regenerative ovens erected for Barber Walker and Co. Ltd by Simon-Carvers Ltd. - Coke-oven repairs by cement spraying - Becker ovens and by-product recovery plant at Derwent works of The Workington Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. - Low-temperature carbonisation at New Brancepeth - Clayton continuous distillation plant for road tar in conjunction with their reconstructed coke ovens at Tudhoe ironworks, the Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Co. Ltd - The largest single coke-oven plant at Cleveland Works in Middlesbrough - Woodall-Duckham Becker ovens at the Brancepeth works of Straker and Love Ltd - Installation of Gibbons-Kogag compound ovens at Seaton Carew Works of South Durham Steel and Iron Company - W-D Becker ovens and by-product recovery plant erected for the Waleswood Coking Co. Ltd.
(1 file)

North East Coal Digest (Ref: D/X 1567/40/1-4)

North East Coal Digest, 1973-74
(9 papers, printed)


North East Coal Digest, 1974-75
(11 papers, printed)


North East Coal Digest, 1981-82
(16 papers, printed)


North East Coal Digest, 1982-83
(15 papers, printed)


Papers to be presented at the sixtieth anniversary Celebrations. Booklet issued by the Coke Oven Managers' Association commemorating their anniversary, 19 September 1975
(1 booklet, printed)

London and North Eastern Railway Company (Ref: D/X 1567/42)

12 May 1927 (1) London and North Eastern Railway Company (2) Lambton, Hetton and Joicey Collieries Limited, Cathedral Buildings, Dean Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Copy agreement that (2) will continue and follow the previous agreements between (1) and (2) about providing various railway and coalmining related services listed in the attached schedules 1836- 1924
(1 file)