South Northumberland, where I live is – or was – pit country. Most of the villages had a pit, some 2 or 3. They all had more than one shaft. The reason? Because of legislation relating to the New Hartley Pit Disaster of 1862 when around 200 miners died after being trapped in a one-shaft mine when the 40 tonne cast iron pump beam snapped and collapsed into the mine. The death toll was so high because it happened as the shifts were changing over. When they were found it was clear they had tried to dig themselves out but had finally had to give up. Fathers were found lying side by side with sons. The funeral cortège with the 200 coffins stretched for 4 miles.
There is a church and graveyard opposite where I live in Cramlington – about 5 miles from New Hartley. I was out the other day trying out a new camera, photographing the church and gravestones.. Because they have inscriptions on them it’s a good test of sharpness. Later I enlarged the photos and found one with a very weathered inscription with 2 names on it, Peter Manderson and Peter Nesbit. The rest was illegible apart from one bit which said ” who lost his life by the fatal catastrophe of the engine beam breaking at Hartley pit”. When I checked, the records confirmed that they were among the fatalities. Nesbit was Manderson’s nephew. I guess they were found side by side.
I wasn’t keen on history at school. It only comes alive when you have a link with the past in front of you. I pass that gravestone every day. I’ve known of the New Hartley pit disaster for a while. It means something now..