Trimdon Grange | |
---|---|
Location within
County Durham | |
OS grid reference | NZ369342 |
Civil parish | |
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | TRIMDON STATION |
Postcode district | TS29 |
Dialling code | 01429 |
Police | Durham |
Fire | County Durham and Darlington |
Ambulance | North East |
UK Parliament | |
Trimdon Grange is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated ten miles to the west of Hartlepool, and a short distance to the north of Trimdon.
At 14:40 on 16 February 1882 the Trimdon Grange colliery suffered a major explosion causing the deaths of 69 men and boys. The coroner (TW Snagge) reported to both houses of Parliament: [1]
The inquest concluded:
There is no room for doubt that the explosion had its origin in the Pit Narrow Board District, and that it was caused by the diffusion of a sudden "squeeze" or outburst of gas forced, with accompanying dust, towards the working face by a heavy fall of roof over the northern edge of the Pit Narrow Board goaf, and driven out with a velocity which sent the flame through a miner's lamp. [1]
The coroner further observed:
the result of this inquiry is a further proof, if further proof were needed, that the Davy lamp affords no security whatever against the occurrence of grave disasters of a similar kind, and that its employment in dusty mines during long-wall working operations, carried on under conditions of ventilation and roof formation similar to those prevailing in Trimdon Grange Colliery, ought to be absolutely prohibited. [1]
Not all the men were killed by the explosion and fire. After the explosion the burnt methane ( firedamp) forms carbon dioxide (then called carbonic acid gas) and carbon monoxide. The resulting mixture is called afterdamp and will suffocate and kill. Indeed, the gas forced its way through a passage into the adjoining Kelloe Pit where six men lost their lives from the afterdamp. [4]
The incident was recounted in the song "Trimdon Grange Explosion" by the local collier- bard Thomas "Tommy" Armstrong. Armstrong performed the song within a few days of the disaster in the local Mechanics' Hall. [5]
The lyrics of the song include an accounting of the events that took place, such as:
Men and boys left home that morning
For to earn their daily bread
Little thought before the evening
They'd be numbered with the dead [5]
The song also asks the local community to help out in the wake of the incident:
God protect the lonely widow
Help to raise each drooping head
Be a Father to the orphans
Never let them cry for bread [5]
The song became known outside of Trimdon Grange and has been recorded by other artists, including Martin Carthy, The Mekons and Alan Price. [6] [7] [8]
There is a small (5.2 MW) wind farm near the village. Controversy arose in 2004 when the agent of the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, claimed the location was unsuitable. [9]
Media related to
Trimdon Grange at Wikimedia Commons
Trimdon Grange | |
---|---|
Location within
County Durham | |
OS grid reference | NZ369342 |
Civil parish | |
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | TRIMDON STATION |
Postcode district | TS29 |
Dialling code | 01429 |
Police | Durham |
Fire | County Durham and Darlington |
Ambulance | North East |
UK Parliament | |
Trimdon Grange is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated ten miles to the west of Hartlepool, and a short distance to the north of Trimdon.
At 14:40 on 16 February 1882 the Trimdon Grange colliery suffered a major explosion causing the deaths of 69 men and boys. The coroner (TW Snagge) reported to both houses of Parliament: [1]
The inquest concluded:
There is no room for doubt that the explosion had its origin in the Pit Narrow Board District, and that it was caused by the diffusion of a sudden "squeeze" or outburst of gas forced, with accompanying dust, towards the working face by a heavy fall of roof over the northern edge of the Pit Narrow Board goaf, and driven out with a velocity which sent the flame through a miner's lamp. [1]
The coroner further observed:
the result of this inquiry is a further proof, if further proof were needed, that the Davy lamp affords no security whatever against the occurrence of grave disasters of a similar kind, and that its employment in dusty mines during long-wall working operations, carried on under conditions of ventilation and roof formation similar to those prevailing in Trimdon Grange Colliery, ought to be absolutely prohibited. [1]
Not all the men were killed by the explosion and fire. After the explosion the burnt methane ( firedamp) forms carbon dioxide (then called carbonic acid gas) and carbon monoxide. The resulting mixture is called afterdamp and will suffocate and kill. Indeed, the gas forced its way through a passage into the adjoining Kelloe Pit where six men lost their lives from the afterdamp. [4]
The incident was recounted in the song "Trimdon Grange Explosion" by the local collier- bard Thomas "Tommy" Armstrong. Armstrong performed the song within a few days of the disaster in the local Mechanics' Hall. [5]
The lyrics of the song include an accounting of the events that took place, such as:
Men and boys left home that morning
For to earn their daily bread
Little thought before the evening
They'd be numbered with the dead [5]
The song also asks the local community to help out in the wake of the incident:
God protect the lonely widow
Help to raise each drooping head
Be a Father to the orphans
Never let them cry for bread [5]
The song became known outside of Trimdon Grange and has been recorded by other artists, including Martin Carthy, The Mekons and Alan Price. [6] [7] [8]
There is a small (5.2 MW) wind farm near the village. Controversy arose in 2004 when the agent of the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, claimed the location was unsuitable. [9]
Media related to
Trimdon Grange at Wikimedia Commons