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| Haunting photographs unlock the story of a colliery tragedy | Haunting photographs unlock the story of a colliery tragedy |
| (4 months later) | |
| The story of a County Durham mining tragedy which took place almost 130 years ago is being rediscovered through the medium of family photos. | The story of a County Durham mining tragedy which took place almost 130 years ago is being rediscovered through the medium of family photos. |
| Retired school teacher Bill Richardson grew up in the North East knowing about the Usworth colliery disaster which had taken his great-grandfather's life – along with 41 other men and boys – in March 1885. | Retired school teacher Bill Richardson grew up in the North East knowing about the Usworth colliery disaster which had taken his great-grandfather's life – along with 41 other men and boys – in March 1885. |
| But when his second cousin Ken Richardson – also a descendant of Robert Richardson, who died in the blast – showed him some photographs which had been in his family since around that period, Bill decided to try to find out more. | But when his second cousin Ken Richardson – also a descendant of Robert Richardson, who died in the blast – showed him some photographs which had been in his family since around that period, Bill decided to try to find out more. |
| Records show that shortly before 9pm on the evening of 2 March 1885, a build-up of gas ignited inside the pit, killing all 40 people inside including Bill's 39-year-old great-grandfather, as well as two rescuers. An inquest jury later returned a verdict of accidental death: | Records show that shortly before 9pm on the evening of 2 March 1885, a build-up of gas ignited inside the pit, killing all 40 people inside including Bill's 39-year-old great-grandfather, as well as two rescuers. An inquest jury later returned a verdict of accidental death: |
| due to the explosion of coal dust, gas, and air ignited by a shot fired in the stone drift. | due to the explosion of coal dust, gas, and air ignited by a shot fired in the stone drift. |
Just five years previously, another gas blast had taken 13 lives at the Usworth Colliery. The youngest of the victims of the 1885 explosion was 14 and the oldest 75. | Just five years previously, another gas blast had taken 13 lives at the Usworth Colliery. The youngest of the victims of the 1885 explosion was 14 and the oldest 75. |
| The Richardson photos show an unusual memorial to the deceased miners of 1885 at the village's Anglican church, and a family portrait of Robert's widow and seven children. Bill, who is 67, says: | The Richardson photos show an unusual memorial to the deceased miners of 1885 at the village's Anglican church, and a family portrait of Robert's widow and seven children. Bill, who is 67, says: |
| Ken's granddad, Robert, and my granddad, William, were brothers, and his family have kept these photos all these years. Our grandfathers are both in this portrait – my granddad is on the right hand side, at the back, and Ken's granddad is the young boy in front of him. | Ken's granddad, Robert, and my granddad, William, were brothers, and his family have kept these photos all these years. Our grandfathers are both in this portrait – my granddad is on the right hand side, at the back, and Ken's granddad is the young boy in front of him. |
| After the disaster two memorials were installed in the village – one in the parish churchyard where many were buried, including our great-grandfather, and another in the Catholic cemetery. | After the disaster two memorials were installed in the village – one in the parish churchyard where many were buried, including our great-grandfather, and another in the Catholic cemetery. |
| The memorial with all the shields seems quite astonishing to me and I would like to know if this was routine at the time. Each shield has the name of one of those killed, but they were removed at some point and now only the stone monument remains. It is unclear whether the shields were some sort of marker, or possibly headstones. | The memorial with all the shields seems quite astonishing to me and I would like to know if this was routine at the time. Each shield has the name of one of those killed, but they were removed at some point and now only the stone monument remains. It is unclear whether the shields were some sort of marker, or possibly headstones. |
| Records show Robert Richardson was working as a 'shifter' – or coalface worker – on the night of the tragedy. His widow, Margaret, went on to receive financial support from the Miners' Permanent Relief Fund to help her raise their children, and all their sons followed their late father down the pit. | Records show Robert Richardson was working as a 'shifter' – or coalface worker – on the night of the tragedy. His widow, Margaret, went on to receive financial support from the Miners' Permanent Relief Fund to help her raise their children, and all their sons followed their late father down the pit. |
| Bill's great-uncle Tom, who was off work on the day of the disaster, followed his mining career with a stint as Labour MP for Whitehaven in Cumbria from 1910 to 1918. Bill's grandfather, who was aged just 12 when his father died, spent 30 years down the pit before going on to work as a respected trade union leader, playing a key negotiating role with the government during the miners strikes of the 1920s. Ken's grandfather continued to work in Usworth Colliery until he died in 1930. | Bill's great-uncle Tom, who was off work on the day of the disaster, followed his mining career with a stint as Labour MP for Whitehaven in Cumbria from 1910 to 1918. Bill's grandfather, who was aged just 12 when his father died, spent 30 years down the pit before going on to work as a respected trade union leader, playing a key negotiating role with the government during the miners strikes of the 1920s. Ken's grandfather continued to work in Usworth Colliery until he died in 1930. |
| Bill, who moved to Elgin in Scotland 40 years ago, says: | Bill, who moved to Elgin in Scotland 40 years ago, says: |
| In those days, working down the mines was life and death for the men of villages like Usworth. It was just what they did. My father broke with tradition by not becoming a miner – he became a headteacher in the West Midlands. I worked in teaching as well. | In those days, working down the mines was life and death for the men of villages like Usworth. It was just what they did. My father broke with tradition by not becoming a miner – he became a headteacher in the West Midlands. I worked in teaching as well. |
Bill is in touch with experts at the Mining Institute in Newcastle and the Durham Mining Museum to see if he can find out more, but is keen to hear from anyone with information. He says: | Bill is in touch with experts at the Mining Institute in Newcastle and the Durham Mining Museum to see if he can find out more, but is keen to hear from anyone with information. He says: |
| With both photos, for me the questions are who and why? I cannot believe that the family organised the family picture: I feel there must have been many others taken, both after the Usworth event and elsewhere, although this photo may be the sole survivor. I would also dearly like to know more about the memorial, and the disaster more generally. | With both photos, for me the questions are who and why? I cannot believe that the family organised the family picture: I feel there must have been many others taken, both after the Usworth event and elsewhere, although this photo may be the sole survivor. I would also dearly like to know more about the memorial, and the disaster more generally. |
| Any help appreciated. Please email northerner @guardian.co.uk and we'll pass it on. | Any help appreciated. Please email northerner @guardian.co.uk and we'll pass it on. |
| Ciara Leeming is a freelance journalist working in Manchester. | Ciara Leeming is a freelance journalist working in Manchester. |
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