Photos - Alan Carr Unveils Burradon Memorial

Britains' best entertainer, Alan Carr (yes, we're biased, but will accept no arguments against), came to Burradon on 30th October 2011 to unveil a duplicate montage dedicated to the 186o Mining Disaster.

This was at the invitation of the Burradon and Camperdown Forum after Alan had discovered 11 of his ancestors and relatives had perished in awful circumstances in the pit explosion. Alan was made aware of these facts while filming for the BBC programme "Who Do You Think You Are".

A montage was originally created by artist Paul Allan for the commemoration event held on 2nd March 2010. This was erected in the school, but was of limited availability for the public to see, therefore a second montage was commissioned and unveiled on Fryers Millenium Green.

Alan Carr Unveils 1860 Pit Disaster Montage

Britain's top comedian, Alan Carr, returns to Burradon on 30th October 2011, at the invitation of the Burradon and Camperdown Forum to unveil this memorial.

Short Walk Hazelrigg & Burradon Coal Co. Ltd. Figure of 8

Hello,
I represent the Northumberland Railway Walks Society (NRWS) www.northrailwalks.org.uk as a committee member and Walk Leader.

The School Photo attachment taken at Dudley County Modern School around about 1948 portrays, left to right, Richard "Titchy" Bewick, Humfrey Shanks and
myself, Bill Halliday. Born in Middle Row, moved to Strawberry Terrace until I
was 8 years old, then the family moved to Ethel Street, Dudley. I served my
apprenticeship at Weetslade Colliery and was employed there until 1966 as a
Mechanical Fitter.

The short walk is one of a programme of short walks for the current year.

I wonder if anyone would be interested in joining the group on Sunday 15
August, attendance fee is £1.00 per head, or, if indeed anyone would care to
join us for the purpose of passing on local information of historical interest.

Regards, Bill Halliday


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Details

Sunday 15 August 2010 – Hazelrigg & Burradon Coal Co. Ltd. Figure of 8

OS map No: Explorer 316.
Grid Ref: NZ 271 722 OR NZ 260 723
Distance: 6.0 miles OR 4.6 miles.
Grade: Easy, level ground except for a long gradual ascent to the Weetslade Country Park View Point and descent.
Leaders: Bill & Doris Halliday. Mobile: 07554350808.
Back-up: Roger & Margaret Thornley. Mobile: 07785541769
Start: Fryers Millenium Green, Burradon/Camperdown opposite Camperdown Social Club.
Time:11:30 a.m.
Alternative Start: Weetslade Country Park car park on the B1319 near High Weetslade Farm
Alternative Start Time: !2.00 p.m.
How to Get There: Public Transport Arriva 363, 343, Go North East 81.
Please check timetables
Alight: Camperdown Hotel bus stop.
Car Parking: Front Street, Burradon OR Alternative Start: Weetslade Country Park car park.
Route: From Fryers Millemium Green we head west along the Seaton Burn Waggonway to meet walkers opting for the shorter distance at the Weetslade Country Park car park tables, for an early picnic lunch. From here the route takes us to the top of the landscaped spoil heap, an excellent viewpoint with panoramic views at every compass point. After the descent to the wetland reed beds we proceed to Wideopen heading for the Little Waters NZ 2373 and Seaton Burn Waggonway to return to the two starting points.

TIMETABLES do change. Please check details nearer the scheduled walk date.

Forthcoming Meetings

Date & Agenda
04-May-10 The Community Centre and the Wellbeing Centre
01-Jun-10 Highways and Traffic
06-Jul-10 Northumbria Police
03-Aug-10 Annual General Meeting

Mural marks victims of Burradon pit disaster

Burradon-born artist, Paul Allan, has been commissioned to create a huge mural immortalising every aspect of colliery life. Paul, who is now putting the finishing touches to the four-metre (12ft) by one-metre (3ft) piece hopes his work will be around for generations to come.

Read more here

John Carr a Victim of the Mining Disaster and his Descendants

John Carr was one of two men who had walked away from their work at Burradon Colliery about six weeks before the disaster which occurred on March 2nd 1860. He was very critical of the pit's condition, having witnessed the presence of explosive gases and vowed never to go down the pit again.

On the morning of March 2nd, the family being now almost destitute, his wife enquired of him how they were going to manage. He told her to "Lay the pit claes out", and he set off reluctantly towards the colliery and proceeded underground to start a shift. He died in the explosion.

John's son, William, later married my GG Aunt Mary Ann Fryer.

Some time ago, I received an email from a lady in Australia named Pam Abercrombie, a direct descendant of John Carr. She had read the appeal for more information on the disaster and supplied details of what happened to the Carr family, and their emigration to Australia, post 1860. Here is some of the information below:

John was born abt. 1817 and was living at West Cramlington Colliery during the time of the 1841 Census.

John married Dorothy Hughes on 30th September 1843. They were both living in Hazlerigg at the time. John's occupation on the marriage certificate is Pitman. Johns father Caleb Carr was also listed as a Pitman.

John and Dorothy were living in Downs Lane, Hetton Le Hole with their four children Samuel, William, Joseph and Elizabeth according to the 1851 Census.

1860 - According to John's death certificate he died on 3 March 1860 at Burradon Colliery aged 40yrs. Occupation Pitman. Cause of death - Explosion of gas. Information received from Stephen Reed, Coroner for Northumberland. Inquest held 3 March 1860. His death was registered 30 April 1860.

1860 - According to John's son Samuel's death certificate - Samuel Carr died 2 March 1860 at Burradon Colliery aged 15yrs. Occupation Coal Miner. Cause of death - Explosion of Gas. Informant William Kirkley, present at the death, Colliery Burradon. Samuels death was registered 18 August 1860.

1861 - John's wife Dorothy was living at 16 West Row (within?) in the village of Hazlerigg with her children, William 14, Elizabeth 10, John 8, Richard 6, Robert 4 (my great grandfather) and Ann 1. Her son Joseph was not living with the family at this time but was living with his Aunty and Uncle.

1864 - John's wife Dorothy remarried to Elijah Davis, he was also a Pitman and they were both living in Hazlerigge and in 1871 were living at Bedlington Colliery. Fortunately for the Carr family that followed, John and Dorothy's children retained the Carr surname and in fact according to following Census information 1881, 1891 Dorothy is again documented as Carr.

John's son Robert (my great grandfather), was a coal miner according to his marriage certificate and was living at Barrington Colliery in 1880.

Robert came to Australia in 1885 with his wife and young children including my grandfather John. The family settled in Newcastle NSW and Robert worked in the coal mines here (unable to cofirm which one at this time).

Robert and his family returned to Northumberland in England in 1894 and finally returned to Newcastle Australia in 1915 where the family remain today.

All of Roberts sons were coalminers here in Newcastle as were their sons. My Dad included.

On the 6 December 1925, my fathers older brother John Robert Carr lost his life at Burwood Colliery. He was only 19yrs, employed as a "Main Roads Driver". He was unharnessing a horse at the pit bottom, when the horse bolted. His hands were caught in the reins, he was dragged behind the animal and was crushed against the ribs of the colliery.

The generations which have followed have chosen not to work in the mines.

I have grown up surrounded by staunch Union supporters, both men and women, in fact my Dad's sister, great grandaughter of John Carr who died at Burradon Colliery, was a great supporter of workers rights and I can remember being dragged off the footpath by her during a protest march to join the protesters as a child. She is nearly 90yrs old now.

I would like to think that my great great grandfather John, would have been proud to know that his family has continued to speak out for the working class man as he did all those years ago.

There is so much more to know about our family history, but finding John has given us a good insight into who we are. My family have been Australians for almost
100yrs, but still feel the connection with Northumberland and still call it "The Old Country".

Unfortunately Pam can't make it to the commemoration event, but will raise a glass to the victims on the day.

Fuller information can be found on the disaster by clicking http://burradon-camperdown.co.uk/8.html

Do You Have a Connection to the 1860 Mining Disaster

Plans are now almost finalised for the commemmoration of the 1860 Burradon Mining Disaster to be held at the primary school.

Are you a relative or descendant of a victim of the disaster? Do you have a connection to the Disaster? We would like to invite you to this commemoration. Numbers, however, are strictly limited and attendance will be by necessity invitation only.

If you do wish to receive an invitation we need to know by January 8th 2010 please.

To read more on the Disaster: Summary of Events http://bit.ly/39Gz5M and The Burradon Disaster Heroes http://bit.ly/2tfHiZ which summarises the role played by the Newcastle Daily Chronicle, Joseph Cowen, Baxter Langley and the miner's leaders in challenging the coalowners on conditions and liability.