Lord Londonderry & his coalmine - Rainton

[Patsy Beech]

Hi Folks,

Can anyone please help me to find out if Lord Londonderry had a coalmine in Rainton?

The reason behind the request is trying to find out why & how my Thompson's moved from Ireland to Co. Durham. Someone has suggested to me that Lord Londonderry helped people who had lived on his land in the Comber area of County Down by paying their fare, providing housing and a job in Rainton at  his coalmine around the time of the potato famine in Ireland. Is there any way I can find more information or confirmation of this? Would there be any records filed away somewhere?

Yours with fingers crossed.
Patsy

[Pat Reid]

Patsy:
 At the Rainton Colliery, which is the property of the Marquis of Londonderry, there are three pits from which coal is raised, named the Adventure, Alexandrina, and Meadow pits, sunk in the years, 1817, 1824, and 1824 respectively. The seams worked are the Five Quarter, High Main, Maudlin, and Low Main, the Hutton seam being practically exhausted. The coals produced are Londonderry Wallsend, Pittington Wallsend, and Londonderry Primrose, for household purposes, and the Hartley for steam purposes. Number of stationary engines in use is 31 ; boilers, 38 ; number of men and boys employed, 1185 ; houses occupied by workmen, 835.

Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham


Here are a few items for you.
http://www.durhamrecordsonline.com/literature/seaton.php

http://www.durhamrecordsonline.com/literature/new_seaham.php

http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/historygroup/page4.phtml

http://www.skylighters.org/seaham/


Hope this helps.

Pat

[Patsy Beech]

Dear Pat,

Thank you so much for the information, and the web links which I had not come across before. It is all helping to build a picture of my Thompson's which so far have proved difficult - so many of them to sort out who's who!

I am sorry I did not reply sooner, but I am having trouble with the mains power supply to the old computer - it will have to go in for repair, but I do want to be without it!!!!!!!!

If there are any other Thompson's from the Rainton area I would love to hear from them - Gladys Ada Thompson married Robert William Joyce c1936 and I must have 2nd cousins somewhere from the County Durham area!

Thank you again Pat for the help.
Best Wishes, Patsy

[Pat Reid]

Patsy:
You are very welcome. I am glad I was able to be of some help.
Perhaps you should post a new message with Thompson in the title. Hopefully, it would get some more responses.

Best of luck.

Pat

[clazey]

County Durham has available on line papers of Lord Londonderry.  It can be a bit tedious going through but it may be worth it.

My ancestors worked as schoolmasters in several of Lord Londonderry's schools which were set up in the mining villages.  Eventually, two of them became partners in various Londonderry enteprises.

Sharon

[Patsy Beech]

Thank you clazey. I will give the County Durham site a try.

Mains power to computer now fixed - I just need broadband now to speed things up! Are we ever satisfied?

Best Wishes,
Patsy

[Wearsider]

Hi - there were many more pits that eventually formed Rainton Colliery than those listed by Whellan. The workings extended to Pittington, Moorsley and Fence Houses, one or two of the smaller pits being worked under licence.

There is a book - 'The Londonderry Papers - Catalogue of Documents deposited in the Durham County Record Office by the 9th Marquess of Londonderry' published by Durham County Record Office in 1969 and available for just a few £s which gives much background information on the Londonderrys and their ancestors.

Alan.

[clazey]

I will definitely check this out...thank you...

sharon

[Patsy Beech]

Thank you Folks for your continued interest and help - my husband's comment was no not another book! He has just extended the book shelves yet again!!!!!

The connection to Fence Houses was really interesting as that is where my Thompson family lived - still probably do - if only I could find them! George Ernest Thompson born 1883 (Uncle Ernie to my Dad) had something to do with the local council, because my Dad could remember people knocking on his front door (possibly during WWII) asking about housing - jog any memories out there in 'RootsChat Land?'

Happy searching to ALL.
Patsy