New Hartley Pit Disaster 1862

[Seghill]

Still going up. Its £330 upto now.

[Billy1967]

Hello, i'm new to this forum but found it while looking for information on the New Hartley medal. I am originally from the village and collect local items from Hartley, Seaton Delaval and Seghill etc. especially mining. I was lucky to have won the medal on ebay after many fruitless years of searching for one. A silver one is out of most peoples reach now I think, and the gold one,,,,,,,

Anyone who wants to see it is welcome to. I do post pictures of local items and photos I have on my flikr photostream and there are a few New Hartley items on there to look at for anyone interested.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36891793@N08/

[Seghill]

I'm really pleased someone with a connection to New Hartley got it. Its an important piece of history.
The James Amour (photo) on your Flicker site is my ancestor.
I'm from Seaton Delaval/ Seghill, and working at New Hartley. Also with an interest in the history.

[Radcliff]

I am happy to that the medal is staying in the hands of a local person,
well done and thanks for posting the photo,

[Billy1967]

Thanks, I did a little research into James Amour and found that he lived at Avenue Row, next to the New Hartley turn off in 1862. It was then called Hastings Row.

I have some modern pictures of some items retrieved from the pit along with the bodies including some personal effects of James. Ill dig them out.

It's well known that the shaft used to be in someones back garden, and it was still open with just a wall around it. The man who's garden it was in used to throw his garden rubbish down the Hester shaft!

[skida]

Congratulations on winning the New Hartley Medal and, as others have said, its good that it has gone to someone originally from the village. I spent a good couple of hours looking through your Flickr photos - fascinating collection!

[Seghill]

Thanks Billy
I work with Graham Thompson, married to Stacey and its her grandads back garden,- he is in a photo in one of the disaster books.
Great stuff,- well done pal.

[Billy1967]

Thanks for your comments. I try to update the flickr site whenever I can with stuff as and when I find it.

I think the man in the garden may have been Geordie Carrs?

People were forever knocking on his door asking to see the Hester shaft in his garden, authors included.

[Seghill]

Yes billy, thats him.