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.
Colliery disaster
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:
- The mine was a dusty mine and watering should have been daily but it was done "not in all places, but where it was absolutely necessary."
- The mine was not "more than ordinarily gassy", but there is some evidence that the identified points of leakage might have been points of accumulation from leaks elsewhere.
- The lamps in use were Davy pattern and naked lights called "midgies" in some areas. The coroner found no evidence that the midgies were connected with the explosion.
- Good order and discipline prevailed in Trimdon Grange Colliery.
- The air pressure had been exceptionally low, the lowest it had been that month, falling to on the morning of the explosion.
- The roof above the workings in the narrow pit district had been observed to be dangerous.
The inquest concluded: