The church of St. Aidan, Boosbeck was built in 1900 and consecrated on 29th October 1901. It is one of the few churches in the area where ironstone mine workings exist directly under the church and graveyard, as these workings date from before the construction of the relatively modern church.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the miners buried in Boosbeck, just those headstones that can still be seen today, which mention accidents in a specific local mine.
Harry Peirson
In loving memory of HARRY the beloved son of JOHN and SARAH PEIRSON who was accidentally killed in Stanghow Mines, Boosbeck, December 22nd 1909 aged 18 years. “He little thought his time so short in this world to remain. Nor thought that from his home he went he would ne’er return again. No loved one stoodaround him to bid a fond farewell. No word of comfort could he leave to them he loved so well”.
Filler, He, with his mate, was filling in a place where the roof broke down two baulks set to support it. The baulks were 3 feet 8 inches apart and 5 feet from the face. The place was 14 feet wide. It is probable that the shots fired in the place had shaken the dogger roof and had caused it to settle down suddenly and displace the baulks
The family lived at 35 Gerrie Street in 1909 when Harry was 9, his father was a miner also.
George Whitbread
In loving memory of GEORGE HENRY WHITBREAD who was killed at Lingdale Mines November 19th 1907 aged 28 years. Erected by his fellow workmen. Erected in affectionate remembrance from his loving wife
MARY ANN WHITBREAD.
1907 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 4045), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, There was one case in the Cleveland Mines during the year by which two men were killed and a third was injured. This case occurred on 19th November at the Lingdale Mine, belonging to Messrs. Pease & Partners, Ltd. The two men killed, one a machineman and son of the undermanager, the other a shotfirer, were both experienced mines. They were all in the same place, the shotfirer having come in about five minutes before the fall occurred. A hole was being drilled in the face when two small pieces of stone dropped from the roof ; the drill-changed shouted to the shotfirer that the place was working and the machine was stopped. The shotfirer turned round and was just about to “jowl” or sound the roof when it collapsed, a piece of “dogger” 15 inches thick by 33 feet long by 13 feet wide coming down on top of them. There were two baulks of timber about 30 feet from the face, and they were broken down by the fall. the “dogger,” a stone forming the roof, is very treacherous and is so thick and dense that it is not easily tested by sounding or jowling. Besides, the men have a practice of drilling the shot-hole in a upward direction, towards and into the dogger. The subsequent blasting must necessarily shake the dogger and make it more liable to leave the parting between it and the shales above. Shot-holes drilled horizontally would not, to so great an extent, have this effect, and would need less powder, but there seems some difficulty in getting the men to drill them so.
William Jacklin
In loving memory of WILLIAM the beloved husband of MARGARET JACKLIN who was accidentally killed at Lingdale Mines September 18th 1929 aged 47 years.
Charles Best
In loving remembrance of CHARLES beloved husband of SARAH BEST who was accidentally killed at South Skelton Mines June 13th 1925 aged 36 years.
In 1911 Charles Junior and Senior are both Horse Keeper underground, living at Sadlers Hill Cottages, which are right next to South Skelton Mine, mid-way between Boosbeck and Margrove Park
Joseph Jones
In affectionate remembrance of JOSEPH dearly loved husband of DORIS JONES accidentally killed at Lingdale Mines December 30th 1930 aged 29 years.
Robert Husband
In loving memory of ROBERT dearly beloved husband of ISABELL W. HUSBAND accidentally killed in South Skelton Mines December 18th 1919 aged 48 years.
Harry Peach
HARRY, beloved husband of EMMA PEACH, accidentally killed in Park Pit Mine April 27th 1917 aged 43 years.
Harry was born in Lincolnshire, but looks to a have migrated North to work in the Eston and Upsall mines, he lived at Upsall Pit in 1911 so must have started work at Skelton Park after that.
John Walker
In loving memory of JOHN WILLIAM the beloved husband of PHOEBE WALKER of Charltons who met his death at the Spawood Mines on 7th June 1904.
John was already a horse driver in Spa Wood mine by 1881 at the age of just 14
Astonishingly there is a poem dedicated too him.
George Stiff
In loving memory of GEORGE the beloved husband of HANNAH STIFF of Lingdale who was fatally injured at Lingdale Mines August 15th 1904 in his 50th year. Erected by his fellow workmates and friends.
George was originally from Suffolk and moved to the area for work, his large family of 8 children all lived at 15 Oldham Street, Lingdale in 1901, with his eldest son already a horse drive at the mine at 14 years old.
Matthew Brewster
In memory of MATTHEW BREWSTER died December 5th 1907 aged 34 years. Erected by the workmen of Lingdale Mines.
(accident: 07 Nov 1907), aged 34, Miner, he was helping to set a prop, when a piece of roof fell on to his foot; he died in hospital on 5th December
I have 4 old maps of the LINGDALE and Skelton mines. One is dated 1928. They belonged to my late husband’s grandfather A E Colbeck who worked in the LINGDALE mine. I would like to donate them to any organisation who might like them. Can you advise please
Marguerite Colbeck
There are other Miners graves in Boosbeck Cemetry. One of them is my grandfather William Thomas Elliott who died from injuries incurred at South Skelton Mine in 1942. Also his brother Fred is buried next to him also killed in a mining accident in 1941.