RARE USWORTH COLLIERY MINING DISASTER GLASS JUG C1885

This is a lovely large historic engraved disaster or memorial glass jug commemorating the death of 42 Men and Boys who lost their lives at the Usworth village Colliery disaster on 2^nd March 1885.

The jug is made of thick greyish glass with striations and bubbles in it. There is a gadget mark on the base and some ‘moss wear’ on the base indicating it is of some age.

The following text is engraved on the front of the jug:  

In Memory of

The 42 Men and Boys

Who lost their lives at

Usworth Colliery

Explosion March 2^nd

- 1885 -

Beautifully engraved ferns surround the text from the bottom to the top of the jug.  All the engraving is wheel engraved.

Usworth village lies just north of Washington in County Durham.  The colliery was sunk in about 1845 and in 1885 it was owned by John Bowes Esq. and Partners.  About 600 men and boys were employed at the colliery.  The colliery worked a two shift system; the back shift came out at 5pm and the night shift went in at 9pm.  In the interval the 4pm shift went down to prepare the workings for the nightshift.  Just before the nightshift men were due to go down the mine on Monday 2nd March 1885 there was a large explosion.  A cloud of dust was reported to rush up the shaft. There were two shafts at Usworth and the West shaft was blocked so the rescue party went down the East shaft. Three of the rescue party were overcome by afterdamp and only one managed to return to the surface in a semi-conscious state.  Clearing the West shaft was slow and difficult and it wasn’t until Wednesday morning the first body was found.  42 men and boys and 72 ponies died in the disaster.  

For more details about the Usworth Disaster and the names of the men and boys who died please visit:

http://www.dmm.org.uk/names/n1885-01.htm

The jug is in excellent condition (please see the photos). There are no cracks, chips, repairs, or any other damage.

The jug is about 19.3cm (7½ inches) tall and has a bottom diameter of 11cm (4½ inches) and a top diameter of 8.5cm (3½ inches).