Craghead Collieries, Lodge Band and Banner William Hedley came to Craghead in January 1839, and began sinking the William Pit to the Hutton Seam. At this time, he also constructed a self acting, incline railway line to take the coals down to join the Stanhope & Tyne Railway.Hedley died in 1843, and the business was carried on by his four sons, Thomas, William, George and Oswald. The family went on to sink several other shafts, including -The George in 1854The Oswald in 1878The Edward in 1909 to the Hutton and to the Brockwell in 1919The Thomas and George had seams to Thomas, Shield Row and Five Quarter. The Oswals had seams to Maudlin, Low Main and Hutton. The Busty had seams to Towneley top and bottom, Busty and Brockwell.The depth of the seams ranged from 41 fathoms to 163 fathoms. The lower Victoria Seam at 170 fathoms was never worked.AS the coalfield developed, housing was needed for the miners and their families, and the first colliery houses in the village were built in short terraces at Wagtail Cottages, on Wagtail Lane. These primitive style cottages were built by Walton & Marshall, costing £45 each.They consisted of two rooms, one up and one down with only one door.Good quality clay was found while sinking the William Pit below the Five Quarter Seam, so the Hedley's opened a brickworks in Craghead next to the William Pit. Other streets of houses followed, such as - Thomas Street, William Street and Edward Street. The brickworks closed after better clay was found at South Moor. When it was discovered there were larger deposits of coal in the area than first expected, the coal owners built bigger and better houses so as to keep their workforce in the village. Coalmining production ceased in the village in 1968 and it seemed for a while the village would die. but the people have stayed, and the village has gone on from strength to strength. I have compiled a dvd of the village including coal mining. See my web page of dvds for more information or E mail me preferably atjackhair@tiscali.co.uk. Craghead Colliery Band This band was formed in 1910 with the help of the colliery owners. Two of the official functions of the band was to lead the funeral processions of any miners killed at Craghead Colliery, and to lead the Miner's Lodge and Banner into the Durham Miner's Gala. They used to give concerts in the open space of Front Street, Craghead, between Wilson's the Cobblers and Buckton's shop. The band won their section at Belle View, Manchester in 1913, and the north of Engaland Championships in 1924. The Carlyn family had three members in the band. After the colliery closed in 19689, the band eventually were renamed "The ever Ready Band" and later the Reg Vardy Band. In recent years, a band has been reformed in Craghead, and they hold their practices at the newly built Village Hall. Enquiries to "Canny Crack" 

Craghead Band

I will add more pictures at a later date. Website acting up at momen and won't let me add pics.t

 

 

 

 

 

 

Band on way to Memorial