Seaham Colliery Disaster Memorial

Colliery disaster memorial, 1871, stonemason W Robson of Seaham. Minimal Gothic Revival style.

MATERIALS: sandstone.

DESCRIPTION: situated immediately outside Christ Church within a large walled enclosure, along with the 1880 Seaham and Rainton Colliery Disaster memorial. It is a two-stage monument about 5.5 metres high. The lower stage comprises a slightly tapering, square stone pedestal on a moulded base, with a cable-moulded, low-pitched pyramidal cap. The upper stage comprises an enriched cross raised above a tapering, octagonal spirelet with decorated collar. A recessed panel on the east face of the pedestal has the inscription in incised black letters: THIS MONUMENT IS/ ERECTED BY THE/ CONTRIBUTIONS OF/ THEIR FELLOW WORK/ MEN AND OTHERS/ IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ TWENTY-SIX MEN AND BOYS WHO WERE KILLED/ BY AN EXPLOSION AT/ SEAHAM COLLIERY, / OCTOBER 25TH 1871/ AND WHOSE NAMES/ ARE INSCRIBED HEREIN. The names and ages of the dead are inscribed on the north, south and west faces of the pedestal.