Hi
Had the opportunity to meet Brian Brown this last year you may know him through his art sculptures on Tyneside and around depicting the mines and miners.

Researching something totally unconnected and came across Frank Rileys email (Below) and data on Bignall Hill Explosion – very grateful to him for this background information – my connection – a relative contributing £1.0.0 to the relief fund. Strange world.

Many thanks
Melvyn

Brian Brown's memorial has been funded by Seaham Town Council, the AAP Neighbourhood budgets of five of the local Durham County Councillors and the North East Area Miners Social Welfare Trust Fund and manufactured by Dyer Engineering Limited of Annfield Plain.

10/8/2011

http://www.seaham.gov.uk/Core/Seaham-Town-Council

(Being Creative)

I am looking for details about Riley family killed in Mine Disasters in and around Audley Staffs where many lived and still lived. I found a lot of information about the Diglake Disaster which pointed me in the right direction to trace 2 families but there doesn't seem to be much on Bignall Hill 1835. Can you point me in the right direction as I believe 3 members were killed there.
Many thanks
Frank Riley

Frank Riley is seeking information on 3 of his ancestors who were killed in the Bignall Hill explosion, he said 1835, actually it was 1836.The story is on the web site. Click Here

William Riley age 35 left a pregnant wife and 6 children, Thomas Riley left a widow and 2 children. George Riley was only 8 years of age.

All the best,
John.

Hi Fionn
Yes I found that but it appears to be the only reference that I have found of the disaster. I have traced William and his family but there is no credible record of William's birth or marriage which is what I need to tie him in to the tree. There is no record of him at St James Audley but 2 of his children were christened there. At the moment I assume that he was christened and married at one of the other churches in Audley as I have LDS data but no Church listed just Audley.

Many thanks. Frank Riley

John Lumsdon