(Seaham Timeline)

SEAHAM TIMELINE

OLD SEAHAM

670-710
likely date of foundation of church of St Mary - as witness stonework of nave, and recent excavation of cemetery. Parent monastery could be Monkwearmouth-Jarrow, Lindisfarne or Hexham.

915
Vikings gain control of East Durham.

934
King Athelstan asserts control of the North for the West Saxons and issues a charter donating Seaham to the community of St Cuthbert, then at Chester-le-Street.

996
Durham Cathedral founded as new home for relics of St Cuthbert.

1066
Normans conquer England. The Bishop of Durham becomes the King's direct respresentative in the North-East. Seaham church and estate presumably granted to private family as feudal holding.

1100-1150
Likely date of rebuilding of chancel of church (note use of local limestone).
Seaham village realigned with main route to Seaton.

1200-1250
Presumed date of building of tower at west end of church.

1350-1450
Presumed date of building of Dalden Tower.

1536, 1569
Rebellions in Co.Durham against Henry VIII's Reformation. Vicar of Seaham sympathetic to old tradition.

1557
Collingwood family inherit the estate of Seaham.

1579
Seaham church criticised for poor state of repair.

1678
Collingwoods sell Seaham estate to Sir Mark Milbanke, who lives in Yorkshire.

1791
Ralph and Judith Milbanke decide to build a stately home at Old Seaham - Seaham Hall.

1814-1815
Lord Byron visits Seaham Hall in November 1814, and Jan-Mar 1815, when he married the Milbanke's daughter, Annabella. The marriage did not last. Their daughter Ada was later friend and patroness of the pioneer of the computer, Charles Babbage.

1821
The Milbankes put Seaham Hall and the estate up for sale. It is purchsed by the 3rd Marquis of Londonderry, a leading Tory aristocrat, in order to construct a harbour for the shipping of coal from his wife's estates inland. New wings are added to Seaham Hall in following decades.

OLD SEAHAM

1830 approx
Building of Vicarage next to St Mary's church, an early example of Gothic Revival.

COAL MINES

1831
Rainton, Elemore and Moorsley collieries send coal to Seaham Harbour via Railway Street route (Seaham Incline).

1833
South Hetton pit and later (1835) Hawell pit send coal to Seaham Harbour via Braddyll's railway (Dawdon). Murton Pit operative by 1840s.

1844
Pitmen's strike leading to eviction of miners by the Londonderrys.

1844-45
South Hetton Coal Company sink a pit at Seaton (later known as the High Pit).

1849-52
The Londonderrys sink a new shaft near Seaton Pit (to be known as the Low Pit).

HARBOUR

1825
Work begins on excavating North Dock.

28 Nov 1828
'Opening' ceremony of Seaham Harbour - completion of major excavations.

1831
First coal shipped out of Seaham (25 July)
Cholera in Sunderland.

1845
In view of increased traffic of coal through Seaham Harbour a new (small) South Dock is built.

TOWN

1830 approx.
Bath Terrace built, some of the earliest housing in Seaham.

1835-1840
Building of St John's Church, Seaham.

1841
Gas works built slightly to north of town.

1844
Building of Infirmary on seafront. (now demolished)

1848
Building of National School at top of Church Street. (now demolished)

1854
3rd Marquis dies. The estate is administered by his widow Frances Anne.

1860 approx.
Londonderry Offices built, later (?1900) remodelled in French style. Now converted to flats ('Marquess Point', 2006)

1865
Frances Anne dies. Later members of the Londonderry family have a less close association with Seaham.

1853-54 A railway built from Seaham to Sunderland, to allow surplus coal production to be shipped out from Hendon (where new South Dock opened in 1850)

1864
The two shafts of the High Pit and Low Pit amalgamated to form Seaham Colliery.

1869
Founding of Durham Miners' Association.

1869-1873
4th Marquis of Londonderry has new pit sunk at Silksworth.

1871
Explosion at Seaham Pit causes loss of 25 lives.

1855
First lifeboat in Seaham.

1870
RNLI takes over adminsitration of Seaham lifeboat service.

1853
Water works built on land behind new Police Station, Deneside. (now demolished)

1853
Londonderry Bottle Works founded by John Candlish, to south of Seaham.

1853-5
Literary Institute built on Tempest Road - ?after Greek style of Newcastle Lit n Phil. (now converted to flats)

1855
Seaham-Sunderland railway opens.

1860 approx
Construction of new road from Seaham to Sunderland (coast road)

1912-1915
Restoration of St Mary's church, Old Seaham, and uncovering of evidence of its Anglo-Saxon origin.

8 Sept 1880
Explosion at 2.20 am at Seaham Pit claims 164 lives (other sources say 170) out of a shift of some 230 men. A public enquiry (inquest) is held, 1881.

1902-5
Dawdon Colliery sunk, producing 1907.

1898
Seaham Harbour Dock Company inaugurated, and shares issued to raise funds for major extension of South Dock and piers.

1899-1905
Construction of much enlarged South Dock.

1912
Seaham Sea Angling Club founded.

1900-1910
Building of homes for miners at Dawdon.

1901
Population of Seaham 10,136.

1910
Church of St Hild and Helen, Dawdon, built.

1914-1918
First World War.
Seaham Hall becomes a convalescent home for service men.

1927
7th Marquis passes Seaham Hall to Durham Country Council to serve as a T.B. clinic.

1924-1929
Sinking of new pit on coast - the Vane Tempest. Coal extraction organised on modern 'longwall' system.

1926
General strike. Seaham collieries shut May-December.

1924
Further extension of South Dock begins, in anticipation of production from Vane Tempest colliery.

1921
Londonderry Bottle Works closes.

1927-1937
Deneside Estate built.

1929
Ramsay MacDonald becomes M.P. for Seaham, and prime minister in 1931-1935.

1931
Lettice Jowett sets up adult education centre at Rock House, with grant from the Pilgrim Trust.

1934
J.B.Priestley visits Seaham - and writes about the town in his English Journey.

1935
7th Marquis presents Dawdon Park to local council.

1935
Ramsay MacDonald defeated by Emmanuel Shinwell (Labour candidate) as M.P. for Seaham in General Election.

1936-7
James Duncan, Vicar of Dawdon and later Rector of Easington, publishes his book What I saw in Germany in defence of Germany's good faith.

1938
7th Marquis appointed Lord Lieutenant of Co.Durham. In the same year he publishes Ourselves and Germany, aiming to promote Anglo-German friendship.

1939
Work on building Parkside housing estate begins

1939-1945
World War Two.

1940
Air raid in August kills 13 people
1943
Air raid in May 1943 kills 36 people

1 Jan 1947
Nationalisation of coal mines.

1949
Londonderry Collieries Ltd set up a trust to establish the Londonderry Dene House Miners' Rheumatic Clinic. (Now East Durham & Houghall College)

1955
McCutcheon's publishes his book Troubled Seams, about the pit explosion of 1880.

17 Nov 1962
Seaham Lifeboat Disaster, with loss of nine lives, when the George Elmy went out to rescue a fishing boat.

1963
The Will & Fanny Kirby becomes Seaham's lifeboat.

1947
Work begins on Eastlea and Westlea housing estates

1960s
Much demolition in town centre area. St John's Square constructed.

1962
George Hitchin publishes his autobiography A Pityacker, with material on Seaham 1910s, 1920s.

1964
Cardiac surgery pioneered at Seaham Hall hospital.

1979
Seaham Hall hospital closes and building selled off, later becoming a hotel and a care home.

1994
Tony Whitehead publishes his book The Londerrys, Masters of Seaham

1995
Seaham Hall care home closes. The Hall is left unoccupied.

1967
Seaham Pit ceases coal production, serves as washery for Vane Tempest.

1972, 1974
National coal strikes help bring Heath's Tory government down.

1984-5
National Miners Strike fails to halt closure programme for pits.

1991
Dawdon Colliery shut.

1992
Vane Tempest Colliery shut.

1979
RNLI shut down Seaham lifeboat station.

1993-2000
'Regeneration' of Seaham, notably relocation of Seaham Harbour Dock Company and development of land south of Seaham.

1974
Seaham Urban District Council incorporated into Easington District Council, and present Seaham Town Council established.

1985
Tom McNee & David Angus publish Seaham Harbour: The first 100 years 1828-1928 , followed later by The Changing Face of Seaham: 1928-1992

1998
Population of Seaham 18,900 - a reduction from the figure of over 20,000 in 1985.

2001
Tom Maxfield reopens Seaham Hall as luxury hotel.

2002
and spa.

2000-06
Construction of new homes on Vane Tempest colliery site.

Corrections/Additions welcome:
to billygriff@postmaster.co.uk

2005
Public access to North Dock level of harbour restored

2000
Regeneration of town centre east complete, with Church Street pedestrianised and improved seafront promenade.

OLD SEAHAM 1830 approx Building of Vicarage next to St Mary's church, an early example of Gothic Revival.	COAL MINES 1831 Rainton, Elemore and Moorsley collieries send coal to Seaham Harbour via Railway Street route (Seaham Incline). 1833 South Hetton pit and later (1835) Hawell pit send coal to Seaham Harbour via Braddyll's railway (Dawdon). Murton Pit operative by 1840s. 1844 Pitmen's strike leading to eviction of miners by the Londonderrys. 1844-45 South Hetton Coal Company sink a pit at Seaton (later known as the High Pit). 1849-52 The Londonderrys sink a new shaft near Seaton Pit (to be known as the Low Pit).	HARBOUR 1825 Work begins on excavating North Dock. 28 Nov 1828 'Opening' ceremony of Seaham Harbour - completion of major excavations. 1831 First coal shipped out of Seaham (25 July) Cholera in Sunderland. 1845 In view of increased traffic of coal through Seaham Harbour a new (small) South Dock is built.	TOWN 1830 approx. Bath Terrace built, some of the earliest housing in Seaham. 1835-1840 Building of St John's Church, Seaham. 1841 Gas works built slightly to north of town. 1844 Building of Infirmary on seafront. (now demolished) 1848 Building of National School at top of Church Street. (now demolished)
1854 3rd Marquis dies. The estate is administered by his widow Frances Anne. 1860 approx. Londonderry Offices built, later (?1900) remodelled in French style. Now converted to flats ('Marquess Point', 2006) 1865 Frances Anne dies. Later members of the Londonderry family have a less close association with Seaham.	1853-54 A railway built from Seaham to Sunderland, to allow surplus coal production to be shipped out from Hendon (where new South Dock opened in 1850) 1864 The two shafts of the High Pit and Low Pit amalgamated to form Seaham Colliery. 1869 Founding of Durham Miners' Association. 1869-1873 4th Marquis of Londonderry has new pit sunk at Silksworth. 1871 Explosion at Seaham Pit causes loss of 25 lives.	1855 First lifeboat in Seaham. 1870 RNLI takes over adminsitration of Seaham lifeboat service.	1853 Water works built on land behind new Police Station, Deneside. (now demolished) 1853 Londonderry Bottle Works founded by John Candlish, to south of Seaham. 1853-5 Literary Institute built on Tempest Road - ?after Greek style of Newcastle Lit n Phil. (now converted to flats) 1855 Seaham-Sunderland railway opens. 1860 approx Construction of new road from Seaham to Sunderland (coast road)
1912-1915 Restoration of St Mary's church, Old Seaham, and uncovering of evidence of its Anglo-Saxon origin.	8 Sept 1880 Explosion at 2.20 am at Seaham Pit claims 164 lives (other sources say 170) out of a shift of some 230 men. A public enquiry (inquest) is held, 1881. 1902-5 Dawdon Colliery sunk, producing 1907.	1898 Seaham Harbour Dock Company inaugurated, and shares issued to raise funds for major extension of South Dock and piers. 1899-1905 Construction of much enlarged South Dock. 1912 Seaham Sea Angling Club founded.	1900-1910 Building of homes for miners at Dawdon. 1901 Population of Seaham 10,136. 1910 Church of St Hild and Helen, Dawdon, built.
1914-1918 First World War. Seaham Hall becomes a convalescent home for service men.
1927 7th Marquis passes Seaham Hall to Durham Country Council to serve as a T.B. clinic.	1924-1929 Sinking of new pit on coast - the Vane Tempest. Coal extraction organised on modern 'longwall' system. 1926 General strike. Seaham collieries shut May-December.	1924 Further extension of South Dock begins, in anticipation of production from Vane Tempest colliery.	1921 Londonderry Bottle Works closes. 1927-1937 Deneside Estate built. 1929 Ramsay MacDonald becomes M.P. for Seaham, and prime minister in 1931-1935. 1931 Lettice Jowett sets up adult education centre at Rock House, with grant from the Pilgrim Trust. 1934 J.B.Priestley visits Seaham - and writes about the town in his English Journey. 1935 7th Marquis presents Dawdon Park to local council. 1935 Ramsay MacDonald defeated by Emmanuel Shinwell (Labour candidate) as M.P. for Seaham in General Election. 1936-7 James Duncan, Vicar of Dawdon and later Rector of Easington, publishes his book What I saw in Germany in defence of Germany's good faith.
1938 7th Marquis appointed Lord Lieutenant of Co.Durham. In the same year he publishes Ourselves and Germany, aiming to promote Anglo-German friendship.			1939 Work on building Parkside housing estate begins
1939-1945 World War Two.			1940 Air raid in August kills 13 people 1943 Air raid in May 1943 kills 36 people
	1 Jan 1947 Nationalisation of coal mines. 1949 Londonderry Collieries Ltd set up a trust to establish the Londonderry Dene House Miners' Rheumatic Clinic. (Now East Durham & Houghall College) 1955 McCutcheon's publishes his book Troubled Seams, about the pit explosion of 1880.	17 Nov 1962 Seaham Lifeboat Disaster, with loss of nine lives, when the George Elmy went out to rescue a fishing boat. 1963 The Will & Fanny Kirby becomes Seaham's lifeboat.	1947 Work begins on Eastlea and Westlea housing estates 1960s Much demolition in town centre area. St John's Square constructed. 1962 George Hitchin publishes his autobiography A Pityacker, with material on Seaham 1910s, 1920s.
1964 Cardiac surgery pioneered at Seaham Hall hospital. 1979 Seaham Hall hospital closes and building selled off, later becoming a hotel and a care home. 1994 Tony Whitehead publishes his book The Londerrys, Masters of Seaham 1995 Seaham Hall care home closes. The Hall is left unoccupied.	1967 Seaham Pit ceases coal production, serves as washery for Vane Tempest. 1972, 1974 National coal strikes help bring Heath's Tory government down. 1984-5 National Miners Strike fails to halt closure programme for pits. 1991 Dawdon Colliery shut. 1992 Vane Tempest Colliery shut.	1979 RNLI shut down Seaham lifeboat station. 1993-2000 'Regeneration' of Seaham, notably relocation of Seaham Harbour Dock Company and development of land south of Seaham.	1974 Seaham Urban District Council incorporated into Easington District Council, and present Seaham Town Council established. 1985 Tom McNee & David Angus publish Seaham Harbour: The first 100 years 1828-1928 , followed later by The Changing Face of Seaham: 1928-1992 1998 Population of Seaham 18,900 - a reduction from the figure of over 20,000 in 1985.
2001 Tom Maxfield reopens Seaham Hall as luxury hotel. 2002 and spa.	2000-06 Construction of new homes on Vane Tempest colliery site. Corrections/Additions welcome: to billygriff@postmaster.co.uk	2005 Public access to North Dock level of harbour restored	2000 Regeneration of town centre east complete, with Church Street pedestrianised and improved seafront promenade.