Seaham Colliery

The Seaham Colliery was a coal mine in County Durham in the North of England. The mine suffered an underground explosion in 1880 which saw the deaths of upwards of 160 people including surface workers and rescuers.

Among the dead were 36 Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the 2nd (Seaham) Durham Artillery Volunteer Corps, a part-time unit of the Royal Artillery, which had been commanded by the mine's owner, the Marquess of Londonderry, and largely recruited from his employees.