the Hastings and Melton pits was sunk nearby. In 1901 the low main workings of the old Hester pit were reentered, having been drained by a powerful pump. From 1929 onwards a series of takeovers and modernisations occurred until eventually in 1947 the new National Coal Board took over. The gradual decline followed with the whole colliery being abandoned in 1959 leaving a further 70 years (at peak production) worth of coal below ground. Legislation The inquest verdict was returned on 6 February 1862 and was 'accidental death' with riders including: However, giving evidence, a prominent mining engineer, Thomas Emerson Forster, had given as his opinion that "Parliament should pass an act this session" requiring two shafts, but that the materials used in colliery engines "might be left to the people who put up the engines. I myself think there will be no more cast-iron beams" and this view prevailed. On 7 August 1862, just six months after the inquest and less than seven months from the disaster, an Act of Parliament (the Act to Amend the Law Relating to Coal Mines of 1862) was passed. This required all new mines to have two shafts and all existing mines to ensure access to a second shaft before the end of 1864; the maximum penalty was £10, but the prohibition was enforceable by injunction. There was no similar legislation to outlaw the use of cast-iron beams in colliery pumping engines, but malleable iron beams became the rule in new installations. An 1863 paper describing a new pumping engine at Clay Cross noted that initially a cast-iron beam had been intended; after the New Hartley accident a wrought-iron beam was specified instead, adding £480 to the cost of the engine (£3130 excluding boiler, engine house and pumps). References Footnotes Citations Bibliography – entire text of report, dated 15 February 1862 – untitled editorial under general heading. citation added for existing reference. Only the contents page is online, text unverified. – contemporary news report and analysis – subsequent, more detailed analysis with diagram – report of the second coroner's inquest (on the trapped miners) 1862 mining disasters 1862 in England Disasters in Northumberland Coal mining disasters in England 19th century in Northumberland