Messrs. CROMPTON & SHAWCROSS Collieries

Purchased Strangeways Hall Colliery, 1875, from William Hayes. Firm wound up and collieries closed down October 1897 by Chancery Court.
Collieries being worked prior to closure: Strangeways Hall, Hindley (Edith and Mabel Pits), and Amberswood.

Purchased December 1897 by Crompton & Shawcross Ltd., with J.E. Rayner as principal shareholder. Collieries re-started.
J.E. Rayner also subsequently purchased the following collieries: Grange Colliery, Hindley, c.1899, opened early 1900.

Amberswood Colliery & Brickworks (Henry Atherton prop.) – 1907
Hindley Hall Colliery (Pearson & Knowles) – 1904

John Scowcroft & Co. Ltd., Hindley Green – 1901, comprising: Springs Colliery, Engine Pit, Grammar Pit, Stonehouse Colliery, Hindley Field Colliery (Hindley Field Coal Co. Ltd) – 1899, Victoria Colliery (Victoria Coal Co. Ltd) – c.1900

Rose Bridge Colliery Co. Ltd. was established 1923 by Rayners to re-work the former Rose Bridge Colliery of Rose Bridge & Douglas Bank Colliery Co.

Note – Amberswood Colliery of Crompton & Shawcross became known as Gypsy Pits after 1907 to avoid confusion with former Henry Atherton’s Amberswood Colliery.

STRANGEWAYS HALL COLLIERY, LOW GREEN
Started c.1842 by Byrom, Taylor & Byrom.
Subsequently passed to William Hayes then to Messrs Crompton & Shawcross, 1875.
Messrs. Walker supplied a 16 inches x 36 inches single air compressing engine to William Hayes, December 1871.

Seams being worked (1931)
Wigan Four Feet, Wigan Five Feet, Wigan Six Feet, Riding Mine.
Output 300,000 tons per annum.

Workforce – U/G 1000, S/F 320

Electrical Power used at 400 volts.

CLOSED – January, 1937.

Copyright © NMRS Records: G. Hayes Collection