Situated on the corner of Alexandra Street and St. John Street
This colliery was sunk in 1867 by Pilkington Bros. The St. Helens Standard records that on 4th. November 1867: “A new pit was sunk and in honour of the Princes of Wales was called the Alexandra Pit”. The Princess of Wales visited the colliery during the sinking. The colliery was mentioned in the Inspector’s Reports for 1873, 1888 and 1894.
The earliest reference to the colliery is the Diary of Roger Whyte 1833. Whyte was employed by the Pilkington’s to prospect for coal close to Dentons Green and coal was got in February. 1845 but the colliery did not work for long. Pilkington’s then sunk a pit in Eccleston in the early 1850s and purchased the remains of the St. Helens colliery in 1857. In 1863 a shaft was sunk to the Rushy Park seam.
The Alexandra colliery was situated at the corner of Alexandra Street and St. John Street. The colliery was sunk in 1867 by Pilkington Brothers.
There was an earlier colliery on the site and it was mentioned by Roger Whyte in his diary in 1833. Whyte was employed by Pilkington’s to prospect for coal close to Dentons Green and coal was extracted in February 1845 but this colliery did not work for long.
MANAGERS
1879. St.Helens Colliery Co Certificated manager Francis France who was also a manager at the Ravenhead and the Deep pits.
Deaths 1873 to 1878 1. 7 in 1879 Total 8.
1882 Same deaths and manager who managed the same pits.
1894 William Arnold manager cert No. 1602. Under manager William Pendlebury Cert No.1418 2nd class.
1st May 1866.
Joseph Webster, aged 51 years, was getting timber when a stone inflicted a wound above his knee. He did not consider it dangerous at the time but some weeks later the wound suppurated and he died in hospital on the 17th of July. (Mines Inspectors Report)
4th November 1867.
A NEW PIT SUNK.
A new pit was sunk in honour of the Princess of Wales and called “Alexandra Pit”. The Princess visited the colliery during the sinking.’ (St. Helens Standard.)
25th April 1867.
Thomas Aspinall aged 62 years, a collier, was killed as he was pulling back and the roof came in bodily capping props as it did so. The fall was caused by some slips in the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report).
20th March 1869.
BREAKING OF RULES
At St. Helens Court, James Welding was charged with descending on top of the cage which was against the Colliery Rules at the Crop Pit of the Alexandra Colliery. Mr. Marsh prosecuted and William Hobden, the manager of the underground pit read the Rules. George Rothwell, the fireman said that on that Saturday evening, it was his duty to see that the men came out of the pit by seven and no one was allowed to ascend before that time. Water was being wound at the time and Mathias Goulding, the engineer in charge of the winding engine, gave evidence that he knew the defendant. He lowered the cage a little lower than usual to let it go into the dib hole. he then heard four knocks and then raised the cage to the place where the men got on. He heard three knocks and raised the cage to the surface. When the cage stopped at the surface, he saw the man on the top of the cage. William Swift, the banksman also gave evidence. The case was found proved and the accused was fined 20/- (£1) plus costs. (St. Helens Standard).
17th July 1869.
FATAL ACCIDENT
On Monday a serious accident took place at the colliery in Thatto Heath. Two lives were lost and there was an injury to three others in the Rushy Park Mine. It appears that the men were employed on repairing roads. Monday was payday and the men were making use of overtime to prop the roof under the directions of Joseph Hobden, the fireman. At 7 a.m., all was going well but the accident occurred at 8 a.m. They were excavating to fix some props when a large mass of earth fell without warning and buried the men. The underlooker and the fireman were quickly on the spot and removed the injured to the surface where Dr. Gaskell gave them prompt attention. The dead were Robert Rylance of 3, Liverpool Road and Peter Ashall, a dataller of 33, Park Road. Both were married men with large families. The injured were Robert Leyland and Thomas Holden, both colliers, and John Miller, a ponyboy. The inquest was held under the direction of Mr. Grimes, Deputy Coroner at Smithy Brow. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Death.’
4th April 1868.
Man Killed In Colliery.
On Saturday night or early Sunday morning, an aged man named George Parr who was engaged as a furnaceman at the Cross Pit of Messrs. Pilkington was killed. At 9 p.m. on Saturday he descended the pit for the night and was the only man down the pit. When he got to the bottom he gave the signal ‘All right’ and the cage ascended. On Sunday morning his body was found at the bottom of the shaft under the cage and very badly crushed and appeared to have been dead some hours. During the night the cage went up and down the shaft every ten minutes to balance a pumping bucket. It is supposed that the cage, in one of its descents, crushed the man under it. He was about 68 years of age and a widower. (Prescot Reporter)
7th November 1868.
Accident at St. Helens Colliery, Three Killed.
The Alexandra colliery was ventilated by two shafts with a furnace suspended halfway down one of them. At the beginning of the previous week the chain which suspended the furnace broke and live coal set fire to the coal at the shaft bottom but it was much later that it was found to be on fire and the smoke permeated the air in the pit. The underground manager, John Campbell, Mr. William Naylor, the underlooker and William Foster, a waggoner went into the pit to warn the workmen to come out. They went through the smoke to where the atmosphere was better and warned the men working there. They got out of the pit safely. The party went further into the pit and as they did not return there was great anxiety for their safety. Their bodies were recovered the following Tuesday. (Prescot Reporter)
11th July 1868.
Breach of Colliery Rules.
Thomas Manley was summoned for a breach of rules at the Alexandra colliery where only safety lamps were used. The accused did not appear and the underlooker stated that on the 25th June he as told by Peter Marsh that the accused was smoking n the stables and had taken the to off his lamp. Peter Marsh was about 11 years of age and had never been to school and showed the most deplorable ignorance in court. The chairman considered the case and found that he had reason to doubt the boy’s evidence and they found that they could not convict on the gross ignorance the boy had displayed. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
17th July 1869.
Colliery Accident at St. Helens
On Monday morning an accident took place at Pilkington’s Alexandra colliery in which two men were crushed to death and three others were badly injured. Part of the working had for some time required timbering. This could not be done without stopping the work of the mine so it was decided to do the work on a Monday as it was reckoning day Robert, Rylance, Peter Ashall and Thomas Hopton and Robert Leyland and John Mellor, a boy were to do the work and they were in the charge of Joseph Hopton, fireman. They started at about 7 a.m. and everything seemed satisfactory for about half an hour when they needed some timber and the fireman went to the shaft to find some. The roof suddenly weighted and became displaced Rylance and Ashall were caught and immediately crushed to death. The remaining three got out alive but were very badly bruised about the body but were able to leave the mine and go home. (Prescot Reporter)
4th November 1867.
The local press recorded the fact that a new pit was sunk and in honour of the Princes of Wales was to be called the Alexandra Pit. (St. Helens Standard)
25th April 1887.
Thomas Aspinall aged 62 years, a collier was killed as he was pulling back and the roof came in bodily capping props as it did so. This was caused by some slips in the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. March 1869
Breaking Of Colliery Rules
James Welding was charged by descending the shaft on top of the cage which was against the Colliery Rules at the Crop Pit at the Alexandra colliery. Mr. Marsh prosecuted the accused and William Hobden the underground manager of the pit read the Rules of the Colliery and said that the accused had broken the first rule of the colliery. George Rothwell, the fireman said that on Saturday evening it was his duty to see that all the men came out of the pit by seven and no one was allowed to ascend before that time. Water was being wound at the time and Mathias Goulding, engineer and in charge of the winding engine, said he knew the defendant and said the cage was lowered a little lower than usual into the dib hole. He then heard four knocks and raised the cage to the place where the men got on. he then heard three knocks and raised the cage to the surface. When the cage stopped at the surface he saw the man on the top of the cage. William Swift the banksman also gave evidence. The case was found proved and the accused was fined 20/- plus costs. (St. Helens Standard)
17th July 1869
Fatal Accident
On Monday a serious accident took place at the colliery in Thatto Heath. Two lives were lost and there was an injury to three others in the Rushy Park Mine. It appears that the men were employed to repair roads and Monday was payday and the men were making use of overtime to prop the roof under Joseph Hobden the fireman. At 7 a.m. all was going well; the accident occurred at 8.30. They were excavating to fix props when suddenly a large mass of earth fell and buried the men. the underlooker and the fireman were on the spot and removed the injured to the surface where Dr Gaskell gave prompt attention The dead were Robert Rylance of 33 Liverpool Road and Peter Ashall dataller of 33 Park Road. Parr. Both were married men with very large families. The injured were Thomas Holden and Robert Leyland and both colliers and John Miller a ponyboy. The inquest was held on Wednesday under Mr. Grimes the deputy coroner at Smithy Brow and the verdict was accidental death. (St. Helens Standard)
7th August 1869
Dangerous Act by Reckless Collier
James Pate collier was charged with pulling down a gob in the pit. Mr. Marsh prosecuting said that the act was punishable by transportation but he could be charged within the bye-laws of the colliery. A gob was reported to have been a piece of wood supporting the roof and he knocked it down as an act of bravado which caused a large fall. William Hobden the underlooker said that it was pulled down because he said that it interfered with the ventilation. Nineteen people were out of work until the place was repaired Pate was found guilty and sentenced to two months in prison with hard labour. (St. Helens Standard)
30th April 1870
Swindle At Colliery.
A man named Richard Heathcote was charged with stealing tubs from Messrs. Pilkington’s colliery. The underlooker said that the accused presented a tally representing £1.10s.2d. which he paid him. A man named Thomas Winstanley was entitled to the money. When the prisoner was asked about he said the man had gone off to Walton and could not be present. William Hopton, colliery agent, said that it was his duty to examine Heathcote’s books in which he found two Thomas Winstanleys and he had access to the keys which secured the tallies. He was found guilty and sent to prison for two months. (Prescot Reporter)
9th March 1872.
Fatal Accident at Colliery.
On Saturday William Mather employed at Messrs. Pilkington’s colliery was killed by being run over by wagons. He was pushing the last wagon of coal along the road when the balance rope broke and he was caught between the full and empty wagons and was thrown down and run over the wagon crushing his head and back. The deceased was only 17 years old. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
16th April 1873
Joseph Pickavance aged 22 years, collier, was killed by a fall of roof in the Rushy Park Mine. (Mines Inspectors Report)
24th January 1880.
Fatal Colliery Accident Near St. Helens.
At an inquest at the Turks Head, Cooper Street, before Mr. Barker, deputy coroner on the body of James Atkinson aged 33 years of Stanhopes Street who was killed at the Alexandra colliery belonging to Messrs Pilkington’s on the previous Monday. At about 10 a.m. on the day of the accident the deceased and a man named Webster were getting coal at the end way of the balance brow in the Little Delph Mine. As he had been getting coal for about four hours, it became necessary to put up props to support the roof they obtained a prop but it was too long for the purpose and he started to dig a hole with his pick. He was in the act of cleaning the hole when about three tons of dirt fell from the roof and about one ton on him completely burying him. It took about twenty minutes to get him out but he was quite dead. The fall was attributed to a slip in the roof. The Government Inspector examined the place and was fully satisfied that it was an accident. a verdict was returned to this effect. (Prescot Reporter)
31st January 1880.
Incident at a St. Helens Colliery
On Wednesday a water tank that was being wound up the shaft at the St. Helens Colliery company’s mines, fell down the shaft. Fortunately, no one was injured at the time and the tank was damaged and some inconvenience caused in the working of the mine. (Prescot Reporter)
1st September 1886
James France aged 48 years, collier was killed as he was getting the last coal from a pillar where the roof was broken when a piece of stone fell from a slip knocking out props and falling on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
28th July 1884.
Colliers Reported being on Strike. Colliers were reported to be on strike at Alexandra and Whiston collieries. (Prescot Reporter)
2nd August 1884.
Strike reported having ended. (Prescot Reporter)
30th April 1887.
Inquest at St. Helens
Mr. Brighouse held the inquest into the death of Thomas Ashall aged 60 years. He was killed in the Alexandra colliery when several tubs of stuff fell. It took an hour to recover him and he was found to be dead. A verdict of accidental death was recorded. (Prescot Reporter)
20th July 1888.
St. Helens Colliery Excursion
The workpeople of the Alexandra colliery went for their annual excursion to Blackpool. They visited the Winter Gardens and a good time was had by all. (Prescot Reporter)
23-03-1891
Lynch Hugh 24 Pusher on After pulling some tubs on the road in the jigbrow, he appears to have laid down for a rest between the rails and gone to sleep. The next tub ran over him. He had been working for fifteen hours in a very warm atmosphere. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1926
Shaft accident
The pusher-on put four wagons on the top deck of the cage which caught something in the shaft and rebounded across the shaft striking a bar that threw them out. (Mines Inspectors Report)
29th March 1923
Alexandra St Helens.
William Byron aged 59 years compressed air engineman. While tightening up a nut with a spanner he took the skin off his left hand when he spanner slipped and the back of his hand came into contact with a pipe. He got a slight scratch and continued to work. The hand became painful and blood poisoning set in and he died April 9th. He would probably have lived if it had been treated with an antiseptic first of all. (Mines Inspectors Report)
10th September 1923
Alexandra. James Westworth, 23, haulage hand was killed by being crushed between the empty tub and the roof. A lasher on was attempting to take off ast of empty tubs and the chain was detached and the deceased had difficulty in getting the read chain detached and the chain became tight and went up against the roof causing the deceased’s skull to be fractured. (Mines Inspectors Report)
7th March 1924
William Flynn aged 29 years drawer was killed in the main haulage when 13 tubs stopped there to be attached tote train the restarted and became derailed and knocked out a prop causing the fall which killed him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
29th March 1924
William Byron aged 59 a compressed air engineer was killed while tightening a nut with a spanner it slipped and cut his hand. He continued to work and the hand became painful and he died of septicaemia on 9th April, this would not have occurred if he had used an antiseptic when the accident occurred. (Mines Inspectors Report)
7th March 1924
William Flynn was killed on the main haulage road. 13 tubs had stopped on the landing with three more tubs to be attached and was restarted the seventh tub was derailed and knocked out a prop that was supporting a running bar over the brow. This caused a collapse of the timbers and the fall which killed the deceased. There were 12 to 15 inches between the side of the tub and the prop. The tub became derailed owing to some dirt obstructing the rails. (Mines Inspectors Report)
