Gillers Green Colliery

The colliery was situated on Burrows Lane, opposite Gillers Lane. There was a colliery in that area between 1753 and 1765, worked by the local squire, Mr. B.T. Eccleston. Another colliery is recorded in that area in the 1840s and 1850s and this colliery had links with the railways. The ‘Inspector’s Reports’ of 1873 show a colliery being sunk there, but records show it was closed in 1883.

13-02-1875.
There was a serious accident at the colliery on Monday morning when John Alexander Brophy 23 lost his life. He and his brother were being drawn up the shaft and came to 20 yds from the top when it was suddenly checked which caused the cage to be knocked against the side of the shaft and he was thrown out and fell 45 yds down the shaft. He died half an hour later. (St. Helens Standard)

09-02-1875.
BROPHY John 23 collier.
Falling out of the hoppet while ascending the shaft.

15-07-1875
BIBBY Thomas 22 engineman.
Found drowned at the bottom of the sinking pit. Colliery owned by The Gillers Green Colliery Co in 1875.

12-08-1877
In the Main Delf Mine, a little firedamp was met in a cutting and was fenced according to General Rule 9. The injured man left the work he was engaged in and wandered to this part of the mine carrying a candle and appears to have passed the fence to satisfy his curiosity when the gas exploded. He after admitted to the inspector that this was the cause. Cause naked lights. (Mines Inspectors Report)

9th. February 1975.
John Brophy aged 23 years, a collier was killed when he fell from the hoppet while ascending the pit. (Mines Inspectors Report).

15th July 1875.
Fatal Accident at Colliery.
An accident occurred at the new sinking at Gillers Green colliery. Thomas Bibby, an engineman aged 22 years of age of 5, Chapel Street, Prescot, He went to work about 5.30 on Wednesday afternoon. About 10 p.m. he was lowered down the shaft to oil the engine at the bottom. About two minutes later he was drawn up again and nothing more was heard of him until 6 a.m. the following morning when the sinkers went down to work and found him dead floating in the water at the bottom and the engine still working. It was supposed that after being drawn up he had accidentally fallen down the shaft overnight which was 22 yards deep. The body was conveyed to the Stanley Arms. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)

27th. November 1875.
Fatality in Pit Shaft.
At the sinking pit, water was being drawn up in buckets when at 4.30 some water spilt out and James MacDonald, aged 27 years, a sinker of Eccleston was killed and Matthew Hampson aged 30 years of Rainford Street, received head injuries. (St. Helens Standard) (Prescot Reporter)

9th. February 1878.
Colliers Leaving Work Without Notice.
John Berry and James Berry were charged with leaving the Lancashire Fireclay Colliery without notice and had a claim of £2 damages against him. John Cross, Manager of Gillers Green colliery stated that on the 23rd. January, the defendant and John and James Berry and William Forshaw asked him for work. He took them on the brow to drive it down at 7/- a yard and 1/6d. a ton for twenty yards and when they got on the level they could go on the same rate or cease work altogether. When they had worked a few hours they stopped and took up their tools. Witnesses were called and the case was withdrawn.

Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.