LAFFACK
The colliery was situated in Newlyn and Bodmin Groves. The Legh family of Lyme were mining in that area in the 1760’s when it was sometimes referred to as ‘Laffog’. In the 1840s, John and Thomas Johnson were the owners of Laffack, with the colliery appearing in the 1850 and 1855 Inspector’‘ Reports’ but not in any Report later than the 1870s.
Production was reported to be 60,000 tons per year in 1862.
Location SJ 528973 First reference in 1769 Baker and Harris. Still working in 1875.
27th. December 1850.
The engine tenter, who was not named was reported to have been killed by falling down the shaft. Mining Journal. (Mines Inspectors Report)
13th. February 1851.
It was reported that a 15 year old boy was run over by a tram and seriously injured. He was not brought out of the pit for four hours even though his father was working in the pit. (Mines Inspectors Report)
18th. September 1851.
J. Hornsey was reported to have been killed at the colliery. (Mines Inspectors Report)
16th. October 1851.
A 20 year old man names McGuire was killed by ‘falling from a strip which he had laid hold of after work’. (Mines Inspectors Report)
31st. July 1852.
J. Thomas, a boy was killed when he was crushed against the roof while riding on a tram. (Mines Inspectors Report)
4th. April 1853.
Two colliers were reported to have been killed by a fall of the roof while drawing props. There is no record of their names. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. July 1853.
James Twist was killed by a fall of coal. (Mines Inspectors Report)
18th. January 1854
Three persons, whose names were not recorded, were killed in an explosion of firedamp. The Inspector commented that the men died from burns from an explosion at the edge of the goaf. He commented, “the lighting of the gas was traced to the opening of a lamp. Discipline with regard to lamps seems to be lax in the colliery”.
27th. January 1854,
The Wigan Observer reports an inquest on the previous Friday at the Talbot Inn, before Mr. Driffield, the County Coroner held an inquest on the body of a boy named James Marsh who was killed in an explosion of firedamp at the colliery. The inquest was adjourned so that the Government Inspector could make an inspection of the pit. The verdict was ‘he died from an explosion of firedamp’. This could be one of the three men involved in the explosion. (Wigan Examiner)
3rd. May 1854.
It was reported that two men, William Tinstall and John Purves were slightly injured in an explosion of firedamp. They were engaged in putting a cap on the roof when a fall let some gas escape and it fired at the candle. Purves had burns to his hands and face. (Wigan Examiner)
3rd. November 1854.
An inquest into the death of John Connah aged 20 years who was killed on Wednesday by hitting his head on a rod when descending the pit when he looked over the side of the cage. A verdict of accidental death was returned. (Mines Inspectors Report)
28th. February 1855.
J. Fairclough, a boy was reported to have been killed by falling down one of the pits. There is no record that he worked at the pit. The Wigan Examiner of the 16th March 1855, gives more information on the accident. John Fairclough took the hoppet down the pit and signalled to descend when he fell out and was killed. The inquest was held at the Royal Arms at Parr which was attended by the Government Inspector when a verdict of ‘accidental death’ was returned.
11th. March 1855.
It was reported that the horsekeeper drowned in the water tank at the bottom of the pit. His name was not recorded. (Mines Inspectors Report)
27th. March 1855.
T. Traverse died after being injured by a fall of roof on 28th. April 1854. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1st. November 1855.
J. Fyldes was killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
9th. November 1855.
The inquest into the death of Moses Brough who was killed by a fall of roof while blasting at the colliery was reported. (Wigan Examiner)
7th. April 1856.
Richard Foster was killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
7th. April 1856.
A boy, whose name is not recorded was recorded, as having broken his leg in a fall of roof subsequently died of typhus fever. (Mines Inspectors Report)
29th. March 1856.
George Manchester was killed by a fall of coal at the face while he was holing without first setting sprags. The Inspector commented. “this necessary process should never be neglected and firemen and underlookers should in all cases compel it to be done.” (Mines Inspectors Report)
4th. April 1856,
The inquest was held at the Seven Stars Inn at Eccleston when he was crushed by eight hundredweight falling on him the previous evening. A verdict of ‘accidental death’ was recorded. (Mines Inspectors Report)
19th. April 1856.
Peter Welding was reported to have been killed by a fall of roof. (Wigan Examiner)
10th. May 1856.
William Cooper was reported to have been involved in an accident when he was hit by the flywheel of the engine when jumping from the engine-house. His leg was broken and later amputated. (St. Helens Intelligencer)
26th. July 1856.
Two men, John Sefton and Joseph Salton were killed in an overwinding accident. Sefton was drawn over the pulley at the top of the headgear and Salton jumped out and fell down the pit. (Mines Inspectors Report)
The ‘St. Helens Intelligencer’ reported that the inquest was held at the Wellington Hotel. Several other men were injured and the inquest was adjourned until the bolts that held the cage could be produced and resumed on the 7th. Following this accident, the Inspector saw that there had been a breach of the rules and the ‘St. Helens Intelligencer’, 13th. August 1856, reported that Thomas and Johnson the proprietors of the colliery were summoned by the Government Inspector, Mr. Higson, for not observing the Rules 18 and 19 Vict. which concerned the brake on the engine when two men lost their lives. The charge was withdrawn against the proprietors when Greenough, the underlooker at the colliery, pleaded guilty and was fined £2 with 12/4d. costs. (St. Helens Intelligencer)
6th. August 1856.
William Woodhead aged 30 years, of Windle was reported to have been severely burnt on the body in the Little Delf Mine by taking the top off his lamp. At the inquest, blame was put on the underlooker for not seeing that the man obeyed the Rules of the Colliery and a verdict of ‘accidental death’ was returned. The Inspectors Report states that Woodhead died from an explosion of firedamp. (St. Helens Intellegencer)
23rd. October 1856.
John Holland was reported to have been killed while attempting to fire a shot with a German which exploded before he could get away. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. May 1857.
Henry Winlow, fireman and John Heaton. Labourer were killed by an explosion of firedamp. The ‘Wigan Observer’ stated that cause of the explosion was a mystery and that John Heaton left a wife and five or six children.
The Inspector thought the accident was caused by gas being bottled up in a tunnel by a stopping and Winlow, the fireman, went to see if it was tight when the gas exploded at his lamp. The Inspector stated that the tunnel should have been ventilated as it was giving off a great deal of gas and it much better to ventilate these places than let the gas accumulate.
The ‘St. Helens Intelligencer recorded that the inquest was held at the Ship Inn on the bodies of Henry Winlow aged 60 years, who was the deputy underlooker at the colliery and John Heaton aged 32 years, a collier, who were killed in the Rushy Park Mine. Winrow had gone down at about 6 a.m. to inspect the state of the mine. Their bodies were found in the tunnel leading to the Garswood mines. They were crushed and burnt and the bottom of the lamp was found not far off and an explosion had taken place. (Mines Inspectors Report)
17th. August 1857.
Luke Ramsey, a labourer was killed by falling off a waggon on the brow. (Mines Inspectors Report)
15th. January 1858.
On Friday a number of men were employed during the night to repair some roadways that had been deranged. They were widening the tramway and without the least warning, the roof fell on William Clayton. The poor fellow is a stranger who has been in the pit for only a few days and now lies in a precarious state. (Wigan Observer)
16th. January 1858
A serious accident occurred at the pit last Friday evening when a man was seriously injured. They were engaged in repairing the roads at the bottom of the shaft and propping roofs when a portion of the roof fell burying William Clayton. The debris was quickly removed and he was taken to the surface where medical attention was quickly obtained. Although he was severely crushed there is reason to hope that he has no permanent injury. (Colliery Guardian)
24th. March 1858.
William Nightingale, a collier aged 30 years was killed by an explosion of firedamp. (Mines Inspectors Report)
27th, March 1858
On Wednesday last a collier, William Nightingale aged 30 years died as the result of being burnt by an explosion of firedamp in the Rushy Park mine. He carelessly took the top off his lamp and was burnt about the head and chest. He left a wife and three children. (Colliery Guardian)
14th. January 1860.
Reported that the colliery was on strike along with the colliers at the Glade Hill colliery. (Prescot Reporter)
22nd. February, 1861.
William Baxendale, under-fireman aged 36 years was killed by a fall of stone. The ’Wigan Observer’, 1st. March, reported on the inquest which was held at the Finger Post Hotel. A verdict was ‘accidental death’ was recorded. (Mines Inspectors Report)
2nd. April, 1861.
Daniel Calderbank, collier aged 21 years was killed when he was thrown out of the cage while ascending the pit. (Mines Inspectors Report)
6th, April 1861
FATAL ACCIDENT.
On Thursday morning three workmen were descending the shaft at the colliery owned by Messrs Johnson and Co. at Parr when the cage jerked and threw them off. Daniel Calderbank went to the bottom of the shaft and was killed but the two others managed to hold on but had severe bruising. (Colliery Guardian)
14th. August 1861.
John Horsley and Joseph Making, both colliers were summoned for taking the tops off their lamps and fined 20/- and 5/6d. costs for the former and 25/- and 5/- costs for the latter. (Prescot Reporter)
19th. December 1861.
George Manchester aged 16 years, a drawer was killed when he was run over on the inclined plane. (Mines Inspectors Report)
12th, December 1861
On Wednesday a hooker-on, George Manchester was killed by a waggon when it ran down an inclined plane and overpowered him crushing his head and chest. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
15th. October 1861.
At the inquest into the death of John Picton aged 60 years a collier at the No. 1 pit at the York Hotel, Parr it was stated that William Smith was taking down props and they were sitting down smoking when they heard a loud crack. Smith jumped out of the way but a large stone fell and he being an older man could not get out of the way. The stone had to be dug under to get him out. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
10th. October 1862.
John Painter, a collier was killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
5th. December 1862.
William Prescott, a labourer, was killed riding on the engine plane. (Mines Inspectors Report)
31st. August 1863.
Peter Johnson a fireman at the colliery was passing down a brow when a chain broke on the waggons and he was killed. (Wigan Observer)
12th. February 1863.
Thomas Wadsworth aged 28 years, a collier was killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
30th. March 1863.
At 12.15am the night watchman saw a fire in the barn and tried to put it out. Three hoses from the Fire Brigade arrived at 1.30. but the fire destroyed hay that was used for the horses at the colliery to the value of £10. It was thought that someone had been sleeping in the barn and smoking a pipe. (St. Helens Newspaper)
1st. June 1863.
Aaron Livesley was brought before the Petty Sessions charged with stealing a quantity of timber from the colliery. P.C. Rowlands stated that he went to his house in Parr and found the timber there when he apprehended him and took him to the station. (St. Helens Newspaper)
11th. July 1863.
John Atherton, the underlooker at the colliery pleaded guilty to assaulting James Whittle on the 13th. June at the colliery. The defendant said something about ‘beating the whole lot of the Atherton family’ and was grabbed by the hair with a threat to pull it all out. He was told not to take the law into his own hands and fined 19/- plus costs. (St. Helens Newspaper)
25th. July 1863.
James Anders aged 56 years, a fireman was killed when a rope broke on the inclined plane. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1st. September 1863.
James Anders the fireman at the colliery was at work mending a piece of brattice cloth in the waggon road where boxes passed. A journey went by and the engine stopped. He thought that they had come off the rails and went off with his task when the rope started and broke as the tubs came off the rails. He was struck on the head but two men did escape. The inquest was held at Peel Arms on Monday. There was a notice not to go into the brow when the rope was in motion. The deceased wife had been married before and had a grown-up family and lost her first husband at the colliery. Her son had recently lost a little girl and was ill herself. (St. Helens Newspaper)
28th. November 1863.
A strike was reported during the week for a ten per cent rise in wages but the men went back on Monday. (St. Helens Newspaper)
15th. June 1864.
William Foster aged 28 years, a gangrider was killed falling off a train of tubs in the engine plane. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th. September 1864.
John Cook, underlooker, was killed when he fell into the mouthing of the pit. (Mines Inspectors Report)
18th. October 1864.
Robert Barrow aged 25 years, a collier, was killed by an explosion of gas. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th. July 1865.
Thomas Webster aged 27 years, a collier was killed by a fall of roof in the Rushy Park Mine. (Mines Inspectors Report)
15th. July 1865.
Thomas Webster was killed at a colliery in Parr that had a shaft in Ashton which the workmen ascend and descend to the Little Delf Mine. At 3.30 he left to get a bow for his brother and returned to find him under a rock about a ton in weight. The inquest returned a verdict of ‘accidental death’. Further details were recorded in the Wigan Examiner, 14th. July: Thomas Webster was working in the mine with his brother from the township of Ashton. His brother was his drawer and went to fetch a box and when he returned he found that stone had fallen on his brother and killed him. The deceased was a married man with a child and lived at Billinge, Chapel End. The inquest was held at the George and Dragon at Billinge. (Colliery Guardian)
4th. November 1865.
A strike was reported for a five per cent advance of wages to all waggoners, balancers and datallers. The miner’s agent, Mr. Davidson, persuaded them to go back and talk to the employers. (St. Helens Newspaper)
25th. February 1865.
On Saturday Joseph Smith of Parr died from firing a shot and the explosion burnt him. Dr. Gaskell attended to him but he died later. (Prescot Reporter)
26th. April 1866.
Two girls Elizabeth Holmes and Jane Pilkington were charged at the Police Court on Wednesday before William Pilkington charged with stealing twenty pounds of coal from the colliery at Blackbrook. The prosecution stated that in consequence of numerous complaints about coal disappearing from the colliery and stolen by children. One of the constables was directed to dress in plain clothes and observe the pit. PC 475 went to the colliery on the 24th and on the railway lines leading to the colliery he saw the two prisoners picking coal and putting it into sacks. The girls ran a way when they saw him although he was in plain clothes but he was able to catch one and took her the Police Station. The other girl was apprehended the following morning. The magistrates dismissed the girls with a strong admonition. (St. Helens Standard)
3rd. November 1866.
Thomas Leyland a 14 years old horsedriver was killed when he was run over on the waggon road. 9th. November, the Wigan Observer:- Thomas Leyland aged 12 years the son of John of Moorflat was a pony driver and at 6 a.m. was found on the floor with the pony’s foot on him. He was released but died ten minutes later. There were no external injuries and no one saw what happened. A verdict of ‘accidental death’ was returned. (Mines Inspectors Report)
19th. October 1867.
Fatal Accident at Laffack Garswood Colliery.
At the inquest at the Angel Inn into the death of a boy named John Davies aged 14 years, son of Peter. The accident occurred on the 5th when he was waggoning a tub up the Little Delph mine when it overpowered him and dove him about 30 yards down the brow pinning him against the side and crushing him. He was immediately assisted by two colliers but he died about 20 minutes later. At the inquest, a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was returned. (Prescot Reporter) (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
24th. August 1867.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT LAFFACK COLLIERY.
On Tuesday an accident occurred at the colliery in which a young man about 24 years of age named William Pearce had his shoulder dislocated. He was working in the mine when a portion of the roof fell on him. Another account of the matter is that, contrary to the Rules, he was riding on one of the boxes that was passing down the brow and by some means caught his shoulder against the roof. The assistance of some men was had and he was brought out of the pit and placed in cart and taken home to Gerards Bridge. Services of Dr. Gaskell were obtained and he is now recovering. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
18th. January 1868.
Joseph Taylor aged 22 years, an engine tenter was killed when he fell down the pit from the surface. (Mines Inspectors Report)
25th. January 1868,
Shocking Fatality At Laffack Garswood.
A man named Joseph Taylor aged 22 was employed as an underground engineer at the colliery. he was working on Friday morning and went up after his work. On reaching the top of the pit he went to the cabin and finding that his relief had not arrived he said that he would work his mate’s shift. Taylor went to the pit brow thinking the cage was there but it was at the landing above and he stepped into the shaft. He fell two hundred and fifty yards and was killed. He was the only means of support for his aged parents. (Prescot Reporter)
25th. January 1868.
Stealing Coal.
Bridget Connah was charged with stealing a quantity of coal from Laffack and Garswood Railway. A P.C. said that on Thursday night he was near Laffack coal pit, hidden in a hedge when he saw six females coming along the line. One got onto a wagon and threw down some coal which the others picked up and placed in a head ten yards away. When he came out of the hedge they ran away and he caught the accused. Prisoner pleaded guilty and told the court that she had met a girl the previous day coming him with coal who told her that she could go and pick it up along the line and that there was no danger. She was sent to prison for a week. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
15th. January 1869.
STRIKE OF DATALLERS FOR INCREASED WAGES.
Jimmy Cunliffe, Ralph Taylor, John Ashall, Thomas Manfred, Thomas Gregson, Pat Carey, George Holland and James Carey were charged with absenting themselves from the colliery without notice. The defendants said that they were employed as datallers and on fourteen days notice. Some time ago there had been a meeting of the Colliery Proprietors at which it was agreed to raise the wages of colliers. This agreement was for coal getters and had no legal obligation The datallers demanded alike increase and were told that they would be treated the same as the datallers in other collieries. The men said that they would not work and the prosecuting solicitor Mr swift said that they had no right to take matters in their own hands. The management said that there was a great deal of waste due to their absence and put a value of £33 on the work that they did not do and they did not feel this excessive. It had cost the colliers £108 for they could not get coal without the datallers. John Molyneaux deposed that some of the men had signed an agreement. the manager of the pit had been down to see a deputation at the bottom and they pointed out that other pits had had the increase. It was found that they had no right to stop work and were each fined £1 and costs or six weeks in goal. (St. Helens Standard)
2nd. May 1868.
Stealing Coal.
Mary Ann Hall was charged with stealing coal for the second time for removing 45lbs. from a wagon on Laffack Garswood railway. P.C. Martin had seen the prisoner steal the coal and he seized her as she was putting it in a bag. She was identified by John Mort who was employed on the line. She was sent to prison for seven days. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
21st. August 1869.
Coal Stealing.
Margaret Sumner, a middle-aged woman, was charged with stealing coal from Laffack and Garswood colliery. P.C. 404 said that he found the woman with the coal and she begged him to let her off but the officer charged her and she was found guilty and sent to prison for a week but late, through the intercession of the prosecutor, she was let off. (Prescot Reporter)
6th. November 1869.
Sarah Simpson was placed in the dock on a charge of stealing fifty pounds of coal from the colliery and sent to goal for one month. (St. Helens Standard)
11th. January 1870.
Strike At Laffack.
The daywageman have struck as a result of being excluded from the advance paid by the masters to only those who were hewing the coal in the mine. When the datallers astonished by the fact, demanded it for themselves they were told that when it was given to their class in other collieries, it would be looked at again. The men struck work to a great extent and a number of them were summoned and fined. Henry Cunliffe, Ralph Taylor, John Ashall, Jerimiah Winstanley, George Holland, James Grey, Thomas Gregson and Patrick Gregson were charged at the Magistrates Court with leaving work without notice. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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