Nutgrove Colliery

The colliery was situated at the end of Radley Street. This colliery appeared in the Inspector’s Report for 1873, being owned by James Radley, hence the name Radley Street. In the 1888 Report, it was owned by his widow Mrs. F.P. Radley. It was reputed to have closed about that time.

28th. March 1866.
A man named Fenny, a stoker at the colliery was killed when he fell into the winding gear of the engine. (Mines Inspectors Report)

2nd. November 1868.
Three men lost their lives at the colliery. William Naylor, aged 54 years, an underlooker, John Campbell aged 21 years, a surveyor and William Foster aged 42 years a waggoner were suffocated from various vapours from the mine being on fire. (Mines Inspectors Report)

18th. July 1875.
Samuel Hilton, aged 22 years, a collier was killed by a fall of coal. (Mines Inspectors Report)

27th. October 1875.
Accident at Nut Grove.
This was another case of overwinding. Two sinkers, John Eden and James Daniels were engaged in sinking the shaft at the No.2 Pit belonging to James Radley. They ere lowered down the shaft for about sixty yards to install a piece of piping when they found that the length that they had taken did not fit. They knocked and the engine forgot that they were only partway down and set the engine at full speed and the two men were drawn into the headgear jacknapes. Eden fell out of the hoppet and landed between the headgear and the engine house. He was severely injured abut the spine. Daniels managed to keep his hold until the hoppet struck the jacknapes when he was thrown out and the large iron bucket came down narrowly missing him as he lay on the ground. Both men were taken home and attended by Dr. Gaskell. The two men were brothers-in-law. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)

9th. February 1876.
John Mavin aged 29 years, a labourer was killed by a breakage of the engine flywheel part of which struck the deceased. (Mines Inspectors Report)

3rd September 1887.
Accident at Nut Grove.
A boy about ten years of age named Lyon. The lad was taking his father’s breakfast to the colliery when he went to the pumping house and by some means, his feet became entangled between two rollers and were severely crushed. h He was taken home and the doctor attended him where is was reported to be progressing favourably. (Prescot Reporter)

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