In 1855 the colliery was known as Peasley House Colliery and was owned by Bournes Robinson.
1st. March 1858.
On Tuesday last at the new colliery owned by Bournes Robinson and Company, Aaron Wedgewood and George Twist were engaged in sinking the pit. They had prepared two shots for blasting and having lit the fuses they ascended the shaft when one of the charges exploded but the other. They descended and found the second shot covered with stones and debris and when they were examining it exploded throwing stones in all directions. One hit Wedgewood in the forehead inflicting a severe fracture of the temporal bone. He died shortly after and Twist escaped with a few slight bruises. (Colliery Guardian)
29th. March 1859.
William Davenport, a collier was killed by a fall of coal. (Mines Inspectors Report)
15th July 1859.
Fatal accident.
John Goode, a collier, fractured his thigh and was seriously injured by a loaded waggon which ran over him. He was just going through a air-door when the tub came down the brow and knocked him down. (Wigan Observer)
22nd. October 1859.
As some men were descending the shaft the engineer revved the steam engine and the cage went over the headgear. A ‘Knowles Patent Descent Apparatus’ saved the men in the cage and the rope was set free. There was no damage to life or property. (St. Helens Intelligencer)
18th. October 1860
Charles McKenny, aged 17 years, a drawer was killed by a fall of roof as he was filling boxes. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1st June 1860.
John Davies, a waggoner, of Sutton had his thigh dislocated when he was crushed by waggons. (Wigan Observer)
15th December 1860.
0n Thursday morning, Joshua Lee, a fireman at the colliery was killed when two hundredweight of coal fell on him. He was carried home and given surgical assistance. He was crushed about the loins and is not expected to recover. (Prescot Reporter) (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
July 1861.
Richard Foster aged 25 years, a collier was killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
3rd. August 1861.
Fatality. At the inquest into the death of Richard Foster, another collier, Eckersley, who was working with him felling dirt, said he was getting coal about 11 am. and he took the coal and left the chitter over it which fell on his back. He was got out with assistance but he was compressed. A box was destroyed and the side knocked out He was 20 years of age and lived in Thomas Street where he was taken after the accident. He lived until the Sunday and the accident occurred on Friday. No blame was apportioned at the inquest and the verdict was ‘Accidental Death’. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser) (Colliery Guardian)
11th. May 1863.
Peter Bates, aged 30 years, a collier was killed by a fall of roof. He was returning from his work to the pit eye when the roof fell on him fracturing his spinal bone. Dr. Twyford was in attendance but he is in a precarious state. He lives in Parr and has a wife and several children. (Mines Inspectors Report) (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
15th. May 1863.
Peter Johnson of 41, Upper Parr Street, died when a large stone fell on him in the Potato Delf Mine. At the inquest the jury brought in a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’. (Wigan Observer)
10th. October 1864.
Thomas McKann aged 16 years, a drawer, was killed when he was crushed between trams below ground. He was taking a waggon downbrow and had not scotched the wheels. The tub passed over him and jammed him against the wall. The inquest into his death was held at the Griffin Inn, Sutton and the jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’. (Mines Inspectors Report) (Wigan Observer) (Wigan Examiner)
14th. October 1864.
Fatal Accident at The Colliery. John McDermott, a drawer was killed on Monday. (Wigan Examiner)
13th. January 1865.
Thomas Gardiner aged 38 years, a labourer who lived in Ormskirk Street was killed by railway tucks above ground. Thomas Gardiner who was a P.C. until November and stationed at Peasley Cross. He was a labourer removing waggons from under the riddle. He was found crushed between waggons. (St. Helens Newspaper) (Mines Inspectors Report)
18th. March 1865.
John Molyneaux aged 25 years, a collier was killed in an explosion of gas. He lived in Park Road Parr, and was working in a place that was opened eight months before the accident. A man and his brother-in-law were working in the Potato Delf Mine. The fireman had been into both places before they arrived and left a signal for fire at the entrance. The men ignored this and went to work and found gas in one place which exploded and caused their deaths. There was an explosion and his drawer also suffered burns but was reported to be recovering. He lived at the same address. Jane, his widow, said that he left for work at four in the morning and was brought home badly burnt at 6 a.m. His back and front were affected and Dr. Twyford attended him. The burns were getting better but he had been blown against a tub and his right side was inflamed. Richard Marsh and his brother Alfred were in the Potato Delf Mine when they heard the explosion and found him and his drawer, James Murray, and brought them up the pit. William Molyneaux, of Newton, his brother, was ten yards away and there was no brattice. They said that the fireman had chalked “Fire’ on a spade and he had found gas in his lamp. Samuel Thompson the fireman said that he had found gas at 3 a.m. Joseph Fairhurst, the underlooker, stated that the gas had ignited at a candle. The coroner said that the fireman should have prevented naked lights. Cause of death, ‘going in with a naked light although he had a safety lamp’. (Mines Inspectors Report) (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
15th. October 1866.
Boy Killed At Colliery. At the inquest into the death of John McGann aged 16 years, a drawer. It appeared that he was taking a wagon down the brown and he had not scotched the wheels. The tub jammed against him killing him instantly. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’. (Prescot Reporter)
9th. January 1867.
Martin Rouain, a labourer, was run over by a coal truck. At the inquest into his death, at the Finger Post Inn at Parr, it appeared that he was engaged as a labourer and at 9.30 he was shunting some waggons. He was in the act of putting on the brake and fell under the wheels of the waggons. Drs. Twyford and Jameson attended the injured man but he died at 1.15 the same day. The verdict was ‘accidental death’. (Mines Inspectors Report) (St. Helens Standard)
31st. December 1867.
Thomas Hilton, a carpenter at the colliery, accidentally fell from a scaffold only sixteen feet from the bottom of the pit while he was in the act of striking a hammer. The scaffold was a little wet and he lost his footing. He died the same night. (Mines Inspectors Report)
12th. August 1868.
Richard Cottam aged 36 years, a collier was struck by a tub on the inclined plane and killed. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. January 1869.
John Brookfield aged 15 years, a drawer was killed by falling out of the cage while ascending the pit. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. March 1869.
Coal Stealing.
Ann Callaghan a little girl was charged with stealing coal. PC.367 said that n Tuesday 9th. he saw her going with a bag on her head which she thew down and ran away. She was apprehended with sixty pounds of coal and said she was carrying it for another girl. She was found guilty and had a previous conviction and sentenced to one month in jail and afterwards to be sent to a Roman Catholic Reformatory for five years. (St. Helens Standard)
23rd. May 1869.
Another Accident At A St. Helens Colliery.
A man named John Hodgson, of Peasley Cross Lane, was seriously crushed at Bournes Robinsons colliery. He was between two wagons linking them when, by some means, he was caught between the buffers. Several of his ribs were broken causing emphysema and one penetrated his lungs. It was doubted that he would recover. (Prescot Reporter)
3rd. July 1869.
Joseph Cooks, a dataller of Coal Pit Lane, Parr, was killed by a fall of roof. He was working with another man named Rigby, and went into the pit about 9 p.m. Rigby left the place and when he returned he found Cooks quite dead with a large rock on his back which had fallen from the roof. Verdict, ‘Accidental Death’. (Mines Inspectors Report) (St. Helens Standard)
24th. August 1869.
John Hodson aged 30 years the banksman was killed when he was crushed between railway trucks on the surface. (Mines Inspectors Report)
9th. September 1869.
Patrick Kelly aged 34 years, a collier, was killed by fall of coal in a place four yards wide. (Mines Inspectors Report)
2nd. October, 1869.
Accident At Peasley Cross. The accident took place at eight o’clock. a waggoner, Alfred Sparks, of Waterloo Street, received considerable injury. It appears he went down when a stone fell from the roof and caught his side. He was considerably bruised and had lacerations as well. He was taken from the mien and taken home where he received immediate medical attendance. His injuries, though severe were not dangerous. (Prescot Reporter)
20th. November 1869.
STEALING COAL.
Peter Tabener was charged with stealing twelve pounds of coal. Sergeant Bee said at 6.30 a.m. stopped him at Peasley Cross with a piece of coal under his coat. He said he had got from under a waggon. He worked at the colliery in the Main Delf Coal. He was found guilty and had previous convictions and was sentenced to prison for fourteen days. (St. Helens Standard)
23rd. January 1869.
KILLED BY FALLING DOWN THE PIT.
John Brookfield, aged 15 years, the son of William of Oakfield Street, Windle, was a pony driver at the colliery. He ascended the pit with a boy named Pickavance and reached the brow with another boy named William Rigby. They stayed for about half an hour. His companions said that they wanted him to go home with them. They upset a fire grate and a hot ember got into the boy’s clog. A workman heard screaming and went to the pit bank but the boys ran away and Brookfield fell down the pit. He was found in a fearfully mangled condition and was brought to the surface and conveyed home. (St. Helens Standard)
16th. March 1870.
R. Knowles aged 57 years, a collier was killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
7th. April 1870.
James Evans aged 26 years, a collier was killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
July 1869.
Henry Stark aged 55 years, a labourer fell off the pit brow. He died on the 5th. August 1870. (Mines Inspectors Report)
6th. May, 1871
Coal Stealing.
Mary Ellen Roberts was charged with stealing 16lbs. of coal from Bournes Robinsons. Evidence was given by Thomas Aspinall, a watchman at the Peasley Cross colliery who saw the accused at the end of the heap carrying away coal. The magistrates discharged her with a caution. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
10th. August 1871.
Aaron Woods aged 15 years, a pony driver was killed when he was crushed between tubs. (Mines Inspectors Report)
17th. October 1871.
ACCIDENT AT THE COLLIERY.
James Burrows a collier aged 46 years, was suffocated by chokedamp when he was sent into a working to see if there was gas in a cavity. He did not return and when his father, whose name was not recorded, went in after him. Both were found dead and removed with difficulty due to the gas which was supposed to have come from the town’s sewers. (Mines Inspectors Report) (Colliery Guardian)
19th February 1872. FATAL ACCIDENT TO COLLIER. William Heaton, a collier, aged 34 years of Merton Bank was badly burnt in an explosion of gas. He was at work with another man named Thomas Foster at 1.30 p.m., a quantity of gas escaped from the coal and exploded and burnt him about the breast and arms. Foster was behind him and threw himself to the ground and escaped with slight burns to his back. Heaton was attended by Dr. James up to the time of his death. (Mines Inspectors Report) (St. Helens Standard)
30th. February, 1872.
Fatal Colliery Explosion.
The incident took place at Bournes Robinsons Peasley Cross colliery which led to the death of William Heaton of Murton Bank. He went to work accompanied by a collier named Thomas Forester when some gas escaped from a crack in the rock and exploded burning him about the breast and face in a dreadful manner. The other man was standing behind and when he saw the flash he dropped to the ground and escaped serious injury. The deceased managed to walk home but despite medical attendance the burns proved to be of a fatal character and he died the following Saturday morning. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
25th. April 1872.
John Chadwick, a collier died from burns which he received from a burst shot. (Mines Inspectors Report)
25th. April.1872
Robert Taylor, a labourer, was killed on the railway. (Mines Inspectors Report)
27th. July, 1872.
Cricket. Peasley Cross colliery beat Bickershaw colliery on a cricket match. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
13th. December 1872.
Thomas Thompson aged 30 years, a collier was killed by a fall of coal. (Mines Inspectors Report)
11th. April 1873.
Henry Cunliffe aged 67 years, a roadsman was killed in the engine plane by the rope breaking and the tubs running back. (Mines Inspectors Report)
22nd. August 1873.
William Banks aged 31 years a collier was suffocated by the stables taking fire in the No.2 pit. (Mines Inspectors Report)
27th. September, 1873.
Dishonesty. A collier named Robert Aspinall was brought to court to face a charge of stealing money by false representation. from the cashier at the Peasley Cross colliery. The cashier told the court that it was common practice for colliers to ask for an get the wages of other colliers. This had been done three times. He got away with it so many times as the colliery employed a large number of man. On one occasion he asked for the wages of a man who was identified and he was at once taken into custody and remanded. 18th. May 1874. Joseph Wareing aged 30 years, a collier of Parr Stocks Road, was burnt by an explosion of gas in the Burton Head seam through removing the top of the lamp. He died 25th. May. He was working with another man with lamps without their tops when the working place suddenly caught fire and he was seriously burnt about the face and side. (Prescot Reporter) (St. Helens Standard)
17th. November 1875.
Edward Cartwright aged 59 years, a collier was crushed between loaded tubs at the pit bottom. (Mines Inspectors Report)
2nd. December 1875.
Thomas Roughley aged 60 years, a dataller was killed when he was run over by tubs on the engine plane. (Mines Inspectors Report)
4th. December 1875.
Fatal Colliery Accident.
Thomas Wilson aged 61 years was accidentally killed at colliery at Peasley Cross. The deceased was leaving work at 3.30 p.m. and was going down the jig-brow when his candle went out and he fell over some boxes which came down on him and broken his leg and an arm. He was taken home and seen by Dr. Twyford but died later that day. (Prescot Reporter)
19th. January 1877.
There was an explosion in the Potato Delf which injured one man, who was not named in the Report. The gas was ignited by a shot which the man lighted himself. Gas had not been reported in the mine for three months. The cause was put down to blasting with gunpowder. (Mines Inspectors Report)
In 1879, the certificated manager was William Lee who was also the manager at the Sherdley Colliery. It was reported that between January 1873 and December 1878 there were five deaths at the colliery and no deaths in 1879.
15th. October 1866.
Boy Killed At Colliery.
At the inquest into the death of John McGann aged 16 years, a drawer. It appeared that he was taking a wagon down the brown and he had not scotched the wheels. The tub jammed against him killing him instantly. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’. (Prescot Reporter)
1st. November, 1879.
Fatal Colliery Accident.
Peter Greenough was killed at Mr. Radley’s colliery at Sutton. He was the son of a miner working in the same colliery. The lad was a pony driver and he caught his foot and fell in front of the journey and three wagons passed over him, crushing one of his arms. He was taken home in a cart and attended to by Dr. Gaskell. (Prescot Reporter)
23rd. August, 1879.
Accident in St. Helens Colliery.
James Dagnall was killed at Peasley Cross colliery. While he was standing at the bottom of the shaft waiting to be taken to the surface a number of laden boxes of coal came down an incline and before he could get out of the way, crushed him against a pillar. His body was crushed and his head seriously injured. it required the efforts of thirteen men to remove the boxes and he was taken home unconscious and attended to Mr. Ogden. It was reported that although his injuries were serious was expected that he would recover. (Prescot Reporter)
23rd. October, 1891.
Accident at Peasley Cross.
Two men James Davies and Peter Maddocks of Peasley Cross Lane, were working at Whitecross Peasley Cross Colliery when a fall of roof occurred and Davis sustained a fractured thigh and was severely bruised. Maddocks sustained deep scalp wounds and both were attended by Dr. Mason. (Prescot Reporter)
15th. December, 1883.
Fatality at a St. Helens Colliery.
At the inquest held at Peasley Cross on Thomas File??? who died at the Cottage Hospital form injuries received at the St. Helens collieries the day previous when he was knocked down by a wagon. A verdict of accidental death was returned. (Prescot Reporter)
23rd. June 1887.
Peasley Cross Excursion.
The annual excursion of the work people went to Southport setting off at about 8.30 and visited the Botanical Gardens and got back to St. Helens about 9.30. A good time was had by all. (Prescot Reporter)
19th. April, 1889.
Accident at Whitecross Colliery.
At the inquest before Mr. Brighouse at the Town Hall on the death of a collier,. James Rigby, it was heard that a stone and a large quantity of earth had fallen on him underground and killed him at once. Alice Rigby, his widow said that had worked at the colliery all his life. William Price, drawer said he and been working with him in a place two feet high and there was plenty of timber and he thought the place quite safe. A verdict of accidental death was returned. (St. Helens Reporter)
20th. March, 1891
Alleged Smoking at a Colliery.
William Kitto of Parr Stocks was charged at the Police Court. Mr. Swift appeared for the Peasley Cross Company. It was alleged that on the 20th. March in the London Mine, Thomas Clegg the firemen went down to examine the safety lamps and lock them and went in the direction of Kitto’s place he was working with two men. At a distance he smelt tobacco smoke and saw smoke coming out of Kitto’s mouth. He drew his hand across his face and took the pipe out of his mouth. Kitto totally denied the charge. After hearing the evidence the bench dismissed the case.
25th. March 1881.
William Club aged 20 years, a collier was killed when he had a fit and fell in front of an engine which could not be stopped in time. (Mines Inspectors Report)
In 1882, the manager was Robert Turner who also managed the Sherdley colliery. It was reported that there were six deaths from 1872 to 1881
1st. November 1881.
BREACHES OF RULES AT THE COLLIERY.
James Norby was charged with smoking in the pit and having the top off his lamp. He was sentenced to two months in prison. Peter Webster was charged with having a lamp key in his possession. The case was dismissed. (Mines Inspectors Report)
25th. March 1881.
There was an explosion of firedamp in the Main Delf which injured one man. A place had been driven twenty yards from the main intake to a fault. The place was not bratticed and naked lights were used, and on the interval of a man going in and another going out, a little gas had collected which fired at the candle of the second man. The place was examined two hours previously by the fireman. Cause ‘naked lights’. (Mines Inspectors Report)
29th. August 1887.
Joseph Leigh aged 72 years, a hooker-on was killed as he was going up the engine plane to the shaft when he was struck by the rope which had caught under a sleeper and then sprung up. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th. December 1891.
John Ashcroft aged 27 years, a collier, was killed at 3.30 p.m. in the 9th. hour of the shift he and two others were running down the jig brow when the trams were started and he was caught and crushed at the entrance to a refuge place. He was apparently aware that he was breaking the rules. (Mines Inspectors Report)
28th. September 1892.
Ralph Houghton aged 66 years, an engineman was killed at 10.20 a.m. in the 6th. hour of the shift when a tub got loose from the journey in a jig brow and slant and ran past him as he was in a refuge hole. He then went to signal to stop when the journey itself, which he had forgotten, ran over him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
In 1894, the colliery was Owned by the Whitecross Company Limited, Warrington. The manager was Robert Turner whose certificate number was 709. The undermanagers were Mr. R. Armstrong, certificate No. 2436, 2nd, class, Mr. J. French, certificate No. 1312 2nd. class and Mr. J. Harrison, certificate number 1313 2nd class. It was reported that the colliery employed 185 underground and 80 on the surface.
14th. December 1894.
James Harrison aged 35 years, a repairer was killed at 11 p.m. in the 3rd. hour of the shift he was repairing bars on the main road and had a jack prop supporting bars to get out but in loosening it a heavy fall occurred taking all the timber with it. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1st. February 1895.
John Whitfield aged 30 years, the surface foreman was killed at 11.30 p.m. on the 11th. hour of the shift as he went between waggons to uncouple them when the wheel passed over his ankle. He was acting as temporarily instead of the brakesman. He did not use a coupling pole which was on the locomotive and he died of blood poisoning on 7th. February. (Mines Inspectors Report)
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
Return to previous page