Pewfall Colliery

In 1766 Sir Thomas Gerard built a line from Pewfall Colliery to Blackbrook Lower Warfe on the Sankey Canal which opened about this time. Traces of the railway can be seen near Stanley Bank and the ‘Box Line’ behind Liverpool Road, Pewfall. (Ashmore). The colliery was situated on the north side of Liverpool Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield and was sunk about 1860 by Samuel Clough who sold it, about that time, to Richard Evans and Co.

The ‘Inspector’s Report’ of 1894 reported that the colliery employed 220 people and had four shafts. By the end of the century, only two shafts were working. At its peak production the colliery raised 130,000 tons of coal per year. The colliery closed in 1911.

• 1879 Pewfall 1 & 2 Haydock Richard Evans and Co Pewfall 3 & 4. Certificated managers John Houghton and William Smethurst. The latter also managed Downall Green colliery.
• 1873 to 1878 there had been 5 deaths at the colliery and there were none in 1879
• 1882 Manager 1 & 2 still John Houghton. Manager 3 & 4 William Arnold. 8 deaths
• 1872 to 1881. 1 in 1882 Total 9.
• 1894 Nos. 3 and 4 manager John Fairhurst cert. No.
• 1932 182 underground, 44 surface.

29th. March 1854.
The inquest into the death of Thomas Ashurst collier at Samuel Clough’s colliery in Pewfall was held in the house of Joseph Radcliffe. Some coal fell on him and killed him on the 20th Verdict Accidental Death. Mr Clough wrote a letter to the court saying that he thought highly of Ashurst and gave £3 to the widow and the children and provided an oak coffin. (Wigan Examiner)

21st. February 1857.
William Bradley, Thomas Dearden and Henry Harrison were in an explosion at the pit on Thursday. As they approached a new air course with a naked candle there was an explosion of firedamp. (St. Helens Intelligencer)

24th. April 1857.
On Saturday last at the colliery owned by Mr. Samuel Clough and under the management of Mr. Frost who was at the pit mouth on the lower stage and looking over with the barrier of the cage above him. while he was standing like this the cage was accidentally set in motion and struck him on the head. The whole of the lower jaw and part of the face was torn away and he fell down the shaft. The mangled body was recovered and he was attended to by a doctor but he died on Sunday He left a wife and two children. A fragment of his gravestone survives in St. Thomas’s churchyard Ashton. (Wigan Observer)

18th. August 1857.
John Leatherbarrow was killed by a fall of timber from the pit frame. (Mines Inspectors Report)

4th. April 1862.
Richard Maguire aged 39 years, a fireman was killed by an explosion of gas. (Mines Inspectors Report)

1st. May 1862.
William Pilling, a collier was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)

5th. May 1862.
Thomas Marsh, a collier was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)

13th December 1862.
Thomas Abrams aged 26 years a jigger was killed by the jig drum underground. (Mines Inspectors Report)

6th. January 1863.
Roger Dowd aged 31 years a jigger was killed when he was drawn by the chain against the drum. (Mines Inspectors Report)

16th. July 1863.
James Dunn aged 34 years, a collier was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)

6th. April 1865.
Thomas Byrom aged 28 years, a collier was killed by a fall of roof in the Main Delf Mine. (Mines Inspectors Report)

17th. March 1865.
Peter Meadows aged 30 years, a fireman was killed by a fall of the roof while fixing timbers. (Mines Inspectors Report)

23rd. November 1865.
William Sanders aged 28 years, a collier was killed when he was crushed between trams below ground. (Mines Inspectors Report)

December 1865.
Industrial Unrest.
The colliers at the colliery met at the Rams Head, Edge Green colliers at the Angel Inn, Ashton colliers at the Queen’s Head and at Haydock to discuss the 10% advance in wages that had been asked for. (Wigan Observer)

22nd. February 1866.
Killed By A Fall Of Roof.
Timothy Winstanley a collier was injured by a fall of the roof. He was taken home and died later. The inquest was held at the Owls Nest Inn, Blackbrook on Timothy Winstanley a collier residing at Prescott’s Entry, Blackbrook, Mr. Pickard, the Miners’ Agent was present. The first witness was Joseph Strong the fireman at the colliery. He said that the deceased was fifty-three years old and on Wednesday last at about 11 a.m. he was drilling a hole at the bottom of the coal for a shot. A prop taker had been working in the place and there were two rows of props on the lower side and three on the higher. The fireman was satisfied with the place and everything was made safe. He left the place after his inspection and after about a quarter of an hour heard someone call out. On investigation, he found that a portion of the roof had fallen knocking out two or three of Winstanley’s props and driving them over into his working place. One of them had come to rest against his shoulder and was pressing his face against the wall. With some assistance, he managed to release him and he said, ‘Joseph, get me out of this place’. He never spoke again. He was got out of the pit and taken home on a cart. There did not seem that there was very much wrong with him except the side of his head which was severely injured. he was an old and experienced collier but not overcareful. James Ashton was called who was working two places away and took him home. He said that Dr. Twyford was called for but Dr. Jameson came and he never moved after that. William sanders was his drawer and was at the place when the accident happened. A verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was returned by the jury. (St. Helens Standard) (Wigan Examiner) (Mines Inspectors Report)

14th. February 1867.
John Worsick, a collier, was killed by a shot that exploded while being charged. John Worsick was preparing a stable in the Rushy Park mine and had to blow down a portion of the roof. He put in a charge and covered it with hay and was just putting in the stemming when it exploded. The contents of the hole struck him in the face and he died. His assistant who was beside him was also struck but recovered. (Mines Inspectors Report)

5th. January 1867.
Colliery Accident At Colliery.
The works at this colliery are very extensive and there are three shafts in the area of an acre. An explosion took place at No. 4 Little Delf mine 400 yards in depth and resulted in the injuring of two men seriously Patrick Maloney and John Clarke so much that it was some days before they were out of danger, In fact on Friday evening it was rumoured that Clarke was dead. Joseph Williams, William Smethehurst William Brown and another who was not named was also among the injured. Work was resumed at the colliery on Friday. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)

9th. March 1867.
Explosion At The Colliery.
Joseph Clark aged 18 years, a drawer and Samuel Sanders aged 25 years both drawers, were killed in an explosion of firedamp. Sanders died 11th. On Thursday afternoon it occurred in the No 4 Level Little Delf Mine about 11 in the forenoon and the following were reported to be injured, Peter Maloney, J. Clarke who was badly burnt, Joseph Williams, Samuel Samders and William Brown and another man whose name is not as yet known. It appears that the cause was in shot firing as at Queen pit but neither Queen nor Pewfall are termed fiery mines and the best regulations are observed and shots fired under strict supervision. (Mines Inspectors Report) (St. Helens Standard)

9th March 1867.
Joseph Clarke and Samuel Saunders both drawers employed in the Little Delf mine died this afternoon from injuries caused by the explosion of firedamp in one of the two upbrows from which they had to draw coal got by two colliers Williams and Standish. Standish told Williams that before firing his shot he had brushed out the gas and in looking round saw the flame and the deceased Clarke and Saunders lying in afterdamp in the cut between the two places in which they had taken shelter while the shot was being fired. The gas was brushed out but must have overtaken them and ignited at the flame of the shot as it passed the brattice and through the opening between the upbrows in which it appeared to have exploded and so caused the deaths of the two young men without burning anyone else at hand. The brattice was stated to have been three yards long from the face of the workings. This however is very doubtful for although this distance is rather too far as a rule still the support of fresh air produced there was adequate and would with ordinary care have kept it safe under the existing circumstances. At the time of the explosion, colliers were permitted to fire their own shots but a sufficient number of firemen had been appointed for that purpose so that at the present time no working person is allowed to fire a shot in the mine. The quantity of gas must have been trifling as the explosion made no marks on the coal and very little on the bodies of the deceased. The inspector thought that the regulations had been long established and the practice of brushing out the gas was an antiquated one. It was a violation of the Special Rules and he commented that it was difficult to see how the rules could be prevented from being broken by the colliers. (Mines Inspectors Report)

27th March 1867.
Henry Heaton aged 55 years, a collier was accidentally killed by a fall of the roof in the Main Delf Mine while going about his normal work. (Mines Inspectors Report)

22nd. April 1867.
Dominic Caracon, a labourer was killed by a tub of slack that fell on him from the top of the screen. (Mines Inspectors Report)

26th. July 1867.
E. Heyes aged 17 years a drawer was killed by a fall of the roof in the Pemberton Four Foot Seam. (Mines Inspectors Report)

4th. November 1867.
Richard Blinstone aged 13 years, a drawer, was killed when he was run over by a train of tubs. (Mines Inspectors Report)

15th. January 1868.
William Prior, a collier was killed by a fall of coal. (Mines Inspectors Report)

20th. August 1868.
Joseph Travis aged 35 years, a collier was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)

24th. September 1868.
Thomas McDonald, a labourer was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)

21st. November 1868.
Fire At The Colliery.
The fire broke out about 1 p.m. on Thursday in a hut at the pit brow. When it was discovered people carried buckets of water one hundred yards to try to bring it under control and Mr. J. Evans was soon on the scene. He took over but after about an hour it became evident that they were fighting a losing battle. Mr. Bell, the Superintendent of the St. Helens Fire Brigade was sent for and arrived half an hour later. By this time the fire had spread from the hut to the headgear, a platform and almost everything else at the pit brow. It had started to encroach on the new engine house and about two to three hundred tons of slack caught fire. At this point, it seemed a hopeless task but it was finally brought under control after nine hours. It was estimated that about £2,500 of damage had been done and they colliery was not insured against such loss. (Colliery Guardian)

2nd. January 1869.
It is reported that water has broken into the colliery in consequence of the excavations for the Lancashire Union Railway and three hundred men are out of employment. Some of the men went to work at the Queen pit and were killed in the explosion. (Colliery Guardian)

4th. January 1870.
Injury At Pewfall Colliery. A fall of coal occurred at the colliery on Monday and a collier named James Stubbs was injured in a slight explosion. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)

19th. July 1871.
John Hardman aged 24 years, collier was killed by a fall of roof.

29th. July 1871.
Thomas Twist aged 25 years and James Twist aged 28 years, both colliers, were killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)

1st. March 1872.
Robert Hallam aged 60 years, collier, was killed by a fall of roof in No.2 pit in the Nine Foot Mine. (Mines Inspectors Report)

4th. May 1872.
Richard Fairhurst aged 32 years, collier was killed by a fall of roof in the Rushy Park mine. (Mines Inspectors Report)

29th. January 1873.
Thomas Twiss aged 32 years, collier was killed by a fall of roof in the Little Delf No. 3 pit. (Mines Inspectors Report)

18th. March 1874.
Richard Davies aged 30 years, weighman, was killed when he was crushed between wagons. (Mines Inspectors Report)

20th. June 1874.
Colliery Fire at Haydock.
On Tuesday morning at Pewfall colliery was discovered to be on fire. the only man down was the furnace tenter as the pit had stopped for Newton Races. The accident is supposed to have happened from the flueman removing ashes and placing them at the upcast shaft where the ventilation drew them into the fire again and set alight to the coal. The furnaceman was smothered by dense smoke. No 4 pit. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)

16th, June 1874.
James Burnside aged 40 years, furnaceman was suffocated by No. 3 pit taking fire. Both pits sealed. The body was recovered in December. (Mines Inspectors Report)

20th June 1874.
Pewfall Colliery On Fire.
On Tuesday morning the Pewfall colliery caught fire. Immediate steps were taken to find if there was anyone down and with the exception of one man who was the furnace tenter this was so. The men had stopped working because it was Newton Races and they had not resumed work. It is believed that the fireman was removing a quantity of ash in the vicinity of the winding shaft and the great draft kindled these ashes and sent the fire on to the coals the fireman is believed to be dead as are 16 ponies and 300 men are out of work. It is proposed to close both shafts. (St. Helens Standard)

21st June 1874.
Colliery Fire At Haydock.
At the pit steps are being taken to find out if there is anyone down the pit at the time of the fire. The pit was closed at the time for the Newton races and only the furnace tenter was down. Ash from the furnace is believed to be the cause of the fire and the pit became full of smoke and the tenter was suffocated. (Colliery Guardian)

20th. April 1876.
John Ashall aged 24 years, collier was killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)

5th. January 1877.
Thomas Ashall aged 55 years, dataller injured his back while loading the tram on 10th. July 1876 and died in January. (Mines Inspectors Report)

9th. June 1881.
Thomas Cunliffe aged 19 years, drawer was killed by a fall of roof in the No 2 pit between the face and the props while he was holing an old working. The place was fairly well timbered but extra precautions had not been taken and should have been under the circumstances. (Mines Inspectors Report)

7th December 1881.
Thomas Costello aged 20 years, dataller was taking off tubs at the bottom of the balance brow in the No 3 pit when the chain broke and the tub ran back against him. (Mines Inspectors Report)

23rd December 1881.
Breach Of The Rules.
Robert Colley was charged with having too many people in the cage and fined with costs. The others that were in the cage were also searched Thomas Latler, Henry Liptrot, John Pilling, Pat English, Richard Rose and Joseph Dearden. (Mines Inspectors Report)

16th May 1882.
Thomas Hazeldine aged 14 years pony driver was killed in the No.3 pit he was attempting to uncouple his pony from the tubs while they were in motion and overbalanced and fell under a tub that was drawn over his body. (Mines Inspectors Report)

4th. July 1882.
Threatened Strike of Miners.
Miners working for Evans and Co. at Pewfall and Downall Green collieries continued to be unsettled as the company had given notice of a ten per cent reduction in wages and to institute the system of fortnightly pay. The notice was discussed by a massed meeting at Ashtons Green and men were appointed to talk to Mr. Glover, Messrs. Evans manager. There was no agreement and the men are determined to cease work on Wednesday. The matters are further complicated by the daywagemen asking for an advance in wages. The matter will be discussed at the Miner’s Federation meeting and it is hoped that there will be cause to stop the strike. (St. Helens Newspaper)

24th July 1882.
Thomas Sudworth aged 19 years, drawer was in the No.3 pit and was clearing away some dirt from the face when a large stone fell from between three slips. The place required more timber and at the inquest, the fireman said that he told them to do it but it was not done. (Mines Inspectors Report)

26th January 1883.
Frank Cunliffe aged 50 years, collier in the No.3 Pit was trapped by a heavy fall of roof from the slips carrying all the timber and burying him. (Mines Inspectors Report)

8th. April 1884.
Henry Horne aged 21 years, dataller was working for a contractor who let him take a tub downbrow of seven inches to the yard with only a drill as a scotch and the tub overpowered him and he was flung against a prop breaking his skull. The contractor was very negligent of his duty and the man had only recently come into the pit and knew little of its dangers. (Mines Inspectors Report)

30th. January 1885.
Edward Conroy the fireman was charged with neglecting the furnace and leaving before the night man came. John Simon the engineman was charged with not preventing him from leaving and George Strong was charged with being down the pit when he was not employed there. It was stated that they wanted to go to a football match and Simon said that he left the furnace at 5.30 pm, ten minutes early. He was fined 40/- plus costs. (Colliery Guardian)

4th. June 1885.
There was an explosion of gas at the No.3 colliery in the Little Delf Mine when the barometer read 29.91 ins and was falling. A shotlighter was going to fire a shot and on examining the place found a little gas on the higher side which had accumulated in consequence of his neglect to set up a brattice cloth. he brushed it out with one of the collier’s shirts and then proceeded to light the fuse when a small quantity of gas exploded. The injuries that the man received were so slight that he did not leave work. The shotlighter was charged with a breach of the Rules for not withdrawing his men from a dangerous part of the mine and fined 40/- with costs. (Mines Inspectors Report)

2nd. July 1885.
John Naylor aged 57 years dataller at the No.2 Pit was taking timber when he took a certain prop a heavy fall occurred carrying all the props with it where he was standing and it fell on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)

14th. September 1885.
John Thornley aged 32 years, drawer was killed at the No. 2 Pit when he and a collier were lowering a tub a yard or two to fill when their place being steep it overpowered them and he was in front and it forced him down the brow and crushed him against a prop. (Mines Inspectors Report)

25th. January 1886.
John Birchall aged 38 years, collier at the No.2 Pit was getting a pillar of coal and three of his props got capped and he appears to have gone on working without resetting them although he was told to do so by the fireman when the roof fell on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)

17th. February 1886.
Houghton aged 53 years, fireman in the No.2 Pit had sent men to make the roof coal safe in the main engine brow and head just examined a piece of roof that he considered safe when it suddenly fell on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)

6th. November 1886.
Thomas Burroughs aged 40 years collier was killed when a piece of stone fell from the slips and between the props on the face of his widework. The place in the No.3 Pit was well timbered. (Mines Inspectors Report)

7th. July 1888.
Henry Burrows aged 40 years fireman and James Dearden aged 36 years, dataller were killed in the No. 3 Pit. They had retimbered an old road which was crushed after setting a bar they were taking out the old one when the side came over carrying two bars with it. (Mines Inspectors Report)

13th. July 1888.
Colliery Fatality at Haydock.
At the inquest held at the Wagon and Horses on John Dearden aged 36 years, a daywageman and Henry Burrows aged 40 years, fireman who were killed at Pewfall No.3, Thomas Hughes, a young man, stated he and the deceased had set props when Dearden knocked out one prop and the roof came down. He thought there was danger in taking down the prop. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ and suggested that a jack prop be set in future. (Prescot Reporter)

17th June 1889.
James Ratcliffe aged 45 years collier in the No.3 Pit was caught by a falling stone on a slip when in the act of setting a prop. Inflammation of the legs set in and he died on 22nd June. (Mines Inspectors Report)

04-11-1892
The Pewfall collieries are situated in Ashton-in-Makerfield about one a quarter miles north of the Queen shaft comprising Nos, 1, 2 and 3 shafts. No 1 is a pumping shaft, with a Cornish beam engine erected at the top. The engine has a cylinder of 61ins in diameter and an 8 ft stroke and raises the water in two lifts of 56 yards each with a 12 in ram and an 8 ft stroke in the pumps. The Wigan Four and Five Feet seams are drained by this method. No 2 is a winding and downcast shaft, 9 ft in diameter, depth 112 yards, from which level the two top Wigan coals are raised. Both the mines are worked by a pillar and board system. The No 2 winding engine has two horizontal cylinders 18 in by 48 ins, slide- valves and 9 ft drum. The winding ropes are of patent steel, 1 in diameter. Cages and conductors are similar to those used in the Queen shaft. The coal as it is worked at present lies a considerable distance to the dip of the shafts, and is hauled upbrow by an engine with 12 in cylinders actuated by compressed air and placed at the bottom of the shaft The air is supplied from a compressor on the surface which has two horizontal steam cylinders 12 in by 24 ins and two horizontal air cylinders of the same size. These are made on Messrs Pilkington and Forests patent principle. The upcast shaft is 10 ft in diameter and sink to a depth of 80 yards being placed on arise to the measures. No 3 is a downcast and winding shaft, 13 feet in diameter and 388 yards deep to the little Delf and Arley mines. The Rushy Park or Orrell Five Feet in 60 yards above it. The no 3 winding engine has two horizontal cylinders, 36 ins by 72 ins. The drum is of a spiral form. minimum diameter 17 feet maximum 32 feet, the rope running in wrought iron flanged grooves. The ropes are 4 ins in circumference of best plough steel. Six tubs of 7 cwt. capacity are raised in each of the cage three decks; formerly, when the output of coal was greater, eight tubs were raised in a cage, on four decks. Underground haulage is partly done y a steam engine on the surface and partly by compressed air engines placed underground. The engine on the surface has two horizontal cylinders, 17 ins by 24 ins and double-gear, driving an endless rope, which passes down the shaft and works the downbrow. Two Compressors are placed on the surface; one with 18 in steam and 20 in air cylinder, 4 ft stroke, made at the Company’s shops; another, with two 12 in steam and air cylinders, by Messrs Walker Brothers. The compressors supply air to several hauling engines underground and are found to be a great advantage, especially at long distances from the shaft. The upcast shaft is 13 ft in diameter, somewhat to the rise of No 3 also sunk to the Arley mine. (Colliery Guardian)

16th. June 1890.
William Ralphson aged 56 years, dataller was killed at 3 a.m. in the 6th. hour of the shift in the No.3 Pit was assisting a fireman and another man to set a bar at a fault when a stone slipped down and sprung the bar at the side of his head.

2nd. May 1891.
Benjamin Sharrock aged 56 years fireman was working at 11 a.m. in the 6th. hour of the shift he was said to have injured his breast while attempting to lift a coal tub onto the metals. Died 18th. October. (Mines Inspectors Report)

6th. November 1891.
John Smethurst an unmarried man of Lower Lane, Pewfall was engaged in the colliery when a portion of the roof fell on his back and badly crushed him. He was taken home and lies in a precarious state. (St Helens Lantern)

5th. July 1892.
William Hughes aged 38 years collier was killed at 7.30 a.m. in the 2nd. hour of the shift he was working alongside the endless rope haulage rising 5″ per yard behind two full tubs chained to the rope. To the last of these, a tail rope was attached. which was pushing two tubs out of the dip workings. These latter got off the rails causing a great strain on the chain which gave way and the tubs ran back on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)

15th. February 1893.
Henry Lyon aged 15 years pony driver was working at 8.15 a.m. on the 3rd. hour of the shift he was riding on a journey driving a pony and apparently fell off in front of the tub. His mate Peter Talbot had his arm badly broken. (Mines Inspectors Report) (St Helens Lantern)

25th. February 1894.
Luke Carty aged 55 years furnaceman lost his life. At 8 a.m. in. The 12th. hour of the shift the day furnaceman and another man were descending the pit and the cage stopped at the Rushy Park mouthing for the furnaceman to get out. He was in the mouthing and gave the signal to lower and appeared at attempt to enter the cage but failed to do so and fell 60 yds to the bottom of the pit and was killed. (Mines Inspectors Report)

1st. March 1895.
Patrick Flaherty aged 46 years, collier was working at 6.15 a.m. in the 1st. hour of the shift he went to his working place and commenced to draw a prop which was in the way of his tub getting to the face. He must have misjudged the security of the roof which fell on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)

19th. November 1897.
Thomas Hanson aged 42 years, contractor was to rip the roof down and there were two props in the way. He set tow fresh props and proceeded to draw the other. He got the first one out safely but in drawing the second a large stone fell on him. He should have used a gablock and chain which was provided. (Mines Inspectors Report)

7th October 1896.
William Liptrott aged 35 years, collier was working on a longwall face he had set props to within three feet six inches of the face when a stone fell between the coal and the face timber. The place was well timbered. (Mines Inspectors Report)

14th November 1899.
John Swift aged 53 years browman went under the staging at the brow to clean some dirt off the weighing beam and fell over the unprotected edge of some planking eighteen feet to the ground. Expired on his way to the hospital. (Mines Inspectors Report)

13th. April 1906.
Child Drowned At Haydock.
The body of Martin Pender aged 2 years was drowned in a pool of water near the Florida Cottages. He was the son of Thomas Pender a collier who lived at 320, Blackbrook Road. He went into the water with another aged 4 years. P.C. Thomas did his best to revive the child he was dead when they got him out. Mr. Robinson, general manager of the Haydock Collieries, said the water came from the Pewfall Collieries and passed through a culvert that had got blocked with pots and pans. He would do his best to see it was kept clear in future. The coroner read a letter from Dr. Dowling complimenting Constable Thomas on his practical aid and asked Inspector Palmer to bring the matter before the Chief Constable. Verdict ‘Accidently Drowned’. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)

2nd. July 1906.
A Garswood Man Killed.
William Dearden, a dataller aged 40 years of 15, Station Road, Garswood He was working with and man named Brown and they were fixing new props in a roadway. They had knocked d put the old props by a hammer and a large bar of timber came from the roof hitting him on the neck and the spine. He was taken to Haydock Hospital and died. They should have used a gablock and chain. Verdict, ‘Accidental Death’ and the jury recommended that the use of a hammer be discontinued and props drawn with a gablock and chain. (Mines Inspectors Report) (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)

28th. June 1907.
Robert Hewitt aged 18 years, a drawer was killed when a full tub being drawn up by the engine struck a tub left by a drawer too near the haulage road which knocked it against the timber causing the roof to fall on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)

15th. July 1908.
Haydock Fireman’s Fatal Hurry.
Robert Smith aged 57 years, a fireman was killed when walking over a large fall of roof in the main haulage brow. He appeared to have slipped and fallen down at the end causing internal injuries. Mr. F.A. Jones, the deputy coroner held the inquest into the death of Robert Smith of 24, Juddfield Street, and went to work on Sunday afternoon the 14th. A fall took place in the lower motion brow and the deceased spoke to the men across the fall and he started to go over to them. When he got to the other side he fell. He was moved to the hospital where he died. The cause of the accident seemed to be the hurry when he climbed over the fall and a stone fell on him and he went about 9 feet onto the rails. It was unfortunate that a fireman who was always so careful should meet his death in this way. Verdict, ‘Accidental Death’. (Mines Inspectors Report) (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)

31st December 1909.
Fatal Accident At Haydock.
The Coroner, Mr. S. Brighouse, held the inquest on the body of Edward Edwards aged 43 years of 159, Liverpool Road, who was cut to pieces by being run over by a coal train at Pewfall colliery. Thomas Bennett who was employed as a brakesman on a train that was pushing eleven waggons and he saw the deceased along the line and as the train was about to start the deceased got onto the buffer of the front waggon. He was told that he was not allowed there but the deceased said that he was better than walking and he got off at the Pewfall curve. The witness said that they did not stop at the curve and he managed to get off and he saw him drop to the ground. He stumbled and fell under a waggon wheel. It was said that the brakesman should not have started the train until he got off. Mr. Robinson, the General Manager of the collieries, said that no one had the right to ride on the trains. The coroner said that the man had brought about his own death and the verdict was ‘Accidental Death’. The foreman of the jury said that the instructions had to be carried pout in future and the coroner said that the brakesman should have carried out his instructions. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)

 

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

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