Phoenix Colliery

The colliery was situated on Burtonhead Road. This colliery was opened by Benjamin B. Glover in 1873 when the ‘Inspector’s Report’ showed that one pit was in the process of being sunk. The ‘Colliery Guardian’ for 1893, records two pits 85 and 90 yards in depth, with an advanced arrangement of winding, ventilating and haulage machinery. The output was given as 300 tons per day from the Lower Pigeon House Seam, which was only 2 ft. thick. The colliery employed 211 men. The colliery reputedly closed in 1895.

16th. February 1882.
There was an explosion of gas in the Pigeon House seam at the colliery when one man was killed. The barometer read 30.32 in and was rising. a little gas had collected during the night on the higher side of some widework face which the fireman did not discover in the morning and accordingly reported it safe. The collier went in with an open candle in his hand and worked for an hour before the gas exploded. Case open light In future the mine will be worked only with lamps. (Mines Inspectors Report)

4th March 1882.
Fatal Result of Colliery Explosion.
At the inquest at the King’s Head, Kirkham Street on the body of John Carswell who died on Sunday after an explosion at the Phoenix colliery, Sutton on the 16th. February. Alice Jackson said that she had nursed the deceased at 69, Hope Street. He was a collier and was 32 years of age. Ralph Hays, collier who had been working with the deceased when the explosion occurred. They had been working on the high side of the ribbing in the No.1 pit. The witness said that he was at the place first and saw the fireman’s mark on a spade and saw the fireman. They were working with naked lights as there had been no gas encountered in the mine for about four years. The explosion took place about 6.30 a.m. and Carswell was badly burnt. Hays went for the fireman who tested for gas but could not find any. There had been a fall during the night not far from where the men were working. He as taken home where he later died. At the inquest, Rebecca Carswell, his wife, gave the evidence of identification. Thomas Topping, the fireman said that the mine was worked with lamps and candles. Edward Schofield, the manager said the place where the explosion took place was two hundred yards from the surface and he considered it perfectly safe to work with candles but since the explosion safety lamps were used. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. (Prescot Reporter)

16th. December 1882.
Colliery Accident at St. Helens.
At the inquest into the death of John Glynn who was killed at the Phoenix colliery on the 23rd. John Halpin said he worked at the bottom of the balance brow on the morning of the accident when two boxes came down. There were shouts for the deceased to get out of the way but he failed to do so. John Wildman, the balancer said that the balance was about sixty yards long and the wagons were worked up and down on a wheel. When the wagons were going down the brow there was a jerk as though there was a small amount of dirt on the rails. He gave a jerk and found that the rope had come off the wagons. Evidence was given that the couplings were not of a very safe nature and a verdict of accidental death was returned. (Prescot Reporter)

5th. July 1884.
Wilful Miner in St. Helens.
At the Police Court James Grimes was charged with a breach of the Coal Mines Regulation Act while going up the shaft of the Phoenix colliery contrary to the directions of the hooker-on. He was also summoned for threatening the manager at the same time. On the day in question he went down as usual but after some time came to the shaft and demanded to go up as he said it was dangerous in the pit. The manager stated that the fireman had examined the place and found it perfectly safe but he persisted in ascending the shaft after using abusive language to the manager and threatening to cut off his head and put him in the canal. He was fined £1 and costs for the breach of the regulations. and the other summons were dismissed. (Prescot Reporter)

21-06-1884
At St. Helens Court James Graves was charged with disobeying the orders of the hooker-on and fined £1 and costs. (Mines Inspectors Report)

27-10-1885
TIERNEY Thomas 31 Drawer.
He was running out a full tub contrary to the rules and neglected to get off it when it came to a low place and he was crushed against a bar. The officials do not appear to have enforced the rules of riding on the tubs. (Mines Inspectors Report)

02-11-1885
John Thomas Wolfenden was charged with having a tobacco pipe down the pit at St. Helens Court and fined 5/- and costs. (Mines Inspectors Report)

16-11-1885
At St. Helens Court Robert Fairhurst was charged of having a lamp key down the pit and fined 1/- and costs and Joseph Pickavance was charged with the same offence and also fined 1/- and costs. (Mines Inspectors Report)

01-02-1877
JOHNSON Benjamin B. Thomas 14 Punt Driver. Fell under the loaded tram. Died 18th.

16-02-1882
GARDWELL John 23 Collier. Explosion of gas.

23-11-1882
GLYNN John 20 Drawer. He was passing the bottom of the brow when two tubs broke loose from the coupling rope and ran back and caught him before he could get into the refuge hole. A suggestion was made as to the couplings in the future that would prevent this.

14-08-1884
BURROWS John 25 Drawer. A small fall of coal in the drawing road as he was filling a tub. The roof appeared to be fairly good so bars had not been used although the road was propped. a recommendation was made that the place should be visited more frequently by the officials

22-11-1886
At St. Helens Court the following of the colliery were all charged with having a pipe down the mine and fined 7/6d plus costs William Greenall, William Wilderman, George Bibby, Thomas Bramlow, William Henshall, Richard Pye and Joseph Cubbins. Patrick Tierney was fined 2/6d plus costs for the same offence Peter Roosey was fined 2/6d and costs for having matches in the mine. (Mines Inspectors Report)

20th. October 1891.
Prosecution of Coal Manager.
The manager was summoned for a breach of the 7th. Rule which stated that road should be in good condition and high enough to allow horses to pass. Mr. Hall, the Government Inspector found two places where the horses were rubbing themselves against the bars. The defence said that there were 2000 yards of tunnels and these were the only two places where this was occurring. The Bench said that the Act had been breached and the manager was fined £2 on each count.

21-11-1892
PLATT John 22 gangrider. At 6.30am in the 1st hour of the shift, he was in charge of the engine gang and was among the tubs putting some on the rails which had been thrown off when the certificated manager shouted to him to keep clear but getting no answer he signalled the engine and he was crushed between the tubs. The road was very low at this point.

8th. February 1889.
Stealing Wood and Coal.
At St. Helens Police Court, James Mullen aged 14 years and Kathleen Murphy aged 13 years were charged with stealing 2d. worth of coal from Phoenix colliery. George Thomas Lilley, aged 13 years and Helen Skerrett were charged with stealing 28lbs. coal and Patrick Hardman, a lad was charged with stealing firechips. All were found guilty and fined. (Prescot Reporter)

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