This was situated on Redgate Drive and was already established by the 1840s. It was mentioned in the Inspector’s Reports for 1850 and 1855, as being owned by the Sankey Brook Colliery Co. In 1862, the recorded production was 100,000 tons of coal per year. It was later merged with the Ashton Green Colliery to form the Sankey Coal Co. Ltd., but this concern was not successful and folded in 1869. The last reference to the colliery is in 1873 when it was owned by Henry Bramall & Company, of St. Helens. The colliery probably closed around 1876.
February 1847. J. Highcock was killed in the mine. (MJ)
February 1848. Sankey Brook Colliery in Parr. Owned by Messrs. Johnson, Worthington and Company. Three were killed and four severely injured when gas from old workings ignited at a candle. According to the Mining Almanac for 1849 seven were killed and two injured. (Galloway)
5th. December 1850.
Thomas Briscoe was killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
12th. July 1851.
J. Ashcroft was killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
28th. June 1852.
J. Swift was killed by an explosion of firedamp. (Mines Inspectors Report)
21st. October 1852.
T. Wayne, a putter was killed by a fall of coal. (Mines Inspectors Report)
21st. January 1854.
Mary Yates was killed when she was run over by a railway waggon. (Mines Inspectors Report)
11th. August 1854.
At the Black Horse Inn, there was an inquest into the death of James Lowe a collier, who was killed by fall of roof at the colliery. (Wigan Examiner)
12th. May 1854.
John Morris, a boy of ten years of age, a driver at the colliery had his thigh broken by a waggon of coal which hit him and knocked him down. (Wigan Examiner)
9th. September 1854.
William Buras was killed when he fell out of a bucket in the sinking shaft by the chains of the bucket on which they were working being caught by the winding bucket and lifted off the hook. (Mines Inspectors Report)
3rd. May 1854.
It was reported that the Sankey Brook colliers went back to work on Friday. Sixteen men had been out for three weeks with pay for two weeks when production fell and it was agreed that in future the work should be measured every three weeks. (Wigan Examiner)
14th. December 1855.
On Monday a death was reported at the colliery on the steam riddle at that sorted large and small coal. Susannah Norcross aged 16 years had to clear the riddles and got her dress caught in a cog and was dragged in by the leg and crushed. Her clothes were torn off and her legs and arm mangled and she was a terrible spectacle but she died very quickly. (Wigan Examiner)
6th. July 1855.
On Tuesday at the inquest at the house of Peter Millington at Parr on James Twist aged 18 years who was killed by a fall of roof, it was reported that he had had two brothers killed in the same colliery. (Wigan Examiner)
12th. January 1855.
Ten ponies were lost at the colliery out of the twenty that were in the pit. There was fire in the pit and they were suffocated by the smoke. They were seen all right and stabled at 10 p.m. but when they were seen at 4 a.m. ten or eleven of them were dead and the remainder were running about the pit. No one could say how the fire started but it was thought that drunkenness was the culprit. (Wigan Examiner)
21st. October 1855.
W. Dunne aged 11 years was killed by falling into the sump at the bottom of the pit. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. December 1855.
Joseph Goulding was scalded by bursting of the boiler on the 11th. December. (Mines Inspectors Report)
28th. October 1856.
A tub of coal was being wound up a brow when the rope broke and the tub ran back and smashed into another tub. Fortunately, there was no one hurt. (St. Helens Intelligencer)
12th. February 1857.
William Harrison aged 32 years was killed by a fall of the roof when a large stone fell on him. . (Mines Inspectors Report) (St. Helens Intelligencer)
1st. August 1857.
A sinker, Henry Widowes, was severely hurt when he was repairing the shaft and a stone fell from the side eighty-one yards and penetrated his right kidney. He is reported to be recovering from his injuries. (St. Helens Intelligencer)
11th. June 1857.
Six persons, five boys and one man, were killed in descending the shaft to the Rushy Park mine at the colliery in a waggon suspended from four corners which caught the side of the pit causing two of the hooks to be detached and the men fell 200 yards to the bottom. The Inspector had previously visited the pit but commented that the manager who was not an engineer did not comprehend what he should do and he recommended him to appoint a viewer to who he would point out the defects. The Inspector Mr. Peter Higson had arranged to visit the colliery and do this on the day the accident occurred. The pit which was 360 yards deep was out of the perpendicular and irregularly and badly walled and without guides. The Inspector commented;- “I believe that the waggon caught one of the rings which it nearly did when I was descending. Sadly this is enough to convince the colliery proprietors that the services of a colliery viewer competent are indispensable as are guides and conductors in deep shafts where two ropes are used in one shaft” (Mines Inspectors Report)
3rd. July 1857.
Accident. On Sunday about 5.30 a.m., a portion of the brickwork surrounding the pit fell down the shaft and filled it up for seven yards. A number of workmen were about to descend the pit to examine and repair the shaft but fortunately, there was no one down the pit at the time. It was in this shaft a short time ago five men were killed and Mr. Peter Higson, the Inspector, had suspended the shaft and workings. (Wigan Observer)
3rd. September 1857.
James Burrows, a collier, was killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th. December 1857.
Mary Fisher was killed when she was crushed between trucks on the surface. (Mines Inspectors Report)
6th May 1858.
John Swift aged 23 years, a hooker-on was killed when a waggon rail which a collier had placed near the mouth of the pit fell on him while he was taking an empty tub out of the cage. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th. May 1858.
Accident at the Colliery.
At the colliery on Wednesday last, a banksman, Peter Fenny, was filling a tub with iron rails about two yards long when one was dropped down the shaft and alighted on the arm of John Swift the hooker on fracturing it in such a dreadful manner that amputation at the shoulder was necessary. Dr. Gaskell performed the operation but the poor fellow died a few hours later when a great haemorrhage took place. (Colliery Guardian)
6th. February 1858.
On Wednesday there was an inquest into the death of John Holland at Johnson’s colliery who was killed when a large portion of roof fell on him. He was taken home in a cart. At the inquiry, it was stated that the roof was badly supported. (St. Helens Intelligencer)
3rd. May 1859.
Accident. John Barrows aged 51 years a furnaceman was killed when he had signalled the engineer to wind up the cage before he got into it and it started. He had severely broken ribs when he was getting into the cage and was crushed against a guide rod. The engineman had started the engine while he was getting in. He was removed home but he died. The inquest was held at the Bulls Head on Friday and a verdict of ‘Accidental death’ was returned. (Mines Inspectors Report) (St. Helens Intelligencer)
17th. December 1859.
Coal Stealing At The Colliery.
Joseph Higginson was given seven days in Kirkdale goal for stealing coal from waggons at Wickers Doss siding, and Martha Hough and Mary Hankinson were charged with the same offence and given a caution because there were extenuating circumstance. (Prescot Reporter)
17th. March 1860.
Thomas Swift aged 10 years, a drawer in the Chain pit was crushed and killed by a large fall of roof. (Prescot Reporter)
16th. April 1861.
George Knox, a labourer broke his leg by the engine crank the effects from which he died. (Mines Inspectors Report)
30th. August 1861.
Accident At The Colliery.
Samuel Leigh aged 19 years, a collier was killed when he was run over in an incline underground. At the inquest into the death of Samuel Leigh, drawer, at the Bulls Head, Parr and from the evidence it appears that he was riding on some laden tubs that were being drawn up the engine brow when he fell off and was run over and killed instantly. The jury brought in a verdict of ‘Accidental death’. (Mines Inspectors Report) (Wigan Observer) (Prescot Reporter) (Colliery Guardian)
26th. December 1861.
James Wilkinson a collier, was killed when he fell out of the tub while ascending the pit. (Mines Inspectors Report)
3rd. January 1863.
Colliery Engineer Committed For Manslaughter.
The engineer was drunk and caused a man named Littler to fall to his death down the pit. At the inquest, into the death of Littler the engineer Thomas Carter was questioned and it was learned that as the men got into the cage Carter drew the cage up. He was drunk at the time. A man named Foster jumped out of the cage but Little had his leg cut off by the cage as it was drawn into the headgears. Carter was indicted for manslaughter at Kirkdale Sessions. (St. Helens Newspaper) (Wigan Observer)
1st. January 1864.
Fatal Accident.
On Thursday a carter in the employ of Robert Fairclough named Peter Lawless, aged 50 years, went to the colliery for coal and was bringing the cart onto the weighing machine when the horse became restless and crushed him against a post. He fell and the wheel went over him and he was killed. (Wigan Observer) (Wigan Examiner)
5th. February 1864.
Strike.
A meeting was held at the colliery by Mr. Davidson, the Miners’ Agent when he exerted the men to join the Union. Balancers and waggoners were on strike and the miners were in support. (Wigan Observer)
12th. February 1864.
Strike.
The strike was over after the men had been out for two weeks and they got a 10% increase and resolved to work 9 hours a day. The men would go back to work at the colliery on Monday. (Wigan Observer)
16th. May 1864.
Coal Stealing.
Three girls were jailed for one month after being found guilty of stealing coal form the colliery. (St. Helens Newspaper)
7th. May 1864.
Intimidating Colliers.
Thomas Topping, John Johnson, Matthew Swift and William Jackson were each sent to jail for twenty one days for intimidating a workman named William Wilson at the Sankey Brook colliery. who was set upon because he would not leave his work. (Prescot Reporter)
22nd. February 1865.
Misprint. Joseph Smith, a miner who died from injuries he received from a firedamp explosion. This was originally printed as Laffack colliery but an apology for the mistake was printed 28th. February. The inquest into the death of Joseph Smith was held at Lord Nelson Parr. He was 28 years old and left a wife and five children. He died as a result of an explosion in the Little Delf Mine. Margaret, his wife, said he was brought home, walking, about 11.30 a.m. and was burnt in the middle of his head and back and could not open his eyes. Dr. Gaskell was sent for and asked him what had happened and he said he was drilling and before he matched the shot and got to an opening about eighteen yards away. There was no flame in the pit but there was gas and he had placed his cap on the lamp at the time. David Straight and John Saxon gave evidence that he worked at the pit bottom. Harrison, the fireman examined the place on Wednesday and found little gas. (St. Helens Newspaper)
6th. May 1865.
Intimidation.
Four colliers, Thomas Topping, John Johnson, Matthew Swift, William Johnson, John Chadwick and Jonathan Johnson were committed to jail for using threats against William Rowlinson, a collier. (Wigan Observer)
5th. July 1865.
Ann Highcock aged 19 years, a coal drawer was killed by falling from one stage to another along with some coal boxes she was pushing. She fell about seven feet. (Mines Inspectors Report)
14th. September 1865.
James Kay aged 17 years, a drawer was killed by a fall of roof in the Little Delf Mine. The inquest was held on the following Saturday at the Grey Horse, Parr. William Bradley was a witness and the deceased was his drawer. He was loading coal when a fall of stuff fell on him while kneeling. He was carried home in the arms of Bradley. It was found that there a was slip four feet from the face in the side and the fall came from that. Verdict, accidental death. (Colliery Guardian) (Wigan Observer) (Wigan Examiner) (Mines Inspectors Report)
19th. February 1860.
Henry Parr aged 17 years, a waggoner was killed as he was getting into the cage when the engine started injuring him so that he died soon afterwards. (Mines Inspectors Report)
28th. July 1860.
Richard Frodsham aged 44 years, a collier was killed by a fall of top coal which the deceased had neglected to prop. (Mines Inspectors Report)
2nd. January 1860.
Robert Littler aged 32 years a collier was killed in an overwinding accident. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1st. January 1863.
The engine tenter in the Rushy Park Mine at midnight had to attend to lower two men down the pit. He was so tipsy at the time as he was unable to discharge his duties properly and wound them off the pulley. The deceased fell from the top of the headgear down the pit and the other feel onto the pit bank and received slight injuries. The engine tenter was indicted for manslaughter at Liverpool assizes. The pit was off work at the time and neither of the two men saw the tenter before they got into the cage. The banksman saw him apparently lying on the floor asleep and did not know or perceive that he was unfit for duty and work. (Mines Inspectors Report)
13th. February 1864.
Strike At The Colliery.
The waggon balancers got their demands and the strike has finished. The men will restrict their hours of labour and they will decide by lot at which pit they will do it first. It is hoped that their demands will be granted in order to prevent the results of a strike. (Colliery Guardian)
19th. February 1865.
Joseph Smith, a collier was killed in an explosion of gas. He was burnt in an explosion of gas in the Little Delf Mine and died from the injuries that he received. He had left the place in which he had been ordered to work and unknown to the manager and the overlooker. He went up a brow that had been suspended and begun to work there although there was a danger signal. In a few minutes, the explosion took place. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. April 1866.
Fatal Accident.
On Tuesday a boy named William Kelsall aged 12 years, son of Ann Kelsall of Peasley Cross, a beer seller, was accidentally killed at the Sankey Brook Colliery whilst engaged in the cleaning a portion of the machinery connected to the engine. His head was nearly severed from his body. It appeared that he was employed as an errand boy and on the day in question he was engaged in cleaning the engine and carrying oil to the engineers who were engaged in the same work. He had gone to the upper storey of the engine house and the engineer’s attention was attracted by a wheel falling into the room. The engineer went to see what it was and found William had been caught in the machinery. He was stuck fast in the wheels connected to the winding indicator. The machinery was immediately stopped and assistance sought and the boy got out but he had his head almost severed from his body. The inquest was at the Mrs. Helsby’s House in Peasley Cross and the verdict was ‘Died through his own incaution’. (Wigan Observer) (Wigan Examiner) (St. Helens Standard)
13th. July 1866.
John Maddon, aged 30 years, a labourer was killed. John Colgrave of Parr said the deceased lodged with him and he was moving a barrow of bricks when he started vomiting blood. Dr. Ricketts said Madden progressed and had a perforation of the stomach. Three months ago he had fallen down and injured his side and death was due to internal haemorrhage. Verdict, ‘Death was due to the effort of lifting the barrow of bricks’. (Wigan Observer)
8th. February 1867.
James Leyland, a pitman and Peter Thompson also a pitman were killed when the rope on which they were going down the pit got out of the pulley and broke when it fell on the axle. At an inquest before Mr. Driffield at Mr. Johnson’s, The Bulls Head in Parr on Monday afternoon the bodies of two men James Leyland and Peter Thompson aged 37 and 53 years respectively who came to their deaths on the 8th instant at the colliery. Mr Higson, the Government Inspector, was present and Mr. Thomas appeared for the Company and Mr. Roberts for The Miners’ Association. James Bulmer, who lived in Pennington Road, Parr, ran the engine about three in the afternoon when he was winding water. The pump had broken down the day before and they were winding water in a tank. It was the duty of the two deceased to take precautions for winding the water and then they had to go down the pit to see if the tank tipped into the water. The witness asked if they were ready and they gave the signal to lower. The engineman said they got to the brow and carried a light plank that was laid over the top of the tank. The rope broke when they were fifteen yards down the pit and the witness lay down at the pit edge and looked down but he could see nothing. Thomas Mercer and he were looking and they could see that the rope was broken. The engine was stopped and he and Mercer went into the pit and saw the body of Thompson in the cage and he was brought up. The men had worked at the pit for about nine years and were experienced and well thought of by the Company. At a directors meeting a little time before, money was made available to make the pit as safe as possible. A verdict of accidental death was returned by the jury. (Mines Inspectors Report) (St. Helens Standard)
The Mines Inspector commented in his report on the accident;
Two experienced men employed at the colliery with the sole purpose of keeping the ropes, machinery pipes and tackle in a safe order had been making some improvements in one of the pits at the colliery. When they had got down only a few feet the rope broke and they fell to the bottom both were dreadfully mangled and quite dead. The cage was previously standing on the pit bank some distance out of the direct line of the groove of the pulley and was drawn into the pit by the engine and as the rope was around one and in good condition, it must have got on the side of the flange of the pulley as the cage was first being hauled into the pit and when it began to be lowered that rope slipped off the axle and was broken by a sudden jerk. By several experiments, I have found that it was of average strength. The deceased had the full authority to discontinue the use of the rope which was doubtful in appearance. As round ropes were liable to get out of the pulley unless they were properly adjusted it should be put in a direct line of the pulley and the last or the top coil on the drum should on all cases be at the right angle to the axle pulley. (Mines Inspectors Report)
30th. March 1867.
Children Stealing Coal.
Mary and Catherine Kelly, two little children whose parents appeared in court were charged with stealing 20lbs. of coal and they pleaded guilty. The directors of the pit were troubled with coal stealing and wished to put an end to it. Mr. Thomas was the solicitor for the owners and said that in the 8th. March the children were seen stealing coal valued at 1d. and the case was dismissed with costs. John Clubb and John Birchall both children were charged with stealing coal on the 7th. March. The manager gave evidence and the case was dismissed with costs. At the court, the case of Mrs. O’Brien an old woman was charged with stealing coal 50lbs. Thomas Eabes the browman said that he had seen O’Brien take coal from the pit brow. They were questioned as to the amount of coal taken and it was said that it was about 1cwt. She said that she could not lift that quantity. There was laughter in the court. The case was dismissed as being rather suspicious. (St. Helens Standard)
12th. March 1867.
Accident At Sankey Brook.
Meeting of miners was held on Saturday afternoon at Parr Stocks. Present were Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Leyland whose husbands were killed at the colliery on the 8th February and they were presented worth memorial cards by Mr. Rymer who made a short but touching address. At the conclusion of the address, the widows thanked the meeting and left the room. It was the proposed that a public subscription should be opened for the widows and orphans by Mr. Rymer and another meeting would be held at Parr Stocks on Wednesday next to take the matter into consideration when Mr. Rymer and others will address the meeting. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
30th. June 1867.
Accident.
Matthew Barnes, aged 32 years, Robert Halliday, Thomas Whitehead and Robert Thornton aged 16, Thomas Hullet aged 12, years Thomas Jason aged 12 years were descending the pit at the colliery which was 367 yards deep and 11 feet wide on a single rope to a box with no guide rods and the rope twisted and the box was attached by four hooks. John Myres the banksman stopped at 140 yards to clear the water table said it was not worthwhile making two windings so they would all go together and stop at the water table. There was the call to lower and those on the surface saw the rope vibrate and the engine was stopped. It was lowered at a signal from the bottom and then was raised and found to contain two lad’s caps that were bloodstained and two hooks had broken off. Michael Richie the fireman at the bottom heard screams and he signalled the banksman There were 60 yards on the drum. William Rigby collier said that the rope was in a bad state. Mr. Higson was at the colliery and saw what happened. He thought the colliery was badly managed and he expressed a pit of that depth should have guide rods. Higson said that no coal should be wound until the pit had been made safe. (St. Helens Intelligencer)
15th. July 1867.
Fire At Local Colliery.
Early on Friday morning, a fire was discovered at the new coal pit at Sutton, the property of the Sankey Brook Coal Company. The fire was confined to sheds and the structures over the pit mouth which was made to direct the coal boxes into railway wagons as they came to the surface. About four o’clock the whole of the structure was destroyed despite the efforts of the local fire brigade. No one was injured and the Company was fully insured. The colliers have been thrown out of work for some time. (Prescot Reporter)
16th. February 1867.
Accident At Sankey Brook Colliery.
There was an accident resulting in the death of two men at Messrs Johnsons colliery at Parr on the afternoon of the 8th. It appears that two daywageman Peter Thomas, aged 43 years and James Leyland aged 37 years of Parr Stocks whose duty it was to look after the safety of the gearing were at the mine engaged in testing a new rope which was used for lowering and raising materials up and down the pit. On this occasion, the mode in which this was done was at the most unwise and at least foolhardy. Instead of trying it safely with deadweight alone, they stepped into the cage and before it got 12 yards from the surface the rope broke. The men were precipitated 180 yards to their deaths. Death was instantaneous and the bodies were shockingly mutilated. Both men were married and left families. The inquest was held on Monday before Mr. Driffield and a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was returned. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
8th. January 1869.
David Wilson a dataller was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
27th. February 1869.
Coal Stealing.
John Holligan was the defendant and PC.365 said he had information that the defendant was stealing coal. The defendant said that the coal came out of the water and was sent to jail for 14 days. Martin Murphy, aged 15 years, was sent to jail for the same offence. Patrick Churchill, aged 13 years, was sent to jail for one week and sentenced to one stroke of the birch for stealing 56lbs. of coal. Margaret Davies, an old woman, was sent to goal for 14 days for stealing 64lbs. of coal the property of Amelia Wallace of Duke Street. PC.395 saw the woman coming from the yard with the coal on Thursday at 3.30 a.m. (St. Helens Standard)
3rd. December 1869.
Liquidation Of The Sankey Brook Coal Company.
From an advert in the ‘Colliery Guardian’: “To be sold by private treaties. Particulars from Mr. Isaiah Booth of Hollingworth Manchester or from Maskell William Pearce, solicitor of St. Helens.” (Colliery Guardian)
10th. December 1869.
The Sankey Brook Coal Company.
Before Vice Chancellor James and Mr. Kay Q.C., a partition was presented to wind up the Company’s debts which amounted to £70,000 of which £50,000 was due to shareholders. The creditors were the Alliance Bank and the Company was unable to pay. The case was adjourned for one week. (Colliery Guardian)
22nd. February 1870.
Sankey Brook Coal Company. A summons was heard with a view to the winding up on the company. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
28th. April 1870.
Man Killed In Coal Pit.
Joseph Hindley aged 19 years, a drawer was killed by a fall of roof in the High Delf Mine. He was working with his father in the same place. The mine was nearly finished and much crushing and weighting was brought on by the goaf. The dirt was very soft and dangerous. They had worked under that day before it was supported by props. The layer was about fourteen inches and should have been got down as the coal was removed. His father called his son’s attention to it and the young man saw the danger and told his father to get out first. He went but the fall caught his son crushed his head and killed him. (Mines Inspectors Report) (St. Helens Standard)
16th. May 1870.
George Swift aged 44 years, a fireman was suffocation in the pit. (Mines Inspectors Report)
21st. May 1870.
Fatal Accident In Coal Pit.
George Swift, a fireman at the Sankeybrook colliery, was passing a part of the road where the roof was unsafe when a quantity of coal fell on him. He was killed immediately and his body conveyed home. (Prescot Reporter)
20th. August 1870.
Mary Connelly was charged with stealing coal from the colliery and sent to jail for 7 days. (St. Helens Standard)
30th. July 1870.
Coal Stealing.
B. Callaghan and Johanna Donnelly were charged with frequenting a road at Sutton with the purpose of stealing coal. They were seen in possession of coal which they dropped and the overlooker said he had frequently chased them away. Callaghan had been previously convicted. There was some doubt and the bench dismissed the case. (St. Helens Standard)
26th. February 1870
The winding-up of the colliery is reported in the St. Helens Standard. (St. Helens Standard)
5th. February 1870.
Stealing Coal.
Two girls, Catherine Donovan and Mary McGowen, about 16 years old were charged with stealing coal. Joseph Heyes, the overlooker, saw the latter on the top of a railway waggon and she was throwing coal down to the other who was putting it in a bag. The coal was worth 1/- and they were committed to jail for 14 days. (St. Helens Standard)
30th. May 1871.
Joseph Parr aged 32 years, a collier was killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
23rd. August 1871.
Fatal Accident.
Robert Margeson aged 20 years, a collier, of Marshalls Cross Sutton, was killed by a fall of roof. He was engaged in fixing a bar to the curling and a great quantity of dirt fell on him breaking his back. He was conveyed home and died on the 22nd. (Mines Inspectors Report) (St. Helens Standard)
2nd. October 1871.
Henry Millington aged 26 years, a sinker was killed when the rope got out of the pulley and he fell down the pit. (Mines Inspectors Report)
22nd. November 1872.
Flooding Of The Colliery.
On Friday last a torrent of water broke into the mine at the Rushy Park shaft. There were 250 men in the mine at the time and it broke through the shaft about 50 yards from the bottom. It is supposed to have come from old workings. It caused a great deal of alarm and men rushed to the pit eye. The cages were in constant use for about an hour. All the men were got out and the water reversed the ventilation. There was no working at the pit until Tuesday when the water was removed by pumping. (Colliery Guardian)
23rd. November 1872.
Alarm of flooding at Sankey Brook.
A totally unexpected inrush of water into the Rushy Park shaft at the Sankey Brook colliery took place on Friday causing a great amount of alarm. The shaft was about 180 yards deep and the Rushy Park seam was worked near the bottom from about 100 yards downwards. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
27th. November 1872.
Alarm at Flooding of Sankey Brook.
A totally unexpected rush of water took place into the Rushy Park shaft at the colliery and caused a great deal of alarm. The shaft was about 380 yards deep and the Rushy Park seam was worked near the bottom. About 100 yards down were old and disused workings in the Roger mine which had been built up for a considerable time. A large volume of water had accumulated in this mine which pressed against the wall which gave way sending the water down the shaft into the dib hole. The men working in the mine were drawn to the surface through the falling water and they got wet through. As soon as a way was cleared the pumping engines were set to work. By Saturday it was found that the outflow had decreased to a trickle. A search was made for the ponies left below and it was found that they were safe. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
15th. February 1876.
St. Helens Petty Sessions.
Robert Chisnall and Aaron Greenough were summoned for wrongfully absenting themselves from the Sankey Brook colliery for which the sum of £2 was claimed by the owners for compensation. The magistrates considered the case and thought that the men knew the rule and of the reduction in wages. They also commented on the fact that the offence was committed on the 5th. February the summons did not occur until the 9th and awarded the damages at £1 each with costs. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
9th. June 1877.
Fatal Fall at St. Helens.
At the inquest at the Victoria vaults on the body of Richard Heyes aged 57 years who came to his death at the Sankey Brook colliery when on Wednesday evening he was engaged with other men in pulling down an old engine. They were working on the second storey of the engine house and in the course of the work the deceased fell off. He stepped back to cut some tobacco and overbalanced and fell nine feet into the room below breaking his back from the effects of which he died at about 7.15 the following day. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
11th. March 1882.
Petty Sessions.
John Johnson, John Norbury Alfred Johnson, William Griffith and John Jones were charged with having braced the Mines Regulation Act at Sankey Brook colliery as they did unlawfully have tobacco pipes and tobacco for smoking in the pit. All the defendants pleaded guilty and some said that they had taken the pipe down because they had forgotten to hide it at the surface which was their usual practice. Each was fined 2.6d. with costs of 7/6d. (St. Helens Newspaper)
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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