St Helens Colliery

19th. April 1873.
Neglect of Work By Colliers.
James Hill, John Roby, William White, Richard and John Southward and William Platt were charged with absenting themselves from Pilkington Brothers colliery. All the defendants pleaded guilty with the exception of Hill who said he had fallen and hurt himself and was unable to return to work. The colliery manager prosecuted the case and alleged that damage had been sustained by the employers to £3 in Southwards case, ten shillings in the case of each of the others. When asked why they had down it the men did not reply and the prosecution alleged that they wanted to go drinking. The men were told to pay the costs of the court. and the case was dismissed. (Prescot Reporter)

6th. May 1876.
Man Killed in Pilkington’s Colliery.
John Bradbury was killed on Thursday by a fall of coal and roof. At about 9 a.m. he was getting coal and after cutting under a mass of coal when it gave way. He called out but most fell on his head killing him instantly. His father and brother were working in the same pit and were at once called. the body was recovered and taken to his home in College Street. The deceased was 25 years of age who left a wife and two children. His father and brother who got him out had started work that morning after both being injured in a previous accident at the pit. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)

23rd. June 1877.
Law Report.
In the Chancery Division on behalf of the St. Helens Collieries, there was an injunction to restrain James Radley from, pumping water from his collieries and running into a brook and causing the plaintiff’s reservoir to be damaged and also his engines and boilers. It appeared that in 1875 the defendant’s pit caught fire and was flooded. Pumping started in April last. The water was impregnated with sulphate of iron and ruined the plaintiff’s boilers. The defendant contended that the water did little or no damage. The Chancellor granted the injunction. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)

22nd. November 1879.
Fatal Accident at St. Helens Colliery.
George Boolwater aged 70 years was killed. He was a weighman and had to label wagons going too and from the colliery. During shunting operations, he was knocked down by some wagons which passed over his legs completely cutting them off. He was conveyed home and Dr. Gaskell sent for but he died before the gentleman arrived. A verdict of accidental death was returned at the inquest. (Prescot Reporter)

15th. February 1881.
Thefts of Coal.
Jane Morrison and Elizabeth Cartwright were charged with stealing a small quantity of coal from St. Helens Colliery Company. They had been remanded on bail for a similar offence and had now been caught stealing a hundredweight of coal from near the railway bridge at the colliery. The charges were withdrawn when they promised not re-offend and they were discharged. (St. Helens Newspaper)

28th. February 1882.
Charges Against Collier.
At St. Helens Petty Sessions Robert Briers who worked at St. Helens colliery was charged with neglecting props at his work and the orders of the fireman. Mr. Swift, prosecuting called Bradbury, the fireman who said the place was not properly supported and told Briers to put up another support and left with the impression that this would be done but he had neglected to do so and a portion of the roof fell and the defendant’s drawer was injured and taken to hospital where he remained at the time of the case. The bench fined him 10/- with costs on the first charge and the second charge was withdrawn. (St. Helens Newspaper)

2nd. June 1883.
Colliery Accident at St. Helens. Fall down a pit.
A man named Abbott was employed at the St. Helens Colliery Company pit when there was a large fall of the roof almost burying the man. He was taken home to Haydock Street where he was attended to by Dr. Hay who found severe bruising to the legs and back and was taken to the Cottage Hospital. (Prescot Reporter)

27th. October 1883.
Alarming Accident at a St. Helens Colliery.
At No.9 pit, St. Helens collieries. During the day pumping operations had been going on but just as a tank full of water weighing about four tons was going up the shaft a portion of the slide valve of the engine broke and the tank went down the pit rapidly. the empty tank was also halfway down the shaft. This was carried to the top and over the pulley and fell through the roof of the engine house. The engine driver escaped by jumping through the window and two or three youngsters, who were looking in at the engine, fortunately, escaped serious injury. The engine house was a complete wreck. The accident did not interfere with the working of the colliery. (Prescot Reporter)

5th. April 1884.
Collier Killed in St. Helens.
The inquest into the death of John Foster, collier aged 50 years who met his death at the St. Helens Company colliery was held at the Exchange Vaults, College Street. James Foster, collier aged 31 years was employed stated that he and his cousin were widening a road and had done about three yards without propping when part of the roof came in although they had previously knocked it as solid. They got the rock off him. John Cross the Miner’s Agent asked the coroner if he could question the witness in the absence of the inspector. The coroner refused and stated, “You shut the miner’s mouths. I refuse to hear you Mr. Cross.” Mr. James Lowcock, underlooker gave said that he had visited the deceased and his cousin once a day. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. (Prescot Reporter)

14th. June 1884.
Shocking Colliery Accident at St. Helens.
Two children were killed and at the inquest at the Running Horses on the death of John Patrick Sweeney aged 8 years and Edward Price aged 6 years who died at the colliery of the Victoria and Coal and Fireclay Company on Saturday. Sweeney’s father and John Price, the fathers of the children identified their bodies. James Banks a collier stated that on the day of the accident he was passing the colliery on Sunday night he saw a boy fall down the pit from planks over the top of the pit and there were several boys playing about the pit mouth at the time. He had his companions rushed to the place and found the headgear uncovered with a winding wheel attached, a wire rope with a chain at the end of it. which was fastened around a tub which ran down the incline from the surface. He and Alfred Sherrat when down the pit but they were thrown off the chain and he was unconscious for a time. They found two children down the pit. Sherrat went to the surface ad another man descended. Banks brought Price up and the other man carried Sweeney. He felt that the children had been trespassing at the colliery. John Helm of Peasley Cross said that he was with Sherrat and Magarry when they were coming home from the direction of the waterworks when he heard that a boy had fallen down the shaft. John Peebles who lived at Jockey Brown and was a miner at the colliery stated that he heard that a child had fallen and went to the colliery. When he got there, the man Sherrat was being brought up and he had a broken leg and was taken to some nearby cottages. He went down the pit and found Banks and the two children. Banks and Price went out first and he brought up the dead boy. John Cross, the proprietor of the colliery stated that the pit was left safe on Saturday night by putting planks over it and taking up some rails. The coroner pointed out that the children were trespassing and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death and stated that there was no negligence attributed to anyone but they suggested that in future a watchman should be engaged. (Prescot Reporter)

5th. February 1887.
Colliery Fatality at St. Helens.
Mr. Brighouse, Coroner held the inquest on the bodies of Charles Austin of 52 Park Road and William Rigby 22, Morley Street who were killed at Messrs Pilkingtons Colliery. Mr. France, Manager stated Austin was with his son John and about one thousand yards from the shaft working on the pack when a stone slipped between two bars and killed him. If the pack had been finished it would have supported the stone which fell. The place was properly timbered. It emerged at the inquest that the men could not go for timber when they liked. Mr. Hall thought it was simply an accident and commented on the supply of timber in this part of Lancashire was most unsatisfactory. Rigby fell down the hole onto some rails and was killed. The Company agreed to the Inspectors recommendation to fix a rail around the hole. A verdict of Accidental Death was returned in both cases. (Prescot Reporter)

12th. March 1887.
Colliery Fatality at St. Helens.
At the inquest before Coroner Brighouse on Joseph Marsh who received injuries in the No.10 pit St. Helens Colliery Company from which he died. William Anders, a fireman said he had noticed a place fifteen yards from the shaft which required timbering and put chalk marks indicating that four bars should be set and told Seddon, the night fireman, to see that the bars were put up. Anders did not think that the deceased had gone about his work right. He started by pulling stones where there was plenty of room to set timber. Seddon said he had given the man instructions to do the work and he returned to the place a little later after doing his rounds when he heard that there had been a fall. he found about three and a half boxes had fallen from, the lower side and that Marsh had been injured. William Pigott who was working with Marsh said he told him there was no need to pull the rock but he did so and the fall resulted. The jury considered that Marsh had brought on his death himself and a verdict of Accidental Death was returned. (Prescot Reporter)

19th. March 1887.
Inquest at St. Helens.
At the inquest into the death of George Bate, collier aged 56 years of Glover Street. About five months previously he had crushed his foot at St. Helens No.10 colliery property of Messrs. Pilkington and was incapable to follow his employment. He was attended by Dr. Gaskell when death was due to paralysis. The doctor stated that the accident had not accelerated his death and a verdict of ‘Death from Natural Causes’ was returned. (Prescot Reporter)

13th. July 1888.
Colliery Mishap in St. Helens.
On Saturday Thomas Highcock was cleaning a working place at Pilkingtons St. Helens Colliery when a large stone fell on him and rolled against his leg. He shouted and was released with difficulty. Dr. O’Brian found the leg was broken. (Prescot Reporter)

26th. October 1888.
Accident at St. Helens Colliery.
Mr. Brighouse, the Coroner held the inquest on the body of Edward Hilton, a drawer at the St. Helens Colliery who died on the 18th. from injuries received on the 13th. April when he and others were working. Some props pressed against him and inflicted his injuries. He had not worked since he was injured and the jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’. (Prescot Reporter)

8th February 1889.
Colliery Fatality.
Thomas Jameson aged 18 years was skilled at the St. Helens colliery. At the inquest into his death it was stated he had placed a coal wagon near another as a slack wagon was brought own and he was crushed between them. The surface manager, Thomas Cummings, thought he had miscalculated the distance between the wagons. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’. (Prescot Reporter)

29th. March 1889
Fire at Messrs. Pilkington’s Colliery.
A spectacular fire occurred at the colliery. It broke out in the headgear and the blaze could be seen from a considerable distance and attracted a large crowd. The fire started about 11 p.m. and was spotted by Peter Johnson and Thomas Greenall the browmen. when the scaffold to the winding house was ablaze. They gave the alarm and the Fire Brigade arrived and the manager was soon o the scene. A full complement of firemen with an engine and hoses were soon at work. The Chief Constable and eight men were also present. On the arrival of the Fire Brigade, the fire had made great progress and was affecting the repair shop and the women’s cabin. The fire will not affect the employment on the brow to any extent. (St. Helens Reporter)

28th. November 1890.
Colliery Explosion at St. Helens Colliery.
The inquest at the Griffin Inn before Mr. Brighouse on the body of James Cross aged 26 years who died in an explosion of gas in the Ravenhead Mines, there was an argument that Mr. Swift the manager of the colliery objected to Mr. Hall, the Inspector of Mines giving evidence. There was some discussion with the Coroner and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death and said that the man should have been more cautious.

16th. January 1891.
Colliery Fatality at St. Helens.
James Harrison aged 18 years of 49, Gerrard Street dies in the Cottage Hospital from injuries received in the Little Delph Mine of Pilkingtons Colliery. He was a drawer for a collier named Henry Blundell and on the afternoon of the accident, Blundell heard a sound which told him the roof was unsafe. He managed to get out of the way of the fall but the deceased was caught on the head by a stone and rubbish that fell. He died 20 minutes after being admitted to the hospital. At the inquest, it was heard that the foreman had inspected the place in the morning and had knocked the stone that came down. The fireman thought the place safe and a prop was set four feet six inches from the place. Mr. Hall, the Government Inspector, said it was set at one end of the stone and more timber should have been set. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and expressed the opinion that there should have been more timber set.

27th. February 1891.
Colliery Fatality at St. Helens.
At the inquest into the death of Daniel Greer who met with an accident at the No.11 Colliery, it was heard he was working with William Jessop in repairing the roof. They had to take down two bars and were replacing them when a stone fell on the deceased. It was impossible to replace the bar without taking the old one out. Dr. Johnson said Greer’s ankle was diseased and the accident was the primary cause of death. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

17th. July 1891.
St. Helens Colliery Excursion.
It was reported that the St. Helens Colliery Annual Excursion went to Blackpool. Two trains sent off from the town, one at 6.30 and the other at 7.30. Eight hundred were on the rip and there was a lunch at a hotel in Blackpool. A grand time was had by all.

4th. September 1891.
Fatal Colliery Accident.
James Pennington, a collier of Back Bath Street was killed at the colliery. With him was Robert Campbell and they were engaged in repairing the roof when a quantity of stone and dirt fell. Pennington was killed and Campbell was severely crushed. At the inquest at the Town Hall, the Inspector thought every precaution had been taken and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

30th. October 1891.
Accident at the St. Helens Colliery.
Peter Bridgeman, engine tenter at the colliery, received serious injuries by the bursting of an oil lamp which badly burnt his head and face. He was taken to his home in Eccleston Street and attended to by Dr. Cottom.

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