The colliery was situated at the corner of Sutton Heath Road and Eltonhead Road. It was mentioned in the Inspectors Reports fro 1873 when it was w shown as having two pits. At that time it was owned by James Radley. The 1880 Report shows that it passed to his widow Mrs. F.P. Radley. In the 1890’s it was part of the Sutton Heath and Lea Green Colliery Company Limited when the manpower was about 140. For many years during this century, it was used a pumping pit.
30th. January 1858.
A collier William German was crushed about his head and chest when a large stone fell on him. He was reported to be progressing favourably under medical assistance. (Colliery Guardian)
19th January 1867.
At 10 p.m. on a Tuesday a 9 year old child, Ann Kearney, daughter of Patrick of Sutton was killed on the railway line at Gerrards Lane, Sutton when she was knocked down by an engine driven by John Fairclough as she was returning home from the Catholic Chapel. There was no signal at the crossing at night. The inquest was held at Clockface and a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was recorded. (St. Helens Standard)
9th. February 1867.
A man, who is not named, contracted to serve James Radley for 3/- per day. He absented himself from the colliery without notice where he was employed as an engineer. He was charged with violating the 23rd and 24th Chapel of the Coal Mine Act by wilfully drinking intoxicating liquor at work. Mr. Woods, the manager, deposed that the rules had been issued to all employees and to the man when he entered the Company’s service. Mr. Houghton., the fireman was engaged in the engine house at the time when two men came to see the engineer and some drink passed between them and the engineer who then let the man down the pit. The accused said an official named Burrows allowed him to have a drink but he paid attention to his work. Burrows contradicted this and the accused was fined £1 with costs of 10/6d. (St. Helens Standard)
27th. July 1867.
John Lee aged 26 years, collier, was killed by a fall of roof as he passed under a place where there was a small fault and a slip visible in the roof which was not sufficiently propped. (Mines Inspectors Report)
30th. March 1871.
James Dunn, a sinker, was killed when he fell from a tub that was descending the shaft. (Mines Inspectors Report)
22nd. January 1872.
Henry Lunn, wagoner, aged 18 years was crushed to death by a balance box when chain broke. (Mines Inspectors Report)
26th. July 1872.
SERIOUS BREACH OF COLLIERY RULES.
Thomas Pennington, John Bate, Frederick Long and Thomas Whitfield, all colliers, were charged with breaches of the rules at the colliery. Long and Whitfield knocked down a brattice cloth on the 20th of April which they did not replace. There was build-up of gas and an explosion at which Long was injured. Whitfield and Long were fined 10/- plus costs . Pennington and Bate had taken down the brattice and offered no defence. They were found £1 plus costs. (Colliery Guardian)
26th. July 1872.
Serious Breach Of Colliery Rules.
Thomas Pennington, John Bate, Frederick Long and John Whitfield, colliers were charged with a breach of the Special Rules at Sutton Heath colliery. Long and Whitfield were charged with separate offences. They went to work on the morning of the 20th. and knocked down a brattice cloth. William Hopton, manager of the pit, said that an explosion took place in which long was severely burned and it was caused by knocking down the brattice. William Martindale, a lad, who suffered by the explosion, said that when a shot had been fired Long had been waving his cap in a current of air. William Hitchen, the fireman said that he had gone into the place after the explosion and found the brattice cloth down and Long buried by coal. Whitfield pleaded guilty. The had no defence and were fined 20s. plus costs. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
18th. October 1873.
Strike At Sutton Heath.
Wage negotiations between Mr. Radley and the men had broken down and the men have withdrawn their labour. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
14th. March 1874.
Thomas Callon and Peter Callon were charged with a breach of contract with Mr. Radley on the 17th of February which caused a loss of 334. 10s. 0d. Mr. Jackson appeared for the defendants and said that Thomas was employed as a collier and Peter as a drawer and they had to give 14 days notice. This they did not do and absented themselves from work on the 14th. The loss was £1 for each but only 10/- was claimed. Thomas Hopps, the underlooker, said they left work without complaint. Jackson said it could not be proved that they had been employed by Radley but by a colliery as drawers and on that understanding, they could leave to better themselves. The Chairman of the bench said that recent legislation had altered the employment of colliers and that they had been employed by a collier, Charles Lidday and as he did not come out they were not paid. Thomas was fined 10/- plus costs and Peter was discharged. (St. Helens Standard)
4th. July 1874.
Charles Prescott was charged with unramming a shot which was against the General Rules of the colliery. Mr. Smith prosecuted and the defendant pleaded that he could not read and write and had not read the rules. The management said that rules had been read to him. He was fined 5/- plus costs. (St. Helens Standard)
10th. December 1874.
John Dickenson aged 20 years, collier, was killed by fall of top coal. (Mines Inspectors Report)
5th. December 1874.
Breaches of Colliery Rules.
George Rothwell was charged with breaking Special Rule 4 at Sutton Heath colliery. He was a fireman had admitted not inspecting places before the men went down. He was fined five shillings and costs. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
14th. January 1875.
David Appleton, collier, aged 44 years, was killed by a fall of coal. He lived in Thatto Heath and died from the injuries he received when a stone fell on him while he was getting coal. Dr. Gaskell had to amputate his leg. (Mines Inspectors Report) (St. Helens Standard)
31st. July 1875.
At St. Helens Petty Sessions a contractor, John Cross was charged with unlawfully allowing John Naylor to enter the shaft which was an offence under the Colliery Act, 1872. Naylor was killed on the 10th of June and fell out of the hoppet down the shaft. Cross was fined £10. (St. Helens Standard)
27th. July 1875.
Prosecution of Colliery Owner.
John Cross was summoned for a breach of the mining Regulations over the death of John Naylor. He was fined £10 with costs and gave notice of appeal. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
4th. December 1875.
Colliery on Fire near St. Helens.
At Sutton Heath colliery belonging to Mr. James Radley, it was reported that there was a fire underground and the men were sent up. The following day the ponies were brought out and everything else that could be removed was taken up as it was sure that the fire was spreading. Plans were made to flood the colliery but a few days later it was found that the ring of fire had diminished and it was decided to watch and wait for further developments. (Prescot Reporter)
4th. September 1879.
There was an explosion at the colliery in the Ravehead Main Delph when one person was injured. There was a little gas from a break in the roof after a shot had been fired which ignited at a man’s lamp when he entered the place with the lamp open. (Mines Inspectors Report)
23rd. January 1880.
William Wilson aged 25 years, drawer, was killed by a fall of the roof by him not setting timber. (Mines Inspectors Report)
17th. April 1880.
Fatal Accident at St. Helens Colliery.
At St. Helens Collieries in Sutton belonging to Messrs. Pilkingtons, a man name Thomas Leyland was killed as he was working the Rushy Park mine when about three tons of dirt fell on him from the road as he was following his usual employment. Another man, Kilshaw who had been working with him and had been away about ten minutes to empty a box. When he returned he saw that the roof had fallen. He called and got no answer. When Leyland was got out he was found to be dead and he was taken to his home at 74, Claughton Street. He left a widow and children. (Prescot Reporter)
10th. December 1880.
Henry Renson aged 50 years, collier was working at a pillar when there was a heavy fall capping all the timber. The roof had begun to weight previously and he sent his drawer out of the place intending to follow him but he delayed too long and was killed by the fall. (Mines Inspectors Report)
24th. February 1881.
William Molyneaux aged 24 years, collier was killed when a piece of stone fell from between two slips. The fall knocked out a supporting prop and the fall killed him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
The Inspectors Report listed several breached of the rules in May 1881. James Ashton was fined £1 plus costs on the 16th May for working without a lamp. William Ashton was fined 10/- plus costs for the same offence. Richard Felton was fined 10/- plus costs for neglecting to set sprags as was William Houghton for the same offence. (Mines Inspectors Report)
28th. December 1881.
Hugh Platt aged 30 years, collier was killed by an explosion of gas in the Main Delph and another man was injured. In the morning, the fireman found a little gas in a working place and neglected to clear it or put up a warning notice. The workmen went in with a candle. Proceedings were taken against the fireman for a breach of the rules but the Inspectors failed to get a conviction. (Mines Inspectors Report)
17th. January 1882.
Fatal Colliery Accident.
Hugh Platt of Thatto Heath died of burns he received three weeks before in an explosion at Sutton Heath colliery. He was with another, James Finney and they were getting coal when some gas ignited. It was reported that Finney was recovering. (St. Helens Newspaper)
21st. January 1882.
Fatal Colliery Explosion at Sutton Heath.
At the inquest into the explosion at the Sutton Heath colliery on the 26th. December, Emma Platt widow of the deceased said he lived in Nut Grove and her husband Hugh was 29 years of age. When he was brought home he was badly burnt abut the face body and arms Patrick Alfred Eden, collier said that on the morning of the disaster he was working near the deceased in No.4 Level in No. 3 pit and about six o’clock he heard an explosion when the deceased was working about twelve yards away. He and others went and found James Fenney and Platt crawling on their hand and knees and someone asked why they had gone to the place with a naked light. James Fenney, collier said was with the deceased and the fireman had locked their lamps but had said nothing about gas. he had seen a barrier with something written on it but he could not read. Thomas Jackson, the overlooker said that he had not been down the pit for several days before and when he went down after the explosion he found a new candle. The jury said that the deceased Hugh Platt met by an explosion in the No. 3 Pit but there was not sufficient evidence to say how the gas was ignited. The place should have been bratticed and in their opinion, the accident would not have occurred if this had been done. (St. Helens Newspaper)
28th. February 1882.
Charges Against Collier.
At St. Helens Petty Sessions John Feaney was charged with having a defective safety lamp at Sutton Heath colliery and the magistrates imposed a nominal fine and cost of 4/-. 16th. March 1882. Mark Flitcroft aged 37 years, metalman was building a pack when the roof fell capping three props and killing him. The place was reported to have been well timbered. (Mines Inspectors Report) (St. Helens Newspaper)
25th. March 1882.
Fatal Accident at Sutton Heath.
At the inquest that was held at the Boar’s Head on Mark Flitcroft aged 26 years, who had been working in the No.3 pit. Thomas Sanders, collier, stated that on Thursday morning the deceased was building a pack when a stone fell from the roof on to him. The roof had been sounded by the fireman and all seemed safe but a slip was noticed and four props and chock were placed under it. Thomas Williams who worked close to the deceased corroborated the evinced and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death. (St. Helens Newspaper)
28th. February 1882.
Colliery Explosion. Charge Against Manager.
William Hopton manager of Radley’s colliery at Sutton Heath was charged with breaking the First General Rule by the Inspector of Mines, Mr. Henry Hall. The rule stated that adequate ventilation should be provided. The Inspector examined the place and found gas at a fault. Several witnesses gave evidence and after hearing all the evidence the magistrates dismissed the case. (St. Helens Newspaper)
12th March 1882.
Recent Colliery Explosion.
At St. Helens Petty sessions the manager of the Sutton Heath colliery, Mr. Hopton, was summoned for a breach of the colliery Act in the explosion when Platt and Fenny died. He had been the manager for thirty-seven years. After hearing all the evidence the magistrates dismissed the charges. (Prescot Reporter)
25th March 1882.
Colliery Accident.
At the inquest into the death of Mark Flitcroft aged 32 years, at the Boars head who met his death at the Sutton Heath colliery. Hannah Maria Flitcroft, his wife, gave evidence of identification. Thomas Anders, collier said he was working near the deceased who was building a pack when the roof fell upon him. The fireman had been through about half an hour before and thought the roof safe. Thomas Williams who was working nearby saw props and chocks set and stated that there was plenty of timber about. he was got out as soon as possible and it was found that his leg was broken in several places and there was a wound on his head. Charles Johnson, the fireman who had examined the place, and he and Thomas Johnson, the underlooker both considered the place safe. The coroner summed up and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death. (Prescot Reporter)
17th. July 1883.
James Sibbering aged 59 years, collier was killed by a fall of roof of over 100 tons carrying a chock and several props before it. It was caused by a parting in the roof with a slip passing in front. The Inspectors commented that the fall could not have been foreseen. (Mines Inspectors Report)
27th. October 1883.
Fatality to a Colliery at Sutton Heath.
At an inquest at the Boars Head on the death of James Sebbering aged 55 years, a collier of Elephant Lane who was killed when he was working with James Hilton when Hilton heard a noise in the no.4 Shunt. Hilton rushed to the shaft with several of the men fearing an explosion. Sebbering was missed and they found him lying under a quantity of rock and when he was recovered he was found to be dead, his right arm and leg and side being fearfully crushed. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. (Prescot Reporter)
25th. February 1884.
William Borrows aged 55 years, dataller was killed by a sudden and unexpected fall of roof which was caused by a weighting in the roof behind the longwall faces. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th March 1884.
Collier Killed at Sutton Heath.
William Burrows of College Street was killed at the colliery. Mr. Hopton, the manager was present at the inquest. The deceased was a roadman aged 53 years. He was carrying out his normal work when there was a fall of stone and dirt. James Pickering was working nearby and found him under a great weight of the stone. He was got out but died before he got to the top of the pit. The roof had been examined that morning by the fireman and he found no flaws. The stone was about five or six tons in weight had been propped up. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. (Prescot Reporter)
2nd. April 1885.
Daniel Tilley aged 31 years collier was killed by an explosion of gas in the Main Delph. There were two men using safety lamps and candles. The deceased went to his working place with a lamp to examine the place and returned for the candle which ignited some gas as soon as he returned. The other man was injured. The gas was supposed to have come from old workings. The owners were strongly urged by the Inspectors for the men to use locked lamps at all times. It was reported that the system of the examination was improved after this accident. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. September 1887.
Thomas Farrelley aged 31 years, labourer was lowering a wagon near the screen and after lifting the brake a he was trying to pass in front of it when he was crushed against another wagon and killed. (Mines Inspectors Report)
13th. June 1887.
Joseph Pennington aged 34 years, collier was cutting a step and timbering when he went in front of the bars that he had set. The roof fell and killed him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
26th. November 1887.
Two men were injured by an explosion in the Higher Delf seam. The ventilation of a small district was unexpectedly interrupted As an opening was cut through. Gas backed up at the staple and fired at an open torch of a man who was passing the staple. (Mines Inspectors Report)
22nd. March 1888.
John McLean aged 34 years, collier was working in a wide place. There was six inches of stone on the coal and part of this was within one foot of the face and this fell on him. No holing had been down but the roof had weighted during the night. He appeared not to have sounded it before he began to fill. (Mines Inspectors Report)
31st. March 1888.
Colliery Fatality at St. Helens.
At the inquest before Mr. Brighouse into the death of John M Lesor who was killed at Sutton Heath colliery, Mr. Pennington, the manager of the colliery gave evidence. Joseph Liversedge a dataler said he went down the pit with the deceased and saw him about seven o’clock in the Delph mine. He was in his usual place which was about a yard high and eight to nine yards wide. He was working along as both getter and drawer as a workman had failed to arrive and he was getting out the coal he had got the previous day. Liversedge heard a fall and went to that the coal had fallen on the deceased. Thomas Burrows, the night fireman had examined the place at 3.30am and found it quite safe. The jury thought it was a simple accident in a safe place and returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’. (Prescot Reporter)
8th. May 1890.
Thomas Smith aged 40 years, the fireman was working at 10 a.m. In the 5th. hour of the shift when he told the underlooker that he was going to take some loose stone from the side. Immediately After, there was a fall and he was found under a large stone which had come from a slip which had been unexpectedly barred by the men. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. October 1891.
William Gee aged 19 years, a drawer was killed at 5 p.m. in the 11th. hour of the shift. He had stayed to do some overtime with seven other men to clean the main haulage brow when he appeared to have disturbed the foot of a prop which was supporting a large stone which fell between two slips and killed him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
13th. November 1891.
Daniel Brownhill aged 38 years, a drawer was working at 10.30 a.m. in the 5th. hour of the shift. He was waggoning with three others down a dip road when the first tub got off the rails. The second man ran to him and slowed the tubs. because of the stoppage in front, the fourth was bringing our three tubs which overcame him and he did not know the four tubs were uncoupled. The deceased was run over and crushed by the tubes and killed. (Mines Inspectors Report)
3rd. June 1892.
George Williams aged 45 years, collier was killed at 2.40 p.n. in the 9th. hour of the shift. He was working in a drift with a pack on one side and the coal on the other when the roof fell capping three props and crushing him to death. (Mines Inspectors Report)
12th. September 1892.
Peter Brownhill aged 63 years, a door minder did not allow himself enough time to open the door when a journey was going down the engine plane and he was crushed against the door. The accident took place at 12.45 a.m. in the 7th. hour of the shift. He had worked at the pit for about 6 years. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th. December 1892.
William Jackson aged 35 years, collier was killed by a fall on the landing plate of the drawing road which capped three bars and killed him as he was filling a tub. (Mines Inspectors Report)
15th. June 1898.
Mark Naylor aged 39 years, collier was killed by a fall of roof. A fall of rock had covered the drawing road from between two slips. There were six sprags set between the slips in the roof but they did not appear to have been let in the ends which were only wedged. A crush or weight of the roof capped them. (Mines Inspectors Report)
28th. June 1900
Edward Houghton 37 years, dataller, was taking a portion off the side of the shunt and some of the side road when some rock fell from above him from old breaks and cracks. The Inspector commented that he ought to have put up some props while taking the support pack away. (Mines Inspectors Report)
5th. April 1905.
Peter Johnson aged 26 years, balancer was killed when an old bar appeared to have rolled from the side of the road and was caught by a moving balance box which caught the leg of a bar which it forced out causing a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
9th September 1905.
William Burrows aged 50 years was setting two bars in a brow when taking out an old bar a large fall of roof occurred capping two bars and burying him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
19th. October 1906.
St. Helens Colliery Troubles.
There is a great deal of unrest in the St. Helens district fro the miners to get better terms. At several of the coal pits, it has been announced that the dispute had been settled with a revised price list but this appears not to have been the case and for the past two months the men have been trying to get a revised price list. At Sutton Heath and Lea Green Collieries, nearly 2,000 men are affected. Mr. T. Glover, M.P., is conducting the negations but the owners have shown no sign of giving way. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
6th. January 1908.
Collier’s Terrible Death.
On Monday the scene was one of those sad accidents that unfortunately attend the miner’s calling. One man was killed and another injured by a fall of the roof but escaped after an hour practically unhurt. John McGaunty aged 35 of 7, Gertrude Street, Thatto Heath was the man who was killed. He left at 5 a.m. to go to work and about half-past he was engaged with his father-in-law, Robert Wiseman, winding boxes up the brow and emptying the dirt to be put back into the pack. Without any warning, two running bars collapsed bringing down the roof. James Lunt, another collier, was nearby and heard the fall and rushed to the place. The work of getting the men out began at once. After half an hour Wiseman was recovered little the worse for his terrible experience and was told to go home. Shortly after McGaunty’s lifeless body was discovered. He was married with three children. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian) (Mines Inspectors Report)
31st. September 1908.
Robert Edwards aged 45 years, contractors man had been pulling down props in order to get the roof down when the roof fell on him and killed him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1909
At the No.2 pit, two sinkers, Hugh L. Jones aged 30 years and John L. Jones aged 45 years were killed when the scaffold which was supported by two ropes in the shaft, which they were widening. They had three plugs let into the side of the shaft but it tilted and the two fell 60 yards to the bottom of the shaft. At the inquiry, it was recommended that the capstan ropes should be fitted. (Mines Inspectors Report)
30th. September 1909.
Richard Ashcroft aged 18 years, labourer was acting as brakesman and was putting an empty tub into the cage. The enginewinder started the cage, apparently without a proper signal and the deceased and the tub fell out of the cage down the shaft. (Mines Inspectors Report)
28th. September 1910.
Ambrose Dauber aged 24 years, a drawer was winding a tub up a roadway 12 yards long in the No.3 pit with a jack bar when he missed his hold and it struck his head. The drag on the trailer had not been attached to the tub. (Mines Inspectors Report)
24th. February 1911.
Samuel Pritchard aged 41 years, collier working in the No.3 pit was shovelling down dirt which he had taken from the face when a fall occurred from the overhanging dirt fatally injuring him. He died on the 27th. (Mines Inspectors Report)
21st. June 1911.
There was a serious accident on the pit brow at Queen Pit, Sutton Heath and Lea Green Collieries. Some men were reconstructing the pit head when at about 12.30 p.m. when they were in the cabin at the pit head, 20 feet about the ground to get their meal, the cabin collapsed. Four men were seriously injured and John Duffy was killed outright. (Colliery Guardian)
29th. May 1912.
Thomas Hogetts aged 26 years, collier was found buried near a fall of top coal and dirt which measured sixteen feet six inches by three feet four inches which occurred in a narrow place six feet wide leading to a pillar. The fall displaced nine props. (Mines Inspectors Report)
3rd. April 1913.
Michael Keeny aged 35 years, a contractor at the King Pit was dressing down the side and the roof in the main haulage level after two shots had been fired and a heavy fall buried him. He received injuries from which he died on the 24th. The fall came from between two large slips parting from a roof break parallel to the face. (Mines Inspectors Report)
7th. November 1913.
Nicholas Ashton aged 28 years, drawer at the King Pit was killed as he was taking a full tub to the gate road seventy feet away and 1 in 5 to 1 in 7. Two scotches were found in the tub in breach of General Rule 26. He was found beneath the tub and had gone in front of it. (Mines Inspectors Report)
It was reported during the years that the Ravenhead and the Yard seams were abandoned. (Mines Inspectors Report)
16th. August 1923.
There was a minor explosion which took place in a tunnel which was being driven in the main mine through a fault. The road had been driven 10 yards when a charge was fired electrically at the face of the cross holing and there was an ignition of gas which singed a contractor’s man who was a few yards from the corner of the main tunnel. The shotfirer said he had examined both tunnels fro a distance of 30 yards before firing the shot. The inspector thought an inspection could not have been made before firing the shot. (Mines Inspectors Report)
26th. June 1924.
Gerald Winstanley aged 27 contractors man was working at 1.10 p.m. in the 7th. hour of the shift when he was fatally injured by a fall of stones from the side of an old goaf which being driven through to form an airway. He had pilled down some loose stone and was preparing to prop before drilling a shot hole when the fall occurred. He died the next day. (Mines Inspectors Report)
15th. July 1924.
Thomas Towey aged 27 years, a contractors man was killed at 7.45 a.m. in the 7th. hour of the shift he was involved in drilling a shot hole in order to relieve a shot that had missed. The shot exploded and killed him. He had probably holed into the detonator. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1925.
The only accident due to electricity where a St. Helens Corporation meter inspector received a slight shock from the line while tracing out a circuit. he was standing on a transformer when his hand came into contact with a slightly defective joint. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1926.
Accidents from riding on tubs were numerous but an accident occurred at the colliery when a haulage lad was found dead in between a tub and a bar. (Mines Inspectors Report)
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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