Victoria Colliery

This was situated in Rainford and was first mentioned in the Inspector’s Report in 1855. In 1879 it was owned by the Victoria Colliery Co. and was still working in 1888.

11th. December 1863.
There was a fatal accident at the Victoria Colliery, Rainford when Peter Robinson was killed descending the shaft in the hoppet. The chain broke thirty yards from the top and he fell down the shaft. (Wigan Observer)

1st. January 1869.
Joseph Heaton, who worked at the Victoria Colliery at Rainford was charged under ‘The Master and Servants Act’ of leaving work without notice. He was fined 40/- with costs or if he could not pay, six months in jail. (St. Helens Standard)

1855
Victoria Rainford. No name (1855). 1879 Owned by the Victoria Colliery Co. William Wardle certificated manager. 1873 to 1878 – 3 deaths and none in 1879.

3rd. October 1885.
Caution to Colliers.
At St. Helens Police Court Richard Thompson and Thomas Duxbury, colliers for the Rainford Coal Company were summoned for a breach of the Mines Regulation Act for interfering with the ventilation. On the morning of the 10th. underlooker Pedder discovered that the defendants had interfered with the brattice work. Mr. Swift, prosecuting, said that the offence was serious as it endangered the lives of others in the pit and if the Inspector had discovered it the colliery management would have been summoned. The bench imposed a heavy fine of £1 and costs of 8s. each. (Prescot Reporter)

5th. February 1887.
Colliery Fatality at Rainford.
The inquest was held at Rainford on the body of James Roden aged 44 years who was killed in the Rushy Park Mines, Victoria Colliery. He went to work as usual but did not return in the afternoon and his wife went to the colliery to inquire about him. A search was made of his working place and it was found that a stone weighing half a ton had fallen and killed him. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death. (Prescot Reporter)

19th. November 1887.
Breach of Rules at Rainford.
At St. Helens Police Court a colliery Peter Hayes who worked for the Rainford Coal Company had neglected to prop his working place. The fireman had inspected the roof and fund it dangerous and labile to fall. There were sufficient props near at hand. The defendant had worked some years in the pit and had been a very careful workman and the Company took these proceedings to serve as a warning to others. He was fined 7/6d. with 7/6d. costs. (Prescot Reporter)

10th. August 1890.
Colliery Fatality at Rainford.
At the inquest at the Eagle and Child on the body of William Seddon aged 21 years who was injured at the Rainford No.4 Colliery. At 1 a.m., his drawer, Henry Allen was filling the tubs and there was a fall as he was setting props. Allen heard it coming and managed to get out of the way. There was no sound from the deceased. Allen met William Beckett and John Jennings who had heard the fall and they started to remove the stuff. They shouted, “What’s up Will?’ and Seddon said, “Oh, my poor head. Get me out.” It till three-quarters of an hour to remove him but he was dead when he was recovered. The jury heard that he had severe injuries to his head and upper body and returned a verdict of accidental death. (Prescot Reporter)

5th. December 1905.
An accident was reported at the White Moss Colliery in which Henry Ashurst aged 49 years, a collier was fatally injured. He was setting his drill and trying to shorten the stand. He hit it and it shattered crushing his finger. Blood poisoning set in and he died on the 19th. (Mines Inspectors Report)

22nd. May 1913.
The haulage rope in the tunnel stopped at 2 p.m.. The tunnel dipped 1 in 4 and he and another man travelled up at the end of the shift. the rope was re-started by the men at the top in order to remove some empty tubs that were at the top. The chain lashed and three full tubs broke loose, ran down the brow and crushed Thomas Rutter aged 23 years, a collier. (Mines Inspectors Report)

19th. March 1914.
James Sharrock aged 49 years a dataller, was clearing debris from a caunch with some mates when there was a fall of the roof. A stone fell from two slips and killed him. The fireman had instructed that additional props be set but this had not been done. (Mines Inspectors Report)

19th March 1914.
Rainford (Bromilow and Foster).
James Sharratt aged 42 dataller. he and his mate were clearing away debris when a fall of roof occurred and he was caught at the edge of the fall. The stone came away from two slips that were not visible before the accident. The place had been visited by the fireman and on his instructions, two extra props had been set under the stone but the stone was heavier at one side than the other and this caused the fall. (Mines Inspectors Report)

22nd May 1913.
Rainford.
At the colliery belonging to Bromilow and Foster Thomas Rutter, aged 23 years collier a haulage rope in the in a tunnel dipping 1 in 4 at 2 pm was stopped and 4 men started to ravel up the tunnel. Shortly after the rope was re-started by the man at the top of the tunnel in order to move some empty tubs from an unsafe position. The movement of the rope against the lashing chain caused three full tubs to go back and hit the deceased causing injuries from which he died the same day. (Mines Inspectors Report)

9th October 1913.
Rainford?
Thomas Green aged 39 collier he was apparently in the main haulage brow when the haulage was in motion which was against orders set out on several notice boards. When about 24 yards from the top the lasher-on heard a shout and the deceased was found under two full tubs when the rope was stopped. His cap had come off on the top of a tub which suggested that he was riding on a full tub and had been knocked off and getting to his feet he was knocked down by the proceeding tubs. (Mines Inspectors Report)

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