| COLLIERY | BRYNN HALL | |
| LOCATION | Approx. 300 yards east of LNWR St Helens – Wigan line and approx. ½ mile S. of Leeds & Liverpool Canal (Leigh Arm) | |
| OWNERS | Smith & Sons | 1859 – 1864 |
| Crippin & Smethurst | 1864 – 1892 | |
| Brynn Hall Colliery Co. Ltd | 1893 – 1945 | |
Brynn Hall Colliery
Shafts
Five shafts. Nos. 4 and 5 abandoned 1919
No.1 out of production by 1931
No.2 Pit sunk to Arley Mine at 430 yards.
Ventilation
Early Guibal fan installed (prior to 1875), 40 feet diameter x 12 feet wide.
Power (1945)
Steam, Compressed Air, Electricity 3300v. and 550v.
Seams Worked (1945)
Orrell Yard, Top Yard, Wigan Six Feet, Orrell Five Feet
Accidents & Disasters
On 19th August 1870 an explosion in the Nine Feet Seam claimed the lives of 17 men. The mine was known to give off a lot of gas and the coal was unusually hard. A large quantity of gunpowder had to be used for each shot. If the charge was not stemmed properly, then it would blow out and produce a large flame; in this case causing the explosion. The full report can be found here.
A similar explosion took place on the 2nd June 1873 with the loss of 6 lives and severe damage to the shafts and headgear. The full report can be found here.
Workforce – U/G 400, S/F 170
CLOSURE – November 1945.
Copyright © NMRS Records: G. Hayes Collection
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