The colliery was situated on Lowefield Lane and was probably sunk in the 1870s by James Radley. The history of the colliery is in two parts, the colliery is mentioned in the 1888 Inspector’s Report, as being owned by Mrs. F.P. Radley, the widow of James Radley. The 1894 Report shows the colliery under the ownership of the Sutton Heath and Lea Green Collieries Ltd., employing about 450 workpeople. The Report also shows Lea Green new pits, employing approximately 100 men. It is possible that this colliery was just being sunk. The colliery was profitable this century and had a reputation for high-quality coal. It closed in August 1964. In that year produced 200,000 tons of coal and employed 600 men.
18th. February 1882.
Coal Strike at Lea Green.
Forty to fifty men at the colliery gave notice when the owners gave notice that they would take of the extra that the men were getting at the pit. A meeting of miners took place and resolved to accept a shilling a yard reduction on the south side but would not agree to a reduction on the north side where the coal was much harder. A compromise was effected and the men resumed work. (Prescot Reporter)
26th. September 1885.
Accident at a Colliery at Lea Green.
At the inquest into the death of James Bibby who was working at Lea Green colliery when the roof fell on him. When he was extricated it was found that he had broken several ribs but paralysis set in and there were no hopes that he would recover. (Prescot Reporter)
23rd. February 1886.
Michael Burn, banksman was killed by falling into the pit from the surface. (Mines Inspectors Report)
5th. January 1886.
George Parr aged 45 years, hooker-on was killed. It was stated at the inquest that the deceased had been struck on the head by a bolt falling down the shaft but the doctor said that this had nothing to do with his death. (Mines Inspectors Report)
29th. September 1886.
Robert Leyland aged 50 years, a collier was killed he was drawing timber from under the tops to allow them to fall. He was knocking out the furthest prop when the whole roof fell suddenly capping all the props. (Mines Inspectors Report)
17th. January 1887.
William Lunt aged 53 years, a stone man was killed. He was very deaf and after lighting a shot and going to a safe place. He appeared to have heard the shot and returned to the place just as the shot went off and he was struck by stones from the blast. (Mines Inspectors Report)
22nd. January 1887.
Shocking Colliery Fatality near St. Helens.
At Lea Green colliery William Lunt contractor and tunneller was killed. At 11.30 a.m. on the day of the accident he was in the company of Henry Haskayne and were engaged in making a tunnel at the bottom of the downbrow. Slag had to be removed from the bottom of the brow. The deceased drilled a hole in the slag and charge it for blasting and then lit the fuse, telling his assistant that he was going to fire a shot. After lighting it the deceased ran down the brow and the assistant ran in another direction. After the shot had been fired the assistant went back and found the deceased laid on the ground quite dead with his head blown to pieces and his left arm blown out of its socket. It is supposed that the deceased who was deaf thought the shot had fired and had gone forward too early. The inquest was held in Thatto Heath and a verdict of Accidental Death returned. (Prescot Reporter)
4th. May 1888.
William Lunt aged 26 years, a collier was killed by an explosion of gas which occurred in the Potato Delf mine. He was killed, another died later and five were injured. Some gas was given off after a heavy fall in the waste and it was carried by the air to the candles of some men who were waiting for the roof to settle. It was stated that no gas had been seen on this side of the workings before and that naked lights were used. Safety lamps have now been introduced at the colliery and the cause of the explosion was ‘Naked Lights’. (Mines Inspectors Report)
13th. July 1888.
Colliery Mishap in St. Helens.
On Friday a young man, Thomas Platt of Thatto Heath was injured by a fall at Lea Green. He was seen by the doctor who said he was progressing favourably. (Prescot Reporter)
18th. February 1889.
Christopher Tharratt aged 49 years, a collier, died from injuries in an explosion which occurred on 4th. May. (Mines Inspectors Report)
27th. March 1889.
Matthew Mercer, a collier died for the effects and injuries in an explosion on 4th May 1888. (Mines Inspectors Report)
4th. September 1890.
Thomas Hitchen aged 14 years, a pony driver was killed at 7.15 a.m. in the second hour of the shift as he was working in front of a full gang of tubs and on reaching the shaft siding, he lent down to unhook the pony but before he could get up, he was jammed against some tubs in front and killed. The accident was due to the excessive speed at which the ponies were driven. (Mines Inspectors Report)
16th. May 1889.
Terrible Death at Sutton Heath.
At the inquest of ?? Smith aged 40 years of Nutgrove was killed by a large fall of stone. James Foster the underlooker said he had been a fireman for one and a half years. he had just left the downbrow and moments later heard a fall. James Burrows the fireman. (St. Helens Reporter)
2nd. September 1890.
Death of Lad at Lea Green.
At the inquest at the Mare’s Head on the death of Farrah, the jury heard that he was in the habit of driving his pony very quickly. He had been warned and might have been saved if he had asked others for help. The Inspector of Mines, Mr. Hall said that many accidents were caused by boys going too quickly. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. (St. Helens Reporter)
7th. April 1892.
James Rennie aged 26 years, a balancer was killed at 10 a.m. in the fifth hour of the shift. He was packing, when a stone fell from a hole in the roadway injuring his back. He died on the 14th. (Mines Inspectors Report)
9th. June 1893.
James Roscoe aged 36 years, a shunt minder was killed at 10.30 a.m. in the fifth hour of the shift. He was sending a journey out of the shunt when a portion of rock which was spragged to one side fell. There was no sign of it giving way before the accident. (Mines Inspectors Report)
14th. October 1893.
Evan Jones aged 23 years, a sinker was killed at 4 a.m. in the sixth hour of the shift he and seven others were working in the pit when an explosion took place. He died on the 20th. (Mines Inspectors Report)
5th. February 1894.
Robert Hill aged 48 years, a collier was killed as he was getting down the top coal which was overhanging the face of his workplace when it suddenly fell, knocking him down as he stood on it. (Mines Inspectors Report)
14th. October 1895.
Peter Malone aged 40 years, a collier was killed at 3.30 a.m. in the eighth hour of the shift. The fireman light a fuse without sufficiently examining the place which caused the gas at the face to explode causing injury to him and the deceased who died 20th. The brattice at the time was six feet from the face and the gas collected at the bottom of the face. The Inspector commented, “This fatal accident was caused by firing a shot in the coal using a tape fuse. The heading was wet and Ammonite was used. The instant it fired the collier was burnt and the shotlighter eventually died”. (Mines Inspectors Report)
12th. March 1896.
Jones William Jones aged 19 years, a timber drawer was assisting another man to draw timber and after they had drawn a number of props they appeared to have tested the roof. On drawing another prop, the roof fell on him and he was killed. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th. May 1896.
William Jones aged 25 years, a collier was in the act of lifting a box onto the rails and he slipped backwards, his hand coming into contact with the rails. He died a week later from inflammation of the heart set up by ruptured muscles in his arm. The jury followed the medical evidence. (Mines Inspectors Report)
10th. December 1896.
Sydney Burrows aged 40 years, metalman was killed. A fireman from another district went to borrow a battery and it appears, to have assisted in firing a shot. He fired the shot before the deceased had left the working place. He said that he did not know anyone else was there except the fireman who had gone to connect the wires and on seeing him return he fired the shot without asking if there was anyone else there. The jury found both firemen guilty of great negligence. (Mines Inspectors Report)
28th. January 1898.
Jesse Dingsdale aged 24 years, a collier was killed as he was engaged in driving a tunnel from the fan pit to the downcast pit. He was attempting to hook a hoppet at the mouthing and he accidentally fell ninety yards down the shaft to the King mine below. The Inspector commented, “there should have been some protection at the mouthing”. (Mines Inspectors Report)
10th. May 1898.
Charles Atwell, aged 19 years, a weigh clerk was killed. A North-Western railway shunter shunted some waggons into the colliery yard with great speed without whistling. It ran into some waggons and he was crushed below the screens. (Mines Inspectors Report)
12th. August 1900.
William Lea aged 14 years, a block minder, was killed when the empty journey got off the rails and caused a small curved pulley on the floor to give way This caused the rope to spring across, striking him as he was standing at the top of the jig. He died as a result of his injuries on the 16th. (Mines Inspectors Report)
7th. January 1901.
Edward Lawrenson aged 31 years, a collier was killed. He had set sprags under a length of coal which he had holed and the coal did not fall. He then appears to have holed further without setting sprags and the coal fell on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
9th. May 1901.
John Eden aged 45 years, a collier was killed by a fall of roof occurred six feet from the face of the upbrow which gave way from a slip running in the side and capped three props which fell on him. He died on the 10th. (Mines Inspectors Report)
18th. November 1901.
Thomas Cook aged 13 years, a pony driver was killed. A jigger was lowering a tub from a brake at the top of the jig when he failed to place a sprag wooden in front of the tub which rushed down the jig and crushed the deceased who was passing at the bottom. It was recommended that a stop block be placed at the top of the jig. (Mines Inspectors Report)
2nd. December 1901.
James Cavanagh aged 30 years, a dataller was killed when a stone fell from the upper side of the level from between two stretchers when he was in the act of lifting a tub onto the rails. (Mines Inspectors Report)
7th. May 1902.
James Stephens aged 40 years, a stoker was killed when the blow-off pipe in front of the boiler burst causing steam to escape and he was scalded to death. He died on the 14th. The water put on to cool the washers appeared to have had a bad effect on the blow-out valve and loosened it when it was corroded. The Inspector commented, “An inspection should have found this”. (Mines Inspectors Report)
14th. November 1902.
Harold Foster aged 14 years, a lasher-on was injured stepping off the stage by the haulage wheels at the bottom of the pit when he injured his back by falling down the steps. He died on the 24th of December. (Mines Inspectors Report)
25th. November 1903.
Joseph Blackburn aged 17 years, a pony driver was killed as he was drawing a set of tubs along and was in the act of hooking on the pony when he appeared to have not noticed that others were at rest and he was crushed between the tubs. (Mines Inspectors Report)
4th. June 1904.
Edward Ashton aged 18 years, a drawer was killed as he was working a narrow strip of coal that had been left in the waste when the roof fell on him. He died the following day. (Mines Inspectors Report)
14th. September 1905.
James Preston aged 18 years, a pony driver was killed by being run over in the haulage brow by a coupling breaking when lowering the tubs. The manholes were twelve feet apart. (Mines Inspectors Report)
16th. January 1906.
William Okell aged 31 years, a collier was killed while getting coal when a portion of the roof which had been weighting and broken and over the face of the coal. He appeared to have put up sufficient supports when the fall occurred and killed him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
21st. March 1906.
Thomas Fagin aged 16 years, a taker-off at the King pit was killed as he drove another boy’‘ pony which was taking off full tubs and in unhooking the chain he got in front of the tub and was crushed to death. (Mines Inspectors Report)
19th. June 1907.
James Heyes aged 16 years, a pony driver was at the bottom of the jig to take empty tubs away. He apparently went to sleep on the full side of the road and tubs were lowered on top of him. A boy who shouted but there was no reply. (Mines Inspectors Report)
14th February 1908.
John Roberts aged 40 years, a tunneler at the Queen pit was killed when driving a tunnel near a fault and a stone fell from the face on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1908.
An explosion took place at the colliery and was caused by a lamp being in bad condition and coming into contact with a small quantity of gas. Although no one was injured the gas continued to burn heating up the surrounding coal and it was only with great difficulty and considerable risk that the fire was put out. The Inspector commented that the accident showed care should be taken to make sure that lamps were in good condition and secure before the workmen handled them. It was clear that the fault should have been detected in the lamp room. (Mines Inspectors Report)
30th. October 1908.
Henry Brown aged 31 years, a drawer at the Queen pit was killed when a collier was pulling a stone off the top of the coal he was holding a light. When the stone fell it knocked put a prop and struck his head killing him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
17th. September 1909.
The inquest into the death of Robert Edwards aged 48 years, a contractor who died in St. Helens Hospital from injuries received at Lea Green colliery was conducted by Coroner Brighouse. Thomas Pullen of 37, Claughton Street said he was working with the deceased. The roof was three feet six inches high and they put two shot holes in and drew props with a hammer so that when the shots were fired, the roof would fall. The props came out and Edwards went under the roof to get them when a stone pinned his back. They said they never used a gablock and chain and had never seen one. John Derbyshire, collier, told the court that he had told the deceased to be careful when he was getting the props down as the roof was in a dangerous state. John Foster, the fireman had also warned Edwards. Mr. Hall, the Inspector said that there was a rule that they had to use a gablock and chain when there was danger. There were many similar cases and he believed that the men should have no option but to use one and stop using a hammer to remove props. Mr. Robinson, the manager said that this would be the case in the future. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’. (Colliery Guardian)
19th March 1910.
John Lawton aged 54 years, a fireman was engaged in clearing a fall in the jig when a stone fell from the roof and killed him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
22nd. November 1910.
Edward Tudor aged 34 years, a daywageman at the Old pit was killed when he and others had discovered a hole in the roof They were repairing it when a stone from the side on the cavity It displaced the timber and he was crushed to death. (Mines Inspectors Report)
2nd. June 1911.
Peter Robinson aged 22 years, a drawer was killed when going down the roadway in the Queen pit on his way to work a large piece of rock fell on him. The roof consisted wholly of rock and was supposed to be safe. (Mines Inspectors Report)
17th. June 1911.
John Duffy, aged 42 years, Joseph Armstrong aged 36 years and Stephen Kelley aged 55 years, all labourers at the Queen pit were killed in peculiar circumstances. They entered a wooden cabin at the pit top to take their dinner when the cabin toppled over and fell about fifteen feet. A plank on which it was resting had been sawn through during structural alterations. The cabin was about eight feet square. (Mines Inspectors Report)
3rd. August 1911.
Thomas Broadbent aged 53 years, a collier in the King pit, was killed as he was at the coalface of an upbrow when a fall occurred between two slips. The fall brought down three bars which had been made by splitting a bar in two. (Mines Inspectors Report)
15th. September 1911.
Andrew Hunt aged 56 years dataller went into a slant to do his work when he was overtaken and killed by a gang of three tubs of dirt. He had travelled only one hundred and twelve yards down the slant and it was said in evidence at the inquest that he had entered the slant twenty minutes before the gang went down. What delayed him was unknown. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th. December 1911.
Richard Houghton aged 32 years, a timber drawer in the King pit was killed as he was drawing props and bars in the waste near a collier’s working place As he loosed a prop under a bar, a fall occurred between slips. His hammer was found under the fall. The gablock and chain were a few yards away. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1911
Lea Green. King Pit.
There was a detaching hook in the headgear and a visor for controlling the speed of the engineers, 24 persons being wound when the cage was overwound but the detaching hooks did their work and no one was injured. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1911
Lea Green Queen Pit.
The men were engaged on a Saturday afternoon concreting the top of the pit where a new air loch was being constructed and two were entering a small cabin for their dinner 8 feet 6 inches by six feet three inches. The cabin was resting on a plank floor of the elevated scaffold when it toppled over and fell 15 feet 6 inches. Both men received fatal injuries and a third man died when it landed on him. The planks on which it rested had been swan through by joiners to facilitate the structural alterations and the accident occurred when they were at the stores 100 yards away to procure nails and wedges with which to secure the planks. It did not occur to them that the cabin might be used while they were away. At the inquest, it was said it was pure accident and no one was to blame. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th. March 1912.
Lea Green, King Pit.
Richard Houghton aged 30 years, timber drawer was killed at the colliery by a fall of roof 6 yards long and 10 feet wide. At the inquest into his death Henry Webster, collier said the deceased was working 7 to 8 yards away from a collier pulling props with a gablock and chain but had been using a hammer on a prop which came down and cause the fall. It was asked whey a man had been sent to draw timber when a collier was so near. The Inspector said that a man drawing props should not do so on his own but with another so that there would be assistance. It was dangerous to work in a quiet place. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ and recommended that props should not be drawn when men were working in the place. (Colliery Guardian)
9th. December 1912.
Thomas Regan aged 29 years, a contractor at the Queen pit was killed as he and others were taking out bars to make the road higher. They were told to set timber supports before loosening the others.. They knocked out a prop then attempted to withdraw a bar with a sylvester. Failing to do this, he picked up a pick to loosen the end of the bar when the roof fell on him. No temporary supports had been set. (Mines Inspectors Report)
09-10-1913.
Thomas Green aged 39 years, collier was travelling on the man haulage brow in contravention of the rules when 24 yards from the top a taker-on heard about and found him under two full tubs. His cap came up in a tub which was taken as an indication that the had been riding on the top and had been knocked off and run over when he was trying to get up. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1916.
At King Pit, a fireman was suffocated by working or passing into a brow rising 1 in 4 in which there was an accumulation of gas. The gas had been reported on the three previous days and the deceased had been instructed to strengthen all the brattice cloths in the district and also to carry additional brattice up the intake brow and so remove the gas by degrees. He was also instructed to take plenty of time over the job and not to hurry as the working places were not immediately wanted. He was seen by several persons during the shift but at 6 a.m. some of the men working near him became alarmed at his prolonged absence and went to search for him. His lamp and hammer were found hanging on a prop just outside the fence to which the gas extended. Several ineffectual attempts were made to rescue the deceased but his body was ultimately recovered just as the rescue apparatus arrived at the scene. An unfortunate delay occurred in obtaining the rescue apparatus a there was a severe thunderstorm and the telephone was out of order. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1919
Three day persons were suffocated by gas in the King pit. The telephone was not working. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1919.
Lea Green King Pit.
A fireman was suffocated in a rising brow 1 in 4. Gas had been reported three days before and it had been intended to strengthen the brattice cloth to carry the air forward to disperse the gas by degrees. He was told to take plenty of time over the job but he was found overcome by the firedamp. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1923.
Lea Green.
A fatality which resulted from an apparently good roof indicates that the results of soundings can not always be relied on. The fireman and he were ripping down stones in a caunch using a bar for the purpose and a stone above him fell and killed him. It gave away at a slip which coincided with the edge of the bar. Both he and the fireman had tested beneath the stone and found it strong and safe. The roof was a rock roof and men must not put too much reliance in the soundings. (Mines Inspectors Report)
11-05-1923
Pat Morley killed in the 2nd hour of the shift at 11.15 p.m. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1923
There was a fatality when pulling down a stone with a bar. The fireman was resent and had tested it and said it was safe. The roof was of rock. (Mines Inspectors Report)
29-08-1924.
Thomas Platt aged 51years a dataller was killed in the third hour of the shift at 8.45 a.m. when he was repairing the roof in the main airway. He had removed a broken bar and had placed a jack prop while putting dirt into a tub when the jack prop fell killing him and injuring his mate. (Mines Inspectors Report)
29th August 1924.
Thomas Platt while timbering the roof in the main airway broken bars had been secured with jack props while fresh bars were being set. While putting dirt into a tub the deceased had probably disturbed one of the jack props and a fall canted the bar which brought down three bars before it could be repaired and the fall killed him and injured his mate. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1925
Killed by runaway tubs at a 1 in 15 when he failed to use the tail that was provided. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1926
Proceedings against the manager and undermanager referred to 27th January. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1926.
A man was reported to have had his head caught in the haulage rope which fractured his skull. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1926
Proceedings against the manager and under-manager at the colliery were work was postponed until the 27th January and is in the list of prosecutions. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1931.
Gas developing in water which caught fire and burnt him when it caught at his lamp. Lamp not extinguished. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1937.
Lea Green King Pit.
A bar cutting machine was being swung out of the undercut to change the picks. As the face was rising, the bar had to be tilted uphill and the brass sleeve bearing had been starved of oil but when the bar swing level the oil began to flow through the bearing and as it emerged into the open air caught fire. fortunately, the practice had been adopted of carrying a bag of stone dust on the machine and this was immediately available to extinguish the fire. Tests by the Lancashire and Cheshire Coal Research Association found that the flashpoint of the new oil was 840 degrees F and the colour of the bearing indicated that the temperature was between 750 d 930 degrees it was clear the fire was due to overheating. When a machine is inclined steeply upwards care should be taken to see that there is an ample supply of oil in the banjo. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1937.
Two fires caused by overheated bitumen compound for sealing cable ends. In each case the heat conserving wrappings were ignited but were soon extinguished. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1951
A man reported killed. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1957
Two descant scald??? (Mines Inspectors Report)
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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