The colliery was situated near the Offices of Richard Evans and Co. in Haydock and close to King, Princess and Leigh pits.
1879 Queen Haydock Richard Evans and Co. Isaac Billange was the certificated manager and also at Legh pit.
01-01-1873 to 31-12 1878 there had been 9 deaths at the colliery and there were none in 1878.
1882 Isaac Billange manager of Queen and Leigh pits. 10 deaths 1872 to 1881 1 in 1882 Total 11.
1894 Joseph Watkinson manager cert. no 1937 Aaron Picton undermanager cert. no 850 2nd class. 272 underground, 31 surface
3rd. February 1866.
Serious Charge Of Unlawful Wounding.
On Monday a youth named Wedgwood who stands charged that on the 12th inst. did unlawfully wound Abraham Simm who worked at Legh pit belonging to Messrs Evans and Co. was brought before Mr. McCorquadale Esq. by Inspector Peters. It appears that the two of them at three o’clock on the afternoon of the day named were at work in a portion of the workings at the top of the shunt brow and a quarrel took place between them in respect of a tub. After some angry words, the prisoner walked off about 200 yds and returned with a large hammer which he dealt Simm a violent blow on the head, inflicting a dreadful wound and rendering him insensible. He was picked up by a man named Travis who took him home where he was attended to by Dr. Twyford. It was found that he had a severe fracture of the skull through which a portion of his brain protruded. He lies in a very critical state. Wedgwood was committed for charges at the next Liverpool Assizes with wounding with intent to kill and it is probable that the charge will be a graver one. Application for bail was refused. Abraham Simm the man who was injured by the assault died on Thursday day evening and the charge against Wedgwood will increase. The inquest will be held this morning. The coroner brought in a verdict of wilful murder and Wedgwood was bound over to attend the next Liverpool Assizes to answer the charge. (Wigan Examiner)
3rd. March 1867.
James Parr aged 20 years, a collier was killed in an explosion of firedamp. (Mines Inspectors Report)
5th. January 1867.
Colliery Accident At Haydock.
On Thursday there was an explosion at the Queen pit in Haydock. But there was no loss of life but fourteen have been injured in the two accidents and two dangerously. The pit is 3-400 yds in depth and it had never been known as a fiery mine from when it first opened. Friday after the resumption of work at 4 o’clock a named John Wilcock and John Davis were at work Wilcock laid down a trail of powder for a shot in the Ravenhead Main Delf. This failed but it set fire to the coal and the brattice which they moved to put the fire put led to a build-up of gas and an explosion followed. Issac Billange the underlooker was on the spot very quickly and they were conveyed to the surface. Dr. Twyford was immediately sent for and lost no time in attending to the injured. His examination found that the men were not seriously injured but they had sustained burns to the arms and shoulders. Also injured were James Parr, Edward Arleton, John Mercer, John Dickenson, William Grimshaw, Henry Forshaw, John Merricks William Wedgewood. All the lamps were carefully locked as usual when they went down in the morning. It would appear that the accident was confusion on the part of Wilcock and Davis. Work at the pit was suspended for the remainder of Friday but resumed on Saturday. Since writing this one of the injured William Parr has succumbed. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
21st. December 1867.
S. Wagnell aged 13 years, a drawer was killed by a fall of roof in the Main Delf Mine. (Mines Inspectors Report)
26th. December 1868.
Twenty-six men and boys lost their lives in an explosion of firedamp. The full story of the disaster can be found in ‘With Hearts so Light’ by Ian Winstanley. ‘The Newton And Earlestown Guardian’ on the 13th. January 1911, included the following article. Early Haydock Disasters. A reader informs the editor that he was in the Queen pit at the time of both the explosions and was fortunate to escape with his life twice. It had such an effect on him that he gave up coal mining. He was Mr. William Boardman who lived at Chester Road, Vulcan Cottages and was employed as a blacksmith at the Vulcan Foundry and was a native of Ashton. At an early age, he went to live with his parents at The Hayes, Haydock and served his time at the Haydock foundry. He had a mate named Jas. Parnell. He started at the Queen Pit and was putting on at the bottom of the shaft John Davies worked with him of Stone Row, Haydock. On the eventful day, they heard a tremendous crash and Davies shouted ‘Lord Bless us’. Boardman cleared off down the tunnel as fast as he could and was about the first man up the pit from the pit eye. In the second explosion he was knocked about the head badly and hurt his back and pulling himself together he got up to the pit eye and they met the damp. He was looking after some lamps because the colliers were grumbling on the morning of the accident. Boardman had a sort of premonition and jumped up but it was a false alarm. Further came up the shunt and took the boxes off and they got off the rail and they were lost. He found a can of tea with some in. He stuck to the boxes and was found exhausted and Boardman staggered on through the damp and got to the first door and the second but he did not remember that. He lay two and a half hours in a semi-conscious state before he was brought put. He asked the time and found how long he had been down the mine and was brought out holding someone’s shoulder. James Barnes and Peter Stirrup had heard him knocking which attracted their attention. This was enough for Boardman and he left the pit and did thirty-eight years at the Vulcan Foundry. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
21st. June 1869.
Joseph Edwards and fifty-six others, killed in an explosion of gas. The full story is given in ‘With Hearts so Light’, by Ian Winstanley. 10th. April 1871. Henry Hall aged 15 years, a sinker was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. January 1874.
William Forshaw aged 17 years, a drawer was killed by a fall of coal while pulling off the sides against orders. (Mines Inspectors Report)
2nd. August 1875.
William Harris aged 28 years, a collier was killed by a fall of coal. (Mines Inspectors Report)
16th. December 1875.
John Halliwell aged 25 years, a collier was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
17th. January 1876.
George Travis aged 44 years, a collier was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. November 1876.
James Fairclough aged 29 years, a collier was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1st. September 1877.
Tryphena Harrison aged 25 years a brow woman, was killed when she fell down the pit from the surface. (Mines Inspectors Report)
9th. September 1877.
Fall Down Coalpit.
At Queen pit, Haydock a woman named Tryphea Harrison lost her life. The body was identified by her husband, Charles, a brow man at the colliery. She was moving boxes at the pit head on the lower landing when on the upper deck of the cage another box came up. Charles took a box off and took it to the tippler. The deceased ran the empty boxes to the cage and the witness took a full one. As he went to the machine, he heard a sound from the pit and looking round he could not see the deceased or the box. The cage was still in place. She had fallen and pulled the box with her. It was possible that she had pushed the box before her and could not let go. She was wearing clogs and the floor was an iron plate on which she could have slipped. Charles Forshaw, the engineman at the pit, said he last saw the witness take a full box but he caught sight of something shadowy going down the far side of the cage he missed the box. James Rimmer, a runner at the bottom of the pit said he had loaded one box and was reaching for another when there was a noise. he looked at the higher landing and saw parts of a box. he looked up and saw the deceased across the bearers. he thought it was a man at first but taking his light he recognised the deceased. She was quite dead and much mangled. The pit was 380 yards deep. The jury returned a verdict of ‘acidulate death’ and recommended that there should be self-setting fences at the earliest possible date at the pit as the Government Inspector had recommended to all collieries. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
13th. November 1877.
Shadrack Chadwick aged 26 years, a dataller was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. November 1878.
John Tunnicliffe aged 23 years, a collier was killed by a fall of the roof. The Inspector commented that it was a simple accident. (Mines Inspectors Report)
31st. December 1878.
Thomas Tanny aged 26 years, a drawer was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
17th. December 1880.
Marcus Naylor aged 15 years, a rolly hooker was killed by a heavy fall of the roof in the stone drift which was believed to be perfectly safe. (Mines Inspectors Report)
21st. November 1882.
William Murry aged 28 years, a drawer was killed when he was building a pack and drew a prop which the underlooker had warned him not to touch when the roof immediately fell on him breaking his leg. He died on the 14th. December. (Mines Inspectors Report)
23rd. February 1884.
Owen Royley aged 42 years, a dataller was killed when he was assisting to put up some bars and cover them with debris and while lifting a prop under one of the bars he knocked it off too far and the bar and the prop fell on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
7th. May 1884.
Thomas Mather aged 18 years, a drawer was killed as he was working with his father and was allowed to work under some top coal which should have either been pulled or propped when the coal fell on him. The place had not been visited by the fireman as often as it should have been. (Mines Inspectors Report)
27th. November 1884.
John Morris aged 35 years, a collier was killed. He and a drawer had lifted a tub back onto the rails and were guiding it down the road which was very steep at this point when it jumped off the rails at a curve and knocked out a prop which was standing one foot from the road and a stone fell on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
9th. July 1886.
Mary Birchall aged 39 years, a pit brow girl was killed. The waggoner was lowering a waggon down to the next screen when the deceased who was in the waggon was crushed against the screen shute. She had been told waggon man to lower the waggon but she must have been taken by surprise as she could easily have slipped into the side of the shute. (Mines Inspectors Report)
4th. July 1887.
Isiah Davies aged 14 years, a pony driver was killed. The lad was in charge of a pony taking full tubs up the brow and it is supposed that the gearing gave way letting the tub run back onto him. There should have been a drag chain on the tub but he did not use it. (Mines Inspectors Report)
18th. June 1888.
Haydock Miners and the Truck Act. At Newton Petty Sessions, a daywageman named Robert Rabett who was employed at Queen pit brought a case for unlawful dismissal. He had been a night man for five years and under the agreement was entitled to two weeks notice. On the 17th he went for his lamp and he was told he could not have one as he had not signed his band under the Truck Act passed the previous year. Mr. Glover, General Manager for the Company said it was not compulsory for the men to sign and the Company agreed to pay them 8/- for a day’s wage. (Prescot Reporter)
4th February 1889.
John Mather aged 16 years drawer was allowed by a collier to fill tubs under some underlying stone that fell on him and killed him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1889
Michael Knight aged 40 years, dataller was working at 11 p.m. in the 3rd. hour of the shift he was setting bars in a rising brow when a stone fell from the roof and killed him. He was an experienced man and was working properly. (Mines Inspectors Report)
31st. March 1899.
Extraordinary Inquest At Earlestown. Doctors at Variance. Post mortem ordered.
The first inquest to be held under the new and better conditions in the Public Hall instead of the nearest Public House was conducted by Mr. F. A. Jones the Deputy Coroner. George Halliwell a miner at queen pit Haydock had had an accident to his finger three weeks previously. He was attended by Dr. T. E. Haywood but influenza seized the man and he died. Dr Valentine was called in by the relatives of the deceased and gave a death certificate attributing the same to influenza and the accident to the finger, so an inquest was necessary. Mr. Matthews the deputy Inspector of mines and Mr. Watkinson the colliery manager and Dr Haywood. Georgina Halliwell of 20, Clarence Street Newton Common was aged 39 years. On the 26th March he went at 5.30 am and up to that day had never been to a doctor. When he came home he had a finger bandaged on his left hand and in answer to his wife’s inquiries he said that he had also injured his back but he did not say how it happened. he did not go to work after that and she thought that he had strained himself and he would not tell his wife but when she pressed him he said that a lump had come up on his side that went when it was pressed. The position of the complaint was such that he did not like to mention it. he went to Dr. Haywood and Dr. Dowling on Friday for his paper and had been under the doctor ever since. He died on Thursday the 23rd of March his finger was healing up and had said no more about the strain. Joseph Siddley said that he was working with the deceased on the 16th March between 7 and 8 in the morning and his finger was caught between a box and a piece of coal. He went home at about 2 to 3 pm and made no complaint. John Halliwell aged 15 said that he worked with his father. He said that about three weeks before a tub had caught a bar and some dirt fell from the roof onto his fathers back and also his finger. Dr. Haywood said that in his opinion the finger had nothing to do with his death. When he came for a certificate not to go to work Dr Valentine and I agreed that it was influenza and the injury was never mentioned. He had given him a certificate to start work in the 17th but he had an attack of influenza and Dr. Valentine was summoned in the night and at Dr Valentine’s request, Dr Haywood attended him the following morning. Dr Watkins had been asked to do a post mortem and all doctors agreed that death was due to natural causes. The thumb was quite healed and there were no signs of inflammation but there were signs of inflammation to the left lung and chronic inflammation of the kidneys. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was recorded. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
1892.
It was reported that Queen and Legh Pits were using pillar and stall methods to work the coal. (Ashmore)
1892.
Legh pit had a beam engine. The remains of the engine house survived for along time with a date stone visible which read ‘1826’. (Ashmore)
23rd. March 1900. Presentation At Haydock. A ceremony took place on Wednesday evening at the Huntsman Arms Hotel Haydock when Mr. Pownall surface manager of Queen, Legh and Princess pits was resented with a gold watch in token of the Engine winders respect of him. Prior to the presentation, the company took a substantial knife and fork tea provided by Mr. and Mrs Heaton. Mr John Robinson proposed the first toast and Mr Seddon the manager of Parr pits responded. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
4th. April 1902.
Accident At Haydock Collieries. Richard Birkett aged 18 years of Church Road, Haydock was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday morning from Queen pit. He injured his hand while he was in charge of a pony. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
6th. May 1902.
Patrick Kelly aged 17 years, contractors man was with the contractor making the main brow higher and timbering it when a large fall occurred from the side of the roadway knocking out at least 4 bars he had set and burying him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
18th. June? 1903.
Thomas Roughly aged 32 years, dataller was in the act of getting into the cage at the Yard Mouthing before the return signal had been given. (Mines Inspectors Report)
17th. July 1903.
William Mayor aged 41 years, fireman was returning in the tunnel jig after his inspection and noticed a rock looking unsafe in the roof he attempted to draw it down with a pick. More came than expected and he died the next day. (Mines Inspectors Report)
12th. February 1904.
Colliery Inquest At Haydock, Jury Sits All Day.
Jury Disagree. Mr Brighouse held the inquest into the death of William Cunliffe aged 55 years a collier of 20 Clipsley Lane Haydock who died on the 31st Jan. from injuries received at Queen pit on the 22nd April. Mr Peace stated that while the deceased was going along Abbott’s jigger at the mine Cunliffe fell but got up again and walked on about 40 yards and after a few minutes of rest he went to his working place. When he returned home he told his wife that he had fallen over a sleeper and hurt his left ankle. Dr Dowling attended him and he was under his care until his death. In December last the deceased sued the colliery for compensation and received 17/- per week in the County Court. Dr Dowling refused a certificate as to the cause of death and he thought that the accident accelerated his death and he also requested a post-mortem should be done by an independent doctor. This was done by Dr. Unsworth of St Helens. At the inquest, there was an array of Medical practitioners including Dr Hayward and his partner Dr Thompson, Dr Dowling of Haydock and Drs Fox and Jackson of St Helens. It was stated at the inquest that on the day of the accident the deceased came home by himself after coming up the pit early and he told his wife Hannah that he had hurt his angel at work and went to see Dr Dowling before washing himself. He did not work again and he received money from the Colliers Relief Fund fro John Forshaw Sick Visitor. It was paid on the certificate that said that he had sprained his ankle. When the certificate was issued the widow said that she to the certificate to Thomas Reed a checkweigher and received 8/6d a week from the Sick Club 6/8 from the Miners Permanent Relief Society. He had also got a certificate from Dr Hayward as to the injury of the ankle. Mr Riley said that the deceased was a steady hard working man who had near claimed form compensation for anything else and during the first few weeks that he got his money he hoped that he would recover and he did not consult anyone further about the injury. John Cunliffe of Blackbrook Rd. Haydock the son of the deceased could remember the day of the accident and said that his father never worked again when they arrived at the resting place he said that is ankle hurt the witness was drawing for his father. Paul Twist, 367 Clipsley Lane Haydock a fireman at the Queen pit said that the last day that Cunliffe worked was 21st April. William Smith employed in the next working place to the deceased said that he did not hear him say anything about the fall and Cunliffe worked all day and had his meals about 6 ft from him. The doctor who did the post-mortem found that both bones of the foot were diseased and there was evident of TB on the lungs and in his opinion, he did of TB. Dr Dowling surgeon in connection with the Miners Permanent Relief Society. After 20 minutes the jury returned a verdict of accidental death and that the accident to his foot had hastened and accelerated his death. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
25th. March 1904.
TB Or Injury?
The seven Doctors at the inquest some weeks ago disagreed as to the cause of death of William Cunliffe and the medial men were asked at the court on Wednesday to make a final judgement as to the cause of his death. Mrs Hannah Cunliffe his widow applied for £228-13-6d in compensation. Dr Unsworth gave a detailed description of the PM and he had inflammation of the brain and extensive tumours and the lungs had coal miners consumption and cancerous growths of the liver and the stomach. He thought that the TB in the lungs was of long-standing probably several years and in his opinion death was due to inflammation of the brain. It was not his view that the TB had extended from the ankle to the lungs and brain but the TB in the lungs had gone on independently. The court was then adjourned and the subsequent proceedings should take place in Liverpool when Dr Hayward and sir William banks would give evidence. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
15th. March 1904.
Haydock Compensation Case.
Before Judge Sands Mrs Hannah Cunliffe his honour said he would take time to consider his award. 22nd. April 1904. Haydock Compensation Case. Judge Sand gave his judgement in the case in order to find in favour of the applicant it should be proved that death was due to the injury and on the evidence, he was unable to come to the conclusion that the injury to the angel had caused his death and he thought that he had died from exhaustion from a man suffering from a multitude of diseases and he found the Cunliffe’s death did not arise out of an accident in the course of his employment and he did not award compensation with the usual costs. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
11th. May 1904
Another Fatality At Haydock.
John Garner aged 51 years dataller was repairing the brow when a large fall of roof occurred from a slip carrying three new bars which had recently been set and killed him. Inquest held by Brighouse on the bod of John Garner 51 of Park Street Haydock who was killed on Tuesday evening. he was engaged with two other men propping and the deceased along with a man named Cunliffe was standing two yards away when workout any warning a fall of roof occurred also burying Cunliffe who was dug out quickly but when they got Garner out he was found to be dead. a Man Named Hall who was working near the pace said that in his opinion the accident was caused by a slip but the roof appears to be perfectly safe. Matthews the inspector said that he agreed with the man’s version and aid that the timber was perfectly good. Verdict accidental death. (Mines Inspectors Report) (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
3rd. February 1905.
Ernest Rimmer aged 15 years, pony driver was killed when he fell under a journey of full tubs attached to a pony while he was drawing in the Nine Foot level and was fatally injured. (Mines Inspectors Report)
22nd. February 1905.
Jesse Butler aged 67 years, dataller was cutting along the side of the road for a ten-foot bar which was one end of a running bar the other end being held by a man close to him when a little dirt started falling off the adjoining bar and startled them and the bar fell off and killed him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
28th. January 1907.
Henry Armstrong aged 24 years fireman was drawing out props with a gablock and chain from under the kench when a sudden fall occurred on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
4th January 1908.
Collier Killed.
Daniel Williams aged 45 years, fireman of Newton Common, was clearing a fall in the jig where a steep fault crossed the roadway and some of the roof fell capping a bar and crushing him. The man was married and leaves a wife and five young children. (Mines Inspectors Report) (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
1st. July 1910.
Robert Day aged 55 years, fireman was killed when inspecting a place where some men were clearing afall a piece of rock fell from the side on him. He was examining about three feet beyond the last bar set. (Mines Inspectors Report)
16th. September 1892.
A man named Twist of Park Road, a Haydock footballer was injured at Queen Pit. (St Helens Lantern)
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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