19th. August 1874.
Fatal Colliery Accident.
At the Ravenhead Colliery on Saturday morning a collier named John Pennington lost his life while at work in the No.10 pit. He was pushing wagons on the road when he accidentally slipped and fell on the rails. Two loaded tubs passed over him inflicting fearful injuries to his head and the upper portion of his body. He was taken up immediately to his father’s house but died an hour later. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
22nd. August 1874.
John Pennington aged 13 years, pony driver, was killed when he was run over by tubs in the Main Delf No.10 Pit. He was walking along the levels when he tripped and fell in front of two wagons that were being drawn along at moderate speed. before he could recover, he was run over and crushed. He lived for a few hours after the accident. The jury brought in a verdict of ‘Accidental Death.’ (Mines Inspectors Report) (Colliery Guardian)
The Report recorded the death of William Pennington aged 26 years, collier, was killed by a fall of coal on the 20th. March 1875.
30th. March 1875.
Fatal Accident at Ravenhead.
The accident occurred on a Saturday morning at about 9.30 when William Pennington aged 37 years (according to the local paper) was killed at the colliery. The deceased was engaged in clearing a roadway when a quantity of the roof fell upon him and completely buried him. Peter Aspinall and George Lidy who was working nearby heard his moans. They got him out but found him to be dead. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser) (Mines Inspectors Report)
1st. May 1876.
James Ratchford aged 17 years. pony driver was killed by a fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th. June 1876.
Joseph Robinson aged 17 years, dataller, was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
29th. December 1877.
Fire at Ravenhead.
At about 7.30 a.m. on Saturday a boy named Elite Blain discovered a fire that had broken out in a cabin on the stage of No.7 pit. he went to report it to the Police Station and the fire brigade arrived in about thirty-five minutes to discover that the flames had spread considerably and covered the whole of the headgear and about twenty yards of staging was also completely destroyed. Owing to a plentiful supply of water being available from the Corporation mains the fire was put out. The estimated damage was about £120 which was not covered by insurance. The cause of the fire was a mystery as the heating was done by steam pipes. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
21st. January 1879.
There was an explosion in the Main Delf Mines when one person was injured. A little gas had collected in the roof of an air road after a fall. The gas was fired by a man’s light as he examined it. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1st. July 1879.
Fatal Accident at Ravehead Colliery.
At an inquest at the George Inn on the body of Thomas Fairhurst aged 28 years of Brook Street, who died from injuries received in an accident at the colliery. William, his brother said that they were working together holing before blasting. William suggested the placing of a sprag to prevent the coal from falling but he refused to do it. About half an hour after a quantity of coal and dirt fell from the roof and completely covered him. the debris was cleared and he was put in a coal box and taken to the surface and all the time he was conscious and able to speak saying, “Oh my,” all the time he said nothing about the accident to the time he died. William Fairhurst told the Inspector that Thomas knew it was his duty to set sprags and he had not done so. The management was very strict about spragging and there were materials everywhere. The jury said the accident had been caused by the deceased neglecting his precautions and returned a verdict of accidental death. (Prescot Reporter)
19th. November 1879.
Fatal Accident at Ravenhead.
Early in the morning Henry Fowles brakesman about 20 years of age died at the Cottage Hospital from injuries received in an accident at the colliery on the 20th. inst. He was a brakesman and fireman and had worked at the colliery for about three months. On the morning of the 19th. an engine and wagons were being shunted into the colliery and on reaching the sidings. He had uncoupled three wagons and had gone to the points to send them into a siding but they did not get clear of the mainline and accordingly, he called the engine driver at the rear of the train to come up slowly and push the stationary wagons. While this was being done he was standing holding a prop against a buffer when the prop slipped and he fell and was caught between the buffers. His chest was crushed and was taken to the Cottage Hospital and carefully attended to but he died on Thursday morning. The inquest was held on Thursday and a verdict of accidental death returned. (Prescot Reporter)
9th. August 1880.
Colliery Fatality at St. Helens
Thomas Ryan or Lyon, collier aged 22 years of Eldem Street who was employed at the Ravehead colliery went to his work and while working in the St. Helens Delph three tons of coal and dirt fell from the roof burying him and breaking his back and injuring him bout the head and shoulders. He was taken home and attended to by Dr. Gaskell until his death the same day. (Prescot Reporter)
1st January 1881.
Joseph Eblyn aged 56 years, labourer was found dead in the mortar mill where he was employed. (Mines Inspectors Report)
19th. February 1881.
Thefts of Coal.
Richard Fallon aged 13 years, Frederick Thomason aged 14 years, Elizabeth Riley aged 14 years, and a woman named Eliza Jane Mannion alias Thomason appeared before the bench charged with stealing coal from Groves Colliery. The case was adjourned when the defendants promised good behaviour until the appeared in court again. (St. Helens Newspaper)
26th. March 1881.
Fatal Colliery Accident.
At the Navigation Inn, Bridgwater Street an inquest was held on John Finch aged 13 years who met his death at the No.10 St. Helens Colliery where he was a pony driver and apparently in good health. On returning home from work he told his mother that he felt very sore and lay down on the sofa. On the following morning, he got up to go to work but was too ill to do so. He remained in bed all day and the next day he was no better. He told his mother that he had been jammed against the boxes when he was working on the journey. delirium set in and Dr. Gaskell summoned and found that his back and loins were very much bruised. He died the following afternoon. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and expressed the opinion that if medical attention had been sought sooner, his life may have been saved. His mother described the lad as being very ‘close-minded’. (St. Helens Newspaper)
1st. July 1881.
Daniel Harrison aged 34 years, pitman was killed when he and his brother were doing some repairs in the shaft. He went to examine a portion of the roof of the cage when he suddenly fell off. His brother could not give an explanation but it was supposed that he was struck by a falling stone off the side of the unwalled shaft and was in a dangerous state. Attention to it had been drawn to the danger the previous week. (Mines Inspectors Report)
16th. March 1881.
John Finch, a 13 years old pony driver was crushed between tubs he was staking out and killed. There was no evidence to show how the accident happened. (Mines Inspectors Report)
19th. September 1882.
An explosion took place in the Higher Delf Mines when the barometer was falling. A little gas was forced from a crack in the roof and when it steeled it came into contact with a naked candle. The collier was slightly burned on his arm. Gas was seldom seen in the mine. (Mines Inspectors Report)
28th. February 1882.
A Colliery Accident.
At the inquest into the death of Peter Harrison aged 27 years, who lost his life at a colliery of the St. Helens Colliery Company and lived with his mother at 43, York Street. He was a taker-off at Ravenhead colliery. About three years before he had suffered from a swelling of glands in his neck and became very weak and spent some weeks in hospital in Southport. On the 11th. January whilst at work he pulled a signal rope and a prop fell on him knocking him down and he fell on his side on a stone. He continued to work and said nothing about the accident but the following morning he did not go to work and fellow-workmen said that he had been hurt. He was attended to at home by Dr. Gaskell until the 28th February when he died. Several jurymen asked for the guidance of Dr. Gaskell as such a small accident would not have affected a strong man. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death as the doctor. was of the opinion that the accident accelerated his death. (St. Helens Newspaper)
28th. September 1882.
Fatal Colliery Accident.
At No.9 pit Ravenhead A fettler named Thomas Eddleston was killed was working with John York and Joseph Eddleston. (Prescot Reporter)
21st. October 1882.
Thomas Eddleston aged 55 years, pitman was skilled as he was riding on the edge of the sinking hoppet and was thrown off as it caught the side of the shaft. (Mines Inspectors Report)
24th. October 1882.
Fatal Accident at Ravenhead.
At the No.9 pit Thomas Edleston aged 69 years who lived in Graces Row, Sutton. He and two other men John York and Joseph Edleston were descending the shaft when about two-thirds of the way down the hoppet struck the side. The rope continued to descend and then the hoppet freed and fell about ten feet with a jerk. The deceased was thrown out and fell to the bottom of the shaft about 110 yards while his companions managed to hold on. The two men were drawn to the surface and afterwards, Francis Molyneau went down and recovered the body which was brought up wrapped in a sheet. (St. Helens Newspaper)
21st. November 1882.
Fatal Accident at Groves Colliery.
At the inquest at the Navigation Tavern, Bridgwater Street on John Finch a pit fettler aged 65 years who was killed on Monday morning at the No.7 pit. He and Edward Kay had been plucking and repairing the shaft and were going to the surface. About forty yards from the bottom of the pit when a stone weighing five or six pounds fell down the shaft and struck the deceased on the head, knocking him to the bottom of the shaft where it was found he was dead. Mr Hall condemned the bad state of the shaft and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death adding that we recommend that the shaft should be lined from top to bottom with brickwork or otherwise to the satisfaction of the inspector. (St. Helens Newspaper)
4th. March 1882.
Accident at Ravenhead.
At the inquest on the body of Peter Harrison aged 21 years who lived with his mother at 43, York Street who was employed as a taker-off at Ravenhead. On the 13th. January he came home from work complaining that he had been hurt at the pit by a prop falling on him which knocked him down on his side and rendered him insensible for a few minutes. She saw that he had a black mark on his leg and thought he would be able to return to work in a few days but he got worse and Dr. Gaskell was called and attended him to the time of his death on the 23rd. February. Dr. Gaskell examined him and found that he had sustained several internal injuries and issued certificates so he could get sick pay from the Miner’s Society to which he belonged. He had been in a convalescent home in Southport three years ago and was not a strong man but he had enjoyed good health for the past twelve months. Just before the accident, he had a lung complaint and something wrong with his kidneys and the accident had accelerated his death. Thomas Forrest who worked at the colliery said that Harrison told him that a prop had fallen on him. Hugh Topping the underlooker at the colliery appraised the accident the following day and was of the opinion that the injury the man had received was slight. The jury hesitated before bringing in a verdict of accidental death. (Prescot Reporter)
20th. November 1882.
John Finch aged 65, years, pitman was killed. He had finished the inspection of the shaft which he considered safe and was attending to a siphon pipe, 50 yards from the bottom when something fell from the shaft and struck him. A great part of the shaft was unlined and representation had been made to the owners to line the shaft. (Mines Inspectors Report)
15th. September 1884.
The mine makes little gas and naked lights were sanctioned. A fall took place close to the wide work face and a little gas collected in a hole which was ignited by a candle. Lamps are to be used in future. The incident took place on the Ravenhead Main Delf Mine. One man was injured. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1st. January 1885.
William Hill aged 57 years, fireman, fell down some steps leading from the pit bank and landed on his head. He was killed instantly. (Mines Inspectors Report)
3rd. September 1885.
Thomas Woollar aged 60 years, collier was killed on the main road by a fall of the roof as he sat smoking his pipe. The road seemed rather rough and there were places that required making more secure. (Mines Inspectors Report)
12th. September 1885.
Fatal Colliery Accident at Ravenhead.
Thomas Bullen was identified by his widow, Margaret at the inquest at the White Lion in Gerards Bridge. He was brought home in the morning and died shortly afterwards. James Holmes who said that on the day of the accident he went down the No.10 pit with the deceased and were dropping the road when a portion of the roof fell on him as he was kneeling. The roof had been tried by the fireman. It was stated that he had been at the pit for a week only and had never worked in a pit before. Michael Foolin was working with the deceased and stated that he was smoking and had knelt down to knock out his pipe when the stone fell. Thomas Finch, fireman said that he had inspected the roof before the men came down and while they were working and it knocked sound. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and suggested that there should be better supervision of the main roads by the proprietors. (Prescot Reporter)
13th. February 1886.
Terrible Accident at St. Helens Colliery
At the Feathers Inn, St. Helens an inquest was held on the death of Edward Spence aged 27 years who worked at the No.11 pit, Ravenhead Colliery and was killed on the 11th. inst. He was working with John Webster who was also badly injured and doubtful if he would survive. The inquiry was adjourned. A week later, Webster was still gravely ill. Locock had been discharged from the colliery and had been warned to attend but had not down so. George Mashall collier said the deceased drew for him and on the day of the accident. The deceased went to a box of coal and the roadway which he had to pass along was timbered and barred. The witness went to the roadway and saw there was a fall in the tunnel. He obtained assistance and Webster and the deceased were under the fall. An inspection had been made and Mr. Hall recommended that the inspection should be made nearer the time the men commenced work. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. (Prescot Reporter)
5th. February 1886.
Edward Spence aged 73 years, drawer was killed by a fall of the roof. The roadway had suddenly fallen. It was barred four feet six inches apart with close running bars. The cause was probably a side crush and it fell on him as he was passing. (Mines Inspectors Report)
23rd. February 1887.
Joseph Marsh aged 72 years, dataller was sent with another man to put up some beams at a point marked by the fireman. He began to get down some side against the wishes of his mate and the roof fell on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
13th. January 1888.
William Hulme aged 65 years, a pusher-on, was killed by a fall caused by the timber being knocked out by a tub. There was not enough space between the tubs and the bar. He died on the 14th. April. (Mines Inspectors Report)
19th. April 1888.
Edward Hilton aged 65 years, a dataller was killed as he was breaking stone in the roof that had compressed pipes. When the piece cam down the pipes were sprung and a piece of the joint fell on him. he was not much injured but he did not recover and died on the 18th. October. (Mines Inspectors Report)
14th, September 1888.
Sudden Death of a Colliery at St. Helens.
Thomas Downall of Loch Street, St. Helens was working at the Ravenhead colliery with two men moving a box of timber when the deceased stated that he had hurt his back. He went home and complained he was not well and took to his bed where he died on Sunday. John Picket said he was working with him when they were timbering. They got a box of timber onto the landing but could not turn it without unloading. It was at this time that he said he had hurt himself. James Davies, manager of the Ravenhead colliery said he saw him on the pit brow after he had hurt himself. The jury said he was accidentally hurt and that death was accelerated by the injury. (Prescot Reporter)
4th. November 1890.
An explosion took place in the Bastians Mine which killed one man. He went into a place where some gas had been reported in the morning an passed some men who were working with safety lamps. He had a naked light and the gas exploded at his candle. The name of the deceased is not given and the Inspector went on to say that the accident would not have happened if the man had a safety lamp. (Mines Inspectors Report)
7th. December 1891.
Thomas Marsh aged 16 years, drawer was working in a place six feet wide and there was no timber within twelve inches of the face. The fireman said that he told the collier to set props but did not wait to see if they had started to do it. The man never set them and the roof fell on his son. It was considered a breach of the rules by the fireman. (Mines Inspectors Report)
28th. December 1891.
John Marsh aged 28 years, collier was killed at 2 p.m. in the ninth hour of the shift. He was working and had his bars within twenty inches of the face when some roof coal feel on him. He died on the 27th. January. (Mines Inspectors Report)
10th. February 1892.
Radleys Colliery. Bridget Glyn, Katherine Hallighan and Catherine Lynch were charged with stealing coal from the colliery. Lynch and Hallighan were sent for trial to the Sessions when Lynch received a one month sentence and Hallighan was set to Kirkdale for seven days. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
4th. October 1895.
Charles Lilley aged 22 years, collier. He was supposed to have been riding on a tub against orders and was crushed against the roof. He died the following day. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th. September 1895.
Thomas Lucas aged 18 years, drawer was in the act of taking down his tubs down the road when one got off the rails. Another drawer came up with a tub and he was crushed to death. (Mines Inspectors Report)
7th. March 1896.
Peter Pickavance aged 62 years, a furnaceman was going to the furnace when the banksman was not there. He had always gone to the engine wonder first who sent the boiler tenter to assist the as banksman for him but on this occasion he went straight to the pit brow and signalled to go down but before it was raised he went straight into the pit probably thinking the cage was at the bank. It was believed he was drunk at the time. The fence and gate were in a satisfactory condition. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1st. September 1896
Nathan Mills aged 60 years, horsekeeper died from injuries received at the top of the shaft. (Mines Inspectors Report)
7th. October 1897.
Peter Clark a 52 years old labourer was greasing wagons when North Western locomotive came to take them put and he did not see him. He was crushed to death between the buffers. (Mines Inspectors Report)
11th. November 1899.
Peter Garvey aged 22 years, brakesman was riding on the buffers of a coal train and was putting his foot on the brake lever to apply the brake. He slipped off and fell in front of the wheels and was run over. (Mines Inspectors Report)
12th. December 1901.
John Thompson aged 29 years, a labourer was walking along the railway when some wagons and a locomotive approached from behind. The driver whistled and he tried to get up on a slack heap at the side of the tracks but he slipped and fell under the wagons. The brakesman was on the wagon next to the locomotive. (Mines Inspectors Report)
18th. February 1904.
John W. Platt aged 24 years, and Thomas Grundy aged 23 years both datallers were ripping down the roof in a roadway. They had advanced about six feet from the last bar to a slip when the roof gave way capping two bars and three stretchers and killing them. There should have been better supervision. (Mines Inspectors Report)
14th. November 1904.
Joseph Dixon aged 34 years, drawer was killed as two tubs were being drawn along a steep brow and got fast against the timber. The chain connecting the tubs broke. he had gone to se what was wrong and was crushed. The road was three feet three inches high and should have been higher in the haulage road. (Mines Inspectors Report)
11th. November 1909.
John Wilson aged 33 years, collier, was working at the coal face when a fall occurred from a slip which capped at least two props. The fall was fifteen feet three inches by fur feet seven inches by four feet six inches and it killed him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
6th. August 1909.
Pit Cage Accident the Colliery.
On a Tuesday morning seven daywagemen had an alarming experience and a remarkable escape. The drum was being repaired at the No.11 Pit and they descended to No.10 Pit to repair the roadways. It was 7.15 a.m. when they were lowered down the shaft and for some undefined reason it was travelling faster than usual. Next moment the cage collided with the landing and the men were dashed against the side of the cage. The men who had descended in the previous cage gave their help to the inured. The men suffered shock. They were Thomas Woosey aged 52 of 20, Croppers Hill, James Burrows aged 35 of 3, Highfield Street, Sutton, James Lane aged 52 of 7, Romford Street, Parr, William Gores aged 18 of 64, Morley Street, John Henry Johnson aged 25 of 17, North John Street, and Henry Johnson aged 36 of 32, Volunteer Street. The injured men were taken up the shaft and to their homes were there were attending by Dr. Latham but there were no bones injured an they were reported to be making good progress. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
1st. September 1909.
John Chesworth aged 37 years, labourer was attempting to lever the blade of ventilating fan which was worked by a single engine which had stopped in the centre. When pulling back, the plank he had used, started the engine and the plank injured him in the stomach so seriously that he later died. In future a baring arrangement will be placed in the main shaft of the engine to start it in future. (Mines Inspectors Report)
11th. October 1909.
John Wilson aged 33 years, colliery was killed while working at the coal face when a fall occurred from a slip. The fall capped at least two props and measured fifteen feet three inches by four feet seven inches by four feet six inches. (Mines Inspectors Report)
30th May 1911.
Thomas Adamson aged 16 years, an engine boy was in the act of lifting five stationary tubs onto the rails when gang of ten empty tubs was drawn up by the engine and jammed him against the machinery and the stationary tubs killing him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
15th. September 1911.
Michael Mee, contractors man aged 46 years was working with others ripping down the roof and packing from the side of the roadway, six feet from the face when a fall occurred from the ripping between a slip and killed him. A prop was displaced by the fall. (Mines Inspectors Report)
19th. January 1912.
William Waring aged 44 years, collier was clearing dirt from a face with a piece of clod overhanging the coal. This fell over the top of a sprag and killed him. The roof was said to have take a sudden gulch and the fireman ad visited the place five minutes before and judged it safe. (Mines Inspectors Report)
4th. July 1912.
Richard Naylor aged 20 years, drawer was filling a tub at the face opposite a roadway when a sudden weighting of the roof took place. This was immediately followed by a fall of stammel or top dirt which displaced a prop set immediately under it. Richard died from his injuries during the night. The jury recommended that or care should be taken in spragging the stammel in future. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th. July 1912.
Henry Langley, aged 57 years, collier was at the face when a fall occurred which displaced two props and killed him. There were several slips in the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. September 1919.
John O’Brien, collier aged 25 years was getting coal down from the face when a sudden weighting of the roof took place which caused a piece of coal to fall from a slip which killed him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1919
It was reported that an old shaft was being widened from 10 to 15 feet and to a depth of 58 yards and bricked throughout its length. At a point, 49 yards further down the shaft, there as a second scaffold suspended by the contractors and the centre portion had a circular hole to allow the hoppet to pass through. One of the segments of this scaffold had been removed and drawn to the surface and lowered back so that the rope might be attached to another hook. When it was again lowered to within 8 to 10 feet of the scaffold one of the sinkers stepped back into the open space and fell 253 yards. The scaffold was well lighted with electric lamps and a temporary fence that had been erected during the operations should have been replaced. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1920
There had been shots fired as the roof was being taken forward. Two men were killed by a fall of stone. A bar let into the side would have prevented the accident. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1923.
A fireman fired a shot in the Four Feet Seam which consisted of 10ozs. of Aminite with a battery and a No.7 detonator near the face of the brow. He had examined the place and found no sign of firedamp. About three-quarters of an hour, later a contractor had occasion to go up the brow and noticed a peculiar smell. On further investigation, he found that the coal was on fire and the fire was extinguished by water in a few minutes. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1923.
A fireman was killed and two other persons injured by a shot that was fired at the face. The fireman was in the act of coupling up the cable to two shots when a stone weighing about two tons fell And killed him instantly. It fell away from the pothole and was probably loosened by the shot. The deceased had sounded all the stone with a pick and it looked all right but too much weight had been placed on this sounding. (Mines Inspectors Report)
31st. May 1923.
Richard Egerton aged 61 years, a fireman was killed in the 4th. hour of the shift by a fall of roof at the face. (Mines Inspectors Report)
26th. April 1924.
Edward Brown aged 60 years, an onsetter, was killed by a bolt six inches long and just over an inch in diameter which fell down the shaft from the surface, a distance of 350 yards. He had just placed two full tubs on the top deck of the cage and was struck in the eye. The bolt had come from a connecting rod and fell past the bonnet of the cage. the connecting road had been inspected 12 hours before and found to be safe. (Mines Inspectors Report)
24th. January 1930.
A verdict of misadventure was returned on David Owen Williams aged 32 years of Taylor Street, Sutton who was killed in the mine. Henry Pheasant of Sandy Lane, Skelmersdale said he was working three yards away from Williams when a piece of coal on which they were working suddenly fell out of the roof pushing Pheasant to one side and came to rest on the deceased pressing his throat and chest. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
1936.
Shots were fired underground which set fire to the brattice, (Mines Inspectors Report)
1940
The colliery won the Ambulance Cup, 1951 Arches had to be made safe after a shot had been fired. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1968.
The colliery closed.
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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