Mines, Mining and Collieries, Lower Gornal, Sedgley, Black Country, West Midlands

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Other local collieries and pits.

Abbey Colliery.

Listed in Pigots Directory of 1835, Greenaway, Guest and Russell, Gornal Wood. 'Wood Colliery'.

A partnership between William Guest, Cornelius Guest and Isaac Collins was dissolved in October 1863,
They were carrying on the business of Butty Miners at the Abbey Colliery, William and Cornelius Guest continued on without Collins.

The Abbey Farm Colliery Co., in Abbey Street, was listed in a trade directory in 1936.

Swan Colliery, Lower Gornal (1870's).

In 1851, Thomas and Isaac Badger were listed as coalmasters at the Swan Colliery, Gornal Wood. [Slater Directory].

Mentioned in the 1851 Census, it appears to be near to the old Toll Gate at Coopers Bank, in the vicinity of the Graveyard colliery, Dibdale.

The Swan Colliery Co. mentioned in 1880.

1885: The Colliery was owned by Eli Bradley.

The Swan Colliery was later owned by Elisha Marsh, John Robinson and William Leech, this partnership was disolved in 1905.

1902: The Mercury, 20 June.

OF INTERST TO MINERS
---

At Sedgley, on Monday, John Robinson of the Swan Colliery, Lower Gornal was sued by Thomas Hickinbotham, a miner, of Dudley, for wages amounting to £4 4s in lieu of notice. The case for the plaintiff was that he had for seven weeks been in the employ of the defendant at a wage of 7s a day. In the middle of a week plaintiff was told that there was no more work for him, but no reason whatever was given for the dismissal. -In reply to the Bench, plaintiff admitted that he did not work every day in each week whilst he was employed at the colliery, and the magistrates, in the circumstances said the plaintiff could not legally claim the full amount. They gave a verdict for the plaintiff £3 10s and costs.

1905: The London Gazette, 11 August.

NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned, Elisha Marsh, of Lower Gornal, in the county of Stafford, Victualler, John Robinson, of Dudley, in the county of Worcester, Miner, and William Leech, of Dudley aforesaid, Miner, carrying on business as Colliery Proprietors, at Lower Gornal aforesaid; under the style or firm of the SWAN COLLIERY COMPANY, has been dissolved by mutual consent, as and from the 24th day of June, 1905. All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Elisha Marsh.
- Dated 27th day of July, 1905.
ELISHA MARSH, WILLIAM LEECH, JOHN ROBINSON.

Smith's Lane Colliery, Lower Gornal.

1884: The Lincolnshire Chronicle, 29 July.

Two chartermasters, named John Hyde and Thomas Parkes, sustained shocking injuries on Friday at Smith's Lane Colliery, Lower Gornal, Sedgley, by an explosion of gas. The two men descended the pit for the purpose of preparing the workings for the men to resume work. They were indiscreet enough to use naked candles, instead of safety lamps, and an explosion of gas and cartridges followed. Both men were frightfully burned, and Hyde is in a precarious state.

John Hyde and Thomas Parkes, chartermasters, mentioned in a newspaper report 1884.

This location was was probably off 'Smithy' Lane, just over the border in the Parish of Pensnett.
Smithy Lane runs between Coopers Bank Road and the Cinder Road, a well know mining area.

Furnace Colliery.

Mining index shows this colliery in Lower Gornal in 1945, proprietor Ernest Friend, employers address was 20 Robert Street, it employed six men below and two men above ground.
The mining index at this time, also shows E. Friend as manager of Pit 1, 2 & 3 of the Dibdale workings.

The colliery was located south of Humphrey Street, Lower Gornal and appears to be mainly open-cast.
The mine was officially abandoned on 19 March 1965, but mining activity ceased well before this time.

Afterwards, this area was used as a municipal refuse tip and now is a public recreational area.

Coopers Bank Colliery (1880's).

1877: Birmingham Daily Post, 18 January.

THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT LOWER GORNAL
DEATH OF ONE OF THE SUFFERERS.

Yesterday morning Nathaniel Hall (27), of Red Hall, Lower Gornal, succumbed to the injuries he received at the accident at Cooper's Bank Colliery, on Tuesday. Two of the other injured men, Jabez Hall and Thomas Griffiths, are in a very precarious condition. and not expected to recover. In fact, it was reported at the colliery several times yesterday that the latter was dead, but upon making enquiry last night it was found that the rumour was false, and that Griffiths was still alive. Hickman and Burrows are likely to recover, their injuries not being so severe, Great.attention has been paid to the sufferers by the proprietor. Scientific men have already examined the pits to ascertain if possible the causes which led to the accident, but up to the present no reason can be assigned, no gas having been found in the pits for more than four months.

A following report states that all three men had died.

In 1869, Thomas Webb; Oakes and Co.; Smith and Taylor; William Perry; were operating from here.
Mentioned at a Miners Conference in 1871 with Messrs Garratt of Holly Hall.
Shown on o/s 1881 map being on the western side of Coopers Bank Road.

In 1880, the owner was William Webb, who appears to have died in 1886 after which the colliery plant was sold off and the colliery was closed down.

The Advertiser, 18 September, 1886.

To COLLIERY PROPRIETORS and Others.

COOPER'S BANK COLLIERY, LOWER GORNAL.

To be SOLD by AUCTION, by Mr. JOHN G. WRIGHT, on WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 22nd, 1886, the whole of the COLLIERY PLANT, upon the Premises, COOPER'S BANK COLLIERY, LOWER GORNAL, by order of the Executors of the late Mr. William Webb, comprising 9 Horse-Power Vetical Steam Engine, Windng Gear and Brake ; Cylindrical Boiler, Pit Frames, Gin, capital Weighing Machine, by Johnson, Bilston ; Wrought-iron Rails, Pump, Skips and Rings, Building Materials, &c.

1885: Shields Daily Gazette, Monday 13 July.

DREADFUL PIT ACCIDENT.

John Cartwright, night manager at the Old Park Colliery, Lower Gornal, met with a shocking death on Saturday. When he was directing the miners to do some work in a gate road a sudden bump occurred, and large piece of coal fell from the roof, crushing the deceased into the ground. He was frightfully injured, his ribs protruding into the lungs, and died when being removed to his home. The miners escaped injury.

Old Park Colliery (1880's).

Shown on o/s 1881 map being between Cinder Road and the Forge Inn on Forge Lane, although this came under Pensnett.
Old Park No.3 owned by J Y Price & Co. Ltd and discontinued in 1944/45.

1878: Birmingham Daily Post - Monday 27 May.

COLLIERY FATALITY.

A Man named Isaac Wall of Lower Gornal dies on Friday from injuries received the night before, at No.59, Old Park Colliery, where he was crushed by a great fall of stone.

1915: The Birmingham Gazette, 20 December.

DUDLEY PIT FIRE
----
FOUR HUNDRED MEN RENDERED IDLE.

The serious fire that broke out last week in Messrs. W. Parrish's No.60 Pit, Lower Gornal, Dudley, was overcome on Saturday, and the 400 men thrown out of work will be able to resume their labours in the course of a day or two.
Great difficulty was experienced in subduing the outbreak, and several attempts were rendered abortive by the smoke and fumes which came from the shafts when they were uncovered.
Other devices had to be arranged and on Saturday these proved successful, to the great delight of the residents of the district, as the output of fuel from this pit has for a long time been one of the largest in the locality.

Sandfield Colliery
(William Parrish & Company).

Henry Glaze & Co. had some interest here in 1880.

In 1878, there was a mention of 'Sand Field' Colliery, Kingswinford, whereas a partnership between Henry Glaze and Edgar John Ford carrying on business as Coal Masters was dissolved. [London Gazette]

In 1908 William Parrish employed 68 men below and 29 above and the Sandfield manager was H. J. Newey.

1908 - D. Hickman and Co., 'Sandfield Bridge Pit' mining index shows this pit not worked by 1908.

H.S. Pitt & Co.
Pitt owned a large colliery at Shut End, Pensnett, employing in the region of 500 men in 1918
Sandfield No.4 was pumping only water in 1918.

The exact location of this colliery is not know but probably on the South side of the Himley Road off the Cinder Road near Sandfield Bridge just over the parish boundary in Pensnett.

Coppice Colliery, Barrow Hill.
c1875

Below are two newspaper reports an explosion which occured on January 16th, 1877
One of the men killed was Nathanial Hale, better-known as 'skunney' of Gornal Wood.
Later that year John Newey & Co. of the Barrow Hill Coppice Colliery near Gornal, were charged with six infringments of the Mines Regulation Act, the consequence of three men who had died from the effects of the explosion.
The company was found guilty of the charges and fined.

1877: The South Wales Daily News, 18 January.

An explosion of a dreadful nature has occurred at the Coppet [sic] Colliery, Lower Gornal, whereby five persons were shockingly injured. When the company of men were about to leave work a heavy fall of coal took place, which was followed by a dense volume of sulphur, which immediately exploded, scattering all the men that were in the vicinity. Five persons were found dreadfully injured, two of whom are in a dying state.

1877: The Western Times: Exeter, Friday 19 January.

A sudden fall of coal took place on Tuesday afternoon at Messrs. Woodhall and Newey's colliery, Lower Gornal, and was followed by a rush of fire-damp, which ignited and exploded. Of the twenty miners at work in the pit at the time, fiver were seriously injured. Two of the injured men died died this morning. Two others are not expected to live.

Gateacre Colliery, off Temple Street.
c1920s

Proprietors in 1927 were Jones and Churmage, employing three men below and two men above ground.
Producing Coal, H & M, & Clay, Thick & Heathen.

1927: The Dudley Chronical, 2nd June..

TO COLLIERY PROPRIETORS AND OTHERS
----
NOTICE OF SALE BY AUCTION of the COLLIERY PLANT & EFFECTS upone and about the
GATEACRE COLLIERY, TEMPLE STREET,
LOWER GORNAL

ALFRED DANDO & CO.
Have received instructions to SELL by AUCTION at the Colliery as above on,
FRIDAY NEXT, JUNE 3rd, 1927.
the excellent
COLLIERY PLANT.

comprising Horizontal Haulage Engines, Vertical Steam Boiler, quantity of Rails, Sleepers, Pit Tubs, Air Troughs, Timber-built Office sectionally built, numerous Pit Tools, Blacksmith's Tools and general effects.

1923: The Birmingham Gazette, 9 July.
See full coroners report here

Two Men Killed by Fall of Earth.
----

Two Miners-Joseph Jones, 63 Ruiton Street, Lower Gornal, and John Thomas Guest, Garden Walk, Lower Gornal - were on Saturday, killed while working at the Gateacre Colliery, Lower Gornal.
It appears that there was a sudden fall of dirt in the mine, which was an open one, and both men were burried alive.
When extricated, life was found to be extinct.

1927: The London Gazette, 15 July.

In the Matter of a Deed of Assignment for the benefit of creditors, executed on the 27th day of May, 1927, by LUCY MILLS, trading as the GATACRE COLLIERY CO., of Temple-street, Lower Gornal, in the county of Stafford, Colliery Proprietor, and registered on the 2nd day of June, 1927.

Garden Colliery, Lower Gornal pre-1910.

Harold Newey managed this colliery.
Abandoned c1910
Location not known, possibly in the Redhall area, e.g. Garden Walk?

Some obscure Lower Gornal collieries mentioned in mining disasters taken from newspaper reports, inaccuracies are not ruled out.

Leasowes Colliery c1880s

Nothing known about this colliery.

Another account:-
1884: Manchester Courier, Friday December 12.

A young man named Albert Edward Greenway met with a shocking death yesterday at the Lessures [sic] Colliery, Lower Gornal, Sedgley. Deceased and two colliers had been engaged in the workings, and when ascending the shaft in a cage, deceased was jerked out of the cage and fell down the shaft. He was found at the bottom quite dead. His body was shockingly mutilated.

1884: Edinburgh Evening News, 13 December.

FALL DOWN A PIT-SHAFT. At an inquest held at Lower Gornal yesterday, it was shown that a miner, named Albert Greenway, had lost his life at Leasowes Colliery, through being dropped down the pit-shaft, a distance of 40 yards. The accident was caused through the upright in the machinery getting wrong, and which the proprietors, on the day previous to the accident, were authorised by the Government Inspector to get repaired, but neglected to obey orders. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. Tbe coroner said tbe proprietors deserved be committed for manslaughter.

1876: Dudley Herald, 1 July.

TO BE SOLD, at Bird's Leasowes colliery, about thirty thousand good old BRICKS, dressed, and all complete for fetching away -Apply Mr. Samuel Worton, Bull Street, Gornal Wood.

Badger's Field Colliery, Red Hall c1870s

'Badger.."? Thomas and Isaac Badger were proprietors of the Swan Colliery c1850s -see earlier.

In 1874, William Lowe, chartermaster and a workman named Hickman had perished in an extraordinary accident.

In some accounts, it was mentioned that both miners fell 150 feet down a shaft.
"Mr. Lowe, who is well known through the district, has been for some time working a colliery in Badger's Field, at Red Hall"

Two following newspaper accounts in 1874 of the death of Mr. Lowe in a mining accident.

1874: Lloyds Weekly London Newspaper, December 13.

SHOCKING COLLIERY ACCIDENT. --On Thursday Mr.Lowe, coalmaster was assisting in sending a horse down his pit at Budgerfield [sic] colliery, Lower Gornal. The runner over the pit slipped, and the horse and Mr. Lowe were thrown into the pit, both being killed instantaneously.

1874: The Birmingham Daily Post, Friday December 11.

Mr. Lowe the owner of a gin-pit at Lower Gornal, met with his death yesterday, under rather singular circumstances, He had on the Tuesday purchased a horse, and yesterday had made all arrangements for lowering the animal to the bottom of the shaft, when it suddenly kicked violently, displacing "the runner" in consequence of which Mr. Lowe was precipitated down the shaft, and the horse after him. Both the man and the animal were killed on the spot.

1875: Midland Counties Evening Express, September 11.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT LOWER GORNAL. -On Thursday night a fatal accident occurred at Messrs. Cochrane's Colliery, Lower Gornal, to a boy named Josiah Beardsmore (15), of Lake Street, Lower gornal. It appears that the boy was at work in the pit, when a "tub" run over him and crushed him to death.

Clay Colliery Co., Lower Gornal

Proprietor Albert J. Allen, located near to Lake Street.
This appears to have been an open clay mine, a newspaper of 1933 reports of a claim by John Burrows of damage to his property at 45 Lake Street, caused by 'shots' (explosives) being used to extract the clay in the adjoining clay mine.

In Upper Gornal there were two major collieries:

Cartwright & Co.

Mentioned in 1875 as a fireclay mining operation.
Cartwright and Co., Coal, Fire Clay & Ironstone. in 1896 were employing 40 men, 32 underground.
In 1908 Cartwright & Co., employed 25 below and 3 above, by 1917 they employed 20 below and 10 above ground, Drift No 4 employed 8 above and 3 below.
In 1923 E.P. Cartwright & Co. had at least three pits active for both fireclay and coal, one of them a drift, employing around thirty men total.

John Waterfield & Co.

Mentioned in 1875 as a fireclay mining operation.
John Waterfield & Co., Coal & Fire Clay, in 1896 were employing 21 men, 18 underground.
1908 Waterfield employed 20 men below ground and 6 above, by 1918 this was 20 below ground and 18 above.

1880, Harvey and Fithern are mentioned in the mining index at Upper Gornal.
Enoch Harvey, Coal & Ironstone, this was a minor undertaking in 1896 employing only 8 men.

Pigots Directory of 1835, lists:
Adam and David Hales, Coalmasters, Gornall.
Wood Colliery, Greenaway, Guest & Russell, Gornal Wood.

this aye fur noggin yeds