Sankey Brook Colliery shaft accident, 1857

On 11 June 1857 six men and boys were being lowered down the newly sunk Rushy Park pit at Sankey Brook Colliery, St Helens, in a wagon hung from its four corners when it caught on the side of the shaft. Two hooks came free and all six fell about 200 yards to the bottom.

Cause

The wagon caught on the side of the pit, probably on one of the walling rings that projected into it, and two of its hooks were disengaged; the iron bows to which the hooks were fastened broke, either with the jerk or the extra weight. The shaft, 360 yards deep, had been sunk under an underlooker; it was out of the perpendicular, irregularly and badly walled, and had no guides.

What happened

The banksman, John Myres, was to stop the party at the water table at 140 yards, and said it was not worth making two windings, so all six went down together. Those at the surface saw the rope vibrate and stopped the engine; it was lowered again at a signal from the bottom, where the fireman, Michael Richie, had heard screams, and then raised. Two blood-stained caps belonging to the lads were found, and two hooks had broken off. A collier, William Rigby, said the rope was in a bad state.

Rescue & recovery

On 3 July 1857 part of the brickwork round the shaft fell and filled it for seven yards just as workmen were about to go down to examine and repair it; no one was below, and Higson had the working of the shaft suspended.

Investigation & inquiry

The inspector, Peter Higson, had inspected the pit earlier and drawn its dangers to the attention of the manager, who was not an engineer and did not understand what was needed. Higson recommended him to appoint a viewer and promised to point out every defect to him; on the day he came to do so the accident had just happened. Higson had nearly been caught on one of the rings himself when descending. He thought the colliery badly managed, said that no coal should be wound until the pit was made safe, and wrote that the accident should convince proprietors that competent viewers were needed, and guides indispensable in deep shafts.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• On 11 June 1857 six men and boys of the Sankey Brook Coal Company, the youngest twelve, fell about 200 yards to their deaths in the new Rushy Park pit at St Helens. ^1,2
• The wagon in which they were being lowered, hung from its four corners, caught on the side of the shaft; two hooks came free and the iron bows broke. ^1,2
• The pit, 360 yards deep, was out of the perpendicular, irregularly and badly walled and without guides. ^1,2
• The inspector, Peter Higson, had already warned the manager of the shaft's danger and arrived to point out its defects to a newly appointed viewer on the day of the accident. ^1,2

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Banksman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “The banksman, John Myres, was to stop the party at the water table at 140 yards,…”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…being lowered down the newly sunk Rushy Park pit at Sankey Brook Colliery, St Helens, in a wagon hung from its four corners when it caught on…”
• Fireman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…engine; it was lowered again at a signal from the bottom, where the fireman, Michael Richie, had heard screams, and then raised. Two…”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named 5 times in this record, first in the summary: “…a wagon hung from its four corners when it caught on the side of the shaft. Two hooks came free and all six fell about 200 yards to the bottom.”
• Viewer (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the investigation: “…not understand what was needed. Higson recommended him to appoint a viewer and promised to point out every defect to him; on the day he came to…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Sankey Brook Colliery Shaft Accident, St Helens, 1857 (NMRS accidents and disasters) — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (primary) Colliery disaster, 11 June 1857: Sankey Brook (Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 24 October 2026 · Last researched: 24 October 2026