Hindley Hall Colliery

Overview

The Pearson and Knowles colliery at Hindley, near Wigan, whose Edith and Mabel pits were bought in 1897 by Crompton and Shawcross, stood idle from 1914 and were probably abandoned in 1921.

History

Hindley Hall Colliery lay about two miles east-south-east of Wigan, 380 yards south-south-east of Amberswood Junction on the London and North Western Railway's Lancashire Union line at Hindley. Its pits were known as the Edith and Mabel. It is dated from 1859, in the time of Knowles and Pearson, and was later worked by their Pearson and Knowles Coal and Iron Company; the Edith and Mabel pits are also said to have been started about 1891.

In December 1897 the colliery was bought by Crompton and Shawcross, with J. E. Rayner as principal shareholder, and restarted. It employed 277 in 1894 and 431 in 1910, working the Furnace, Yard, Ince Four Feet and Seven Feet seams, and by 1915 the Park as well, with fireclay. Numbers fell to 86 in 1915: the colliery was not working from 1914 to 1920 and was probably abandoned in 1921. Its later plans were drawn with those of its neighbours, Strangeways Hall, Hindley, Grange and Amberswood.

Geology

Lancashire Coal Measures: the Furnace, Yard, Ince Four Feet, Seven Feet and Park seams, and the Pemberton Four Feet and Two Feet on its plans; fireclay was also raised.

Workings

The Edith and Mabel pits, beside the Lancashire Union line at Amberswood Junction.

Closure

Not working from 1914 to 1920 and possibly abandoned in 1921; later plans were combined with neighbouring collieries.

What remains

The area around Amberswood has been reclaimed as common land and wildlife habitat.

Related mines

• Strangeways Hall Colliery — Both were Crompton and Shawcross collieries at Hindley, and their plans were drawn together.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• The Edith and Mabel pits were started about 1891. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• Hindley Hall Colliery's Edith and Mabel pits lay 380 yards south-south-east of Amberswood Junction on the Lancashire Union line. ¹
• The colliery is dated from 1859 to 1914. ²
• The Edith and Mabel pits were started about 1891. (disputed) ¹
• In December 1897 Crompton and Shawcross, with J. E. Rayner as principal shareholder, bought the colliery and restarted it. ¹
• It employed 277 people in 1894, 431 in 1910 and 86 in 1915. ²
• The colliery was not working from 1914 to 1920 and was possibly abandoned in 1921. ¹

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Edith and Mabel Pits (Hindley Hall Colliery) (NMRS, Wigan coalfield) — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (primary) Hindley Hall Colliery (Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 25 October 2026 · Last researched: 25 October 2026