Westleigh Colliery

Overview

The West Leigh Colliery Company's pit at Westleigh, Leigh, which grew from 14 men in 1896 to about 700 in 1933. In February 1896 a cage of eight men fell 370 yards when the engine was started the wrong way (see Disasters, below).

History

West Leigh Colliery, at Westleigh, Leigh, belonged to the West Leigh Colliery Company. In 1896 it worked the Five Foot, Six Foot, Wigan Five Foot and Wigan Six Foot seams for household and steam coal, with only fourteen employed, twelve of them below ground. It grew into a large pit: 600 worked there in 1923 and 698 in 1933.

On 20 February 1896 eight men died when the cage fell 370 yards down the shaft (see Disasters, below). Earlier deaths at the pit include an explosion of firedamp in the Seven Feet in 1862.

Geology

Lancashire Coal Measures: the Seven Feet, Five Foot, Six Foot, Wigan Five Foot and Wigan Six Foot seams.

Workings

A winding shaft of 370 yards with a detaching hook and safety catches on the headgear by 1896.

Closure

Unknown.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Disasters & major incidents

• Westleigh Colliery cage accident, 1896
  20 February 1896 · Winding / Shaft Accident · 8 fatalities
  A few minutes before six on 20 February 1896 the engineman at Westleigh Colliery, Leigh, started the engine the wrong way with eight men in the cage. The cage was drawn into the headgear, released by its safety hook, and fell 370 yards when the catches failed to hold it. All eight died.

Recorded claims

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

• The colliery employed 14 in 1896, 600 in 1923 and 698 in 1933. ¹
• In 1896 it worked the Five Foot, Six Foot, Wigan Five Foot and Wigan Six Foot seams. ¹
• On 20 February 1896 the engine was started the wrong way and the cage fell 370 yards. ^1,2
• Seven men died in the 1896 cage accident. ¹
• Thomas Berry died after an explosion of firedamp in the Seven Feet mine in September 1862. ¹

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (primary) West Leigh Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Westleigh Colliery Shaft Accident - Leigh - 1896 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 4 October 2026 · Last researched: 4 October 2026