Birley Collieries
The Birley Collieries were a group of coal mines set in the Shire Brook Valley in south-east Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.
Over the following ten years they sunk and developed Birley West Colliery on a site in the Shirebrook Valley between Woodhouse and Hackenthorpe.
Although a small amount of coal was being cut from the new colliery, brought to the surface at Birley West, it was not until 1890 when a new winding engine was installed that it fully came on stream.
In 1856 John Walker (aged 16) was killed at Birley Vale a quantity of coal gave way and bruised him but he died before being taken home, he left a widowed mother.
[5] On Thursday 13 September 1866, Thomas Downs (aged 14) of Normanton Spring was killed and two men injured at Planting Pit Birley Vale.
[6] On Tuesday 9 October 1866 William Turner of Bird Field was killed by a fall of bind, he was extricated and removed home but died in two hours leaving a wife and three children.
[13] In March 1873 at Birley Vale Colliery, William Wheeler (40) an experienced pitman of Handsworth Woodhouse was knocked over by full wagons on the inclined plane and three passed over him, he died in 10 minutes.
[18] In 1876 a miner Jonathan Harrison (50) of Birly when a quantity of "bind" fell on him causing a fracture of the ankle joint, he was taken to Sheffield infirmary.
[19] In 1877 a man named Thomas Oxspring of Normanton Springs when a large quantity of bind fell from the roof severely injuring him He was convey home on a cart accompanied by Dr Le Tall.
[20] In 1877 On Friday 14 December 1877 Thomas Grady a bricklayers labourer was at work on a siding on the railway at Birley Colliery he stepped on the line in front of some loaded trucks and was killed instantly.
[32] On 31 December 1886 Samuel Sheppard Duraham (19) was killed by a runaway corf the inquest recorded a verdict of "accidental death"[33] On 5 January 1886 William Radcliffe received serious injuries after falling down in the cage with three others down Moor pit shaft of Birley Colliery he died at home the following day 6 January 1886 The fall was caused by the breaking of rope.
[34] In 1886 John William Brown age 19 of 3 the Green Darnal on his first day as a miner the roof fell on him, on being extricated he was found to be dead from a broken back.
Inquest held at the Ball Inn Intake body was identified by William Marriot the deceased son jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death.
[37] On Wednesday 11 April 1888 at Birley Colliery Albert Sykes died when a section of roof fell on him he left a widow and two children.
[45] In June 1891 a boy named George Camden of Woodhouse was overtaken by a run of corves which ran over him breaking one of his ribs and cutting his head and face.
[46] On 5 July 1892 Alfred Youle (or Toule[47]) age 60 a cutler but working as a Labourer was injured by a fall of dirt and died a day later.
On 8 July 1899 George Jones (43) of 120 Intake Road died in Birley West Colliery from a fall sixteen tons of coal from roof.
[56] In December 1905 at Birley Colliery a man names Mark Brocklehurst on Intake was buried by a fall of roof and was dead when extricated.
[59] On Monday 12 May 1908 at Birley East Pit John Angle of Woodhouse sustained several fractured ribs following a fall of roof.
[61] On Tuesday 27 November 1911 John Thomas Brocklehurst minder of Normanton Springs and James Mosley fitter of Hollinsend were killed at Birley Colliery.but a fall of three tones of bind.
A piece of rock weighing several tons fell from the roof completely burying Norman who left a widow and three children.
An Inquest jury returned a verdict of "Death from blood poisoning, caused by and accidental fall of rock in the Birley East Pit"[66] On Thursday 11 May 1916 a Mr George John Leaning of Back Lane Woodhouse was working on the Parkgate Seam when a fall of roof buried him When extricated he was found to be dead.
[68] On Thursday 24 August 1917 John Vincent Holroyd a "hanger on" at the Birley East Pit by falling down the shat from the Parkgate to the Silkstone seam, a distance of 30 yards.
Five were admitted to the Royal hospital these were William Barker of Normanton Springs Earnest Roper of Rainbow Forge Hackenthorpe and Hubert Kennedy 153 City Road Intake, married.
[73] On 12 December 1929 John Lindley (71) was crushed and killed by a roof fall at Birley East Pit while sat waiting for his work mate George Haines to go back for his coat at the end of their night shift.
[74] On 13 December 1934 three miners, Harold Reaney (27) of 12 Main Street Hackenthorpe, Ernest Redfearn (27) of 90 Ellis Street Brinsworth Rotherham and Albert Pearson (33) a coal filler of Lindley Lane Normanton Springs lost their lives at Birley East Colliery when a wet roof collapsed, causing 80 tons of coal to fall on the miners.
Following the end of the Second World War and the demobilisation of the Bevin Boys, new trainees came, this time men from allied countries in Europe wanting to make their home in England, particularly a large contingent from Poland.
Even after the last trainee moved on the end was not quite in sight – a new borehole topped with a pumping house was constructed on the site to help solve the water table problems at Brookhouse.
On an annual basis, from the mid-1890s to the outbreak of the First World War, the branch was used by the "Pitmen's Family Outing" – a trip, on which the workers voted for the destination from a selection of seaside resorts.
The trains were run on Saturdays and started as early as 3.00 a.m. from the colliery yard, passengers boarding by ladder into coaches which could only be described as 'basic' – compartment stock with no toilets.
