He expanded Elsecar Old Colliery and installed steam winding engines in 1796 and by 1848 the pit was employing 87 men and boys.
[2] Before the completion of the canal the coal was either sold locally or shipped by cart to Kilnhurst on the River Don.
Work to sink Elsecar Low Colliery started around 1840 but took 6–8 years to complete and the first significant coal was mined in 1848 when 1000 tonnes a day was being extracted (4).
The colliery suffered a significant accident on 21 December 1852 when a firedamp explosion killed 10 miners and injured 12.
Earl Fitzwilliam's mine superintendent, Benjamin Biram was criticised by the inquiry for absence of printed rules in the colliery, inadequate maintenance of lamps and poor supervision of the workforce but the judge praised the ventilation arrangements in the pit which prevented extensive loss of life.
[3] Coal extraction proper began at Elsecar Main between 1905 and 1908 when shafts were sunk to the Parkgate seam at 333 metres.