Sutton Manor Colliery St Helens

Sutton Manor was one of the largest pits in the Lancashire Coalfield, with the deepest shaft was 2343 ft
this video was shot by one of the miners just before it closed in 1991
Started in 1906 no.1 shaft with a diameter of 18 feet was sunk by local coal proprietor Richard Evans. This was completed in December 1909 when the shaft was extended to a depth of 1,823 feet.
The sinking of no.2 shaft at Sutton Manor began in July 1906 with a shaft diameter initially measuring 22 feet. This was completed in 1912 and extended to a depth of 2,343 feet (one source claims a depth of 2107'). The two shafts were inter-linked and it became one of the largest pits within the Lancashire coal field.
During the Spring and Summer of 1986, the NCB's successor, British Coal, electrified Sutton Manor's number 1 shaft steam winder, leaving the number 2 shaft winder in its original condition of steam. Sutton Manor colliery was, for a time, unique in possessing one of the newest electric winding engines, as well as having one of the oldest in number 2 shaft's steam winder. In fact it was the last colliery in the country to use steam
The colliery lost £23million in its last 5 years of production, it finally closed on the 24th May 1991 with 40 years of coal still underground

[@joyceswift8160]

Went for a walk up there yesterday, beautiful place, hard to imagine all the hard work that used to go on there.

[@frazerweb]

Was shown around this colliery in 1989 and have a large collection of photos of this mine. Only thing left is the gates, now a park.

[@1Homezzz]

That was number 2 winding engine I was the last man to work on it on the pits last day

[@stevendunn5866]

Spent my childhood exploring the coal hills & got a chase off the coalboard van. I remember jumping on the coal trains aswel. Great days they was. I'm a regular walker over the dream now an look back with fond memories of the coal mine era....

[@foxylorri64]

my wonderful Uncle worked here! His name was Brian Featherstone.Oh such memories .. .

[@IJHougfhton]

Great film pity its all gone ...But memories never die

[@Prodigy_Fan]

As a kid I used to live a couple of minutes walk from this colliery and was living there when the infamous Miners strike was going on back in the mid-80s. I remember the picket lines outside it.

[@playinggames7478]

St Helens is a great example of how big business, EU/governmental policy and town planning can annihilate a thriving industrial town!

[@chrisdervin5420]

It was impressive standing next to con rods on the steam winder, happy days.

[@pairojeans]

Thanks Dave great film, and a sad loss of jobs and community.

[@alfie1282]

i worked at this mine , if you got out at one of the mouthings in the no 1 shaft, there was another set of head gears with another cage for you to travel to the depth of no2

[@mrsthelens1]

thought youd of been on there with the other scivers alfie lad

[@zenithslocos]

Is the dream the shaft ? Went for a walk up there earlier and its hard to imagine it being as busy as this. Is it on a hill because of the landfill used to fill it all ?

[@chrishall8705]

This would scare the absolute bejeezus out of Millennials.

[@Andy-kf4rd]

Yes it would scare them shitless because to them burger king is a hard enough job

[@dodge-ut6ti]

What did they do with the water after they washed the coal?

[@davidjones4762]

My grandad use work there George crosby

[@autistic.adventurer]

Such a shame St.Helens has ended up in the state its in today, badly let down and sold out by the likes of Pilks and government policy. Heroin, alcohol and despair replaced well paid industrial jobs and trades. Very sad

[@johnmullen1955]

was this engine made by yates and thom ltd. of blackburn it looks very similar to the engine at astley colliery.

[@chrispritchard3775]

Yes John this engine built by Yates and Thom Blackburn same as gastley astley

[@chrispritchard3775]

Saw this engine when it was winding coal and it was very fast powerful engine it about 40 - 45 seconds a wind with no let up

[@tomasnordin9778]

Is the steamengine preserved ?

[@anthonymcdonnell5384]

no 2 is in Austrlia

[@chrispritchard3775]

@@anthonymcdonnell5384 have you any idea whereabouts been looking for it on tinternet can't find it regards chris

[@anthonymcdonnell5384]

@@chrispritchard3775 sorry no