Wigan Album

If Fred Foster sees this he will name them all.

Are you sure that this is the Seneley Green mine? It could have been the return tunnel but I don't recognise the men. What was your dad's name Eddie?

Harry Heaton. Second from the left on the back row of the top photo, extreme right on the bottom one. I'm pretty sure it's the Senely Green drift mine, although I could be wrong. These photos were in my parents' house all my life and the location must have been pointed out to me at some time. I can't imagine that I could have guessed it. However, I suspect that you will possess more knowledge on these matters than I do. I'll show the photos to Tommy Johnson to see if he can throw any light on the matter.
Regards. Eddie.

Could it be Lavin's Drift Eddie, Did your dad ever work there, I knew all your family but i didn't know where your dad worked.

Eddie: My grandfather worked for Lavins in garswood name of Jack Glover, so did my father Jimmy Glover about this time used to live Simms lane end.
The person bottom left does have a look of him i'am trying to plcture him when he was younger I only remember a great pipe smoking old gent.

IS THIS MINE JUST A MILE OR SO FROM THE OLD QUAKER HOUSE COLLIERY OWNED BY DONALD ANDERSON MY FATHER AND ELDER BROTHER WORKED AT Q/H THOMAS WINSTANLEY AND WILFRED WINSTANLEY,HOPE THESE NAMES REMIND ANYONE .

Tumtingle, have a good look at the young lad as I would say it's our Ralph at the age of 16 LOL well it's not me, he did go over to Seneley green pit with a fitter that worked at Stones some time as I don't think they had one,

Fred can you make a fitter out of that lot or maybe he took the photo

My father worked at J.R. Stone's Park colliery. He was employed as a joiner. I've personally never worked in the mines so I'm not conversant with mining terminology but I believe his duties included inspecting and effecting repairs to the shaft and repairing the wooden railway wagons. I still have a box of his old tools, many of which appear to have been purpose made in the blacksmith's shop. He never worked for Lavins. He ended his career in the pits working for a South African company engaged in the sinking of the shaft at Parkside, after which he was forced to retire due to ill health. He was a personal friend of Donald Anderson and I still have a number of books given to him and signed by Mr. Anderson.

There used to be an elderly couple who lived at no. 67 School lane in Garswood. Their name was Jack and Edie Mulchrane. I may not have spelled their name correctly, but that was how it was pronounced. They had a son who's first name I never knew. He worked as a patrolman for the A.A. and used to turn up at his parents' house from time to time riding a yellow motorbike and sidecar. If you look at the man kneeling on the extreme right of the front row in the top photo, I think this is the man in question. Is this of any help ?

Looking at the size of the portal i would say that if it is Seneley it's definitely not the main drift entrance.

it looks like it maybe quaker house as that looks like paddy driscoll in the middle at the back with the beret on & jeff swift stood at the right . bottom pic 2nd right middle row looks like tom foster from garswood.

Top photo, front row extreme right Alf mulchrane, mechanic. Bottom photo, front row centre, Jack Ratcliffe.

Looking at the bottom photo i can't see any track that would have been used for tubs, Tumtell, I don't think that young lad is your Ralf,

The wooden structure in the top photo, so I am reliably informed, is the cabin that the construction crew used as a canteen. It was situated ( by all accounts ) a bit farther up Arch lane, quite close to the cottage inhabited by Harry Heyes and his wife. The cottage still remains to this day, although sadly, Harry and his wife are no longer with us.

My grandfather. Tom Webster, worked for Lavin Bros at Arch Lane for 15 years as the mine manager. I believe he may also have taken responsibility for work at Seneley Green drift mine as well. Before that he worked for Garswood Coal & Iron Co for 45 years. He was also Chairman of Ashton Council in 1931, 1940 & 1950 & Chair of Housing for 18 years.