Holland Colliery - Enamel Coal Tub Sign
Photo: Tim Cooke

This old and battered enamel sign was found on the old Pemberton Colliery site a few years ago. It was during the time they were clearing the land getting it ready for the current building development. A bit of history of the Holland Colliery I found on the net. COLLIERY HOLLAND LOCATION Immediately south of the L&YR Wigan – Liverpool line between Upholland and Rainford Jc. stations and approx. one mile east of the latter station. OWNERS Earl of Crawford 1848 – 1865 Wigan Coal & Iron Co. Ltd 1865 – 1896 (operations suspended 1880) White Moss Coal Co. Ltd 1896 – 1938 Sutton Manor Collieries Ltd 1938 – 1939 Shafts At least nine shafts, plus the Crawford Day-eye sunk from 1848 onwards. Seams worked were Five Feet Mine, Four Feet Mine, Twelve Feet, Albert Little Mine, and Lindsay Mine, all of which lay within a depth of 130 yards from the surface. Last pits to work were No.9 and the Crawford Day-Eye. Surface Plant A ventilating fan was in operation prior to 1880. A new winding engine was commissioned at No.9 Pit in August, 1896. CLOSURE The colliery was purchased in 1938 by Sutton Manor in order to close it and obtain its production quota. The plant was sold up on 23 August 1939. NOTE The White Moss Coal Co. Ltd. operated several pits forming the White Moss Colliery, at Skelmersdale. All closed during the 1930s. Copyright © NMRS Records: G. Hayes Collection