Wigan Album

Absolutely amazing photo Keith and expertly colourised to bring it to life.
I wonder how many stayed in the mines and how many of the younger ones went off to the looming war.
And regarding both generations how many were alive to tell their tales by 1919?
I also wonder if any of their descendants are around today to view this picture. Stunning.

Thank you for those kind comments Colin. The first thing that came to my mind was the same as yours, wondering if any of their descendants are around today to view this picture.
As regards the photo, I must demur, since all I do is press buttons and the automatic algorithm does the rest. The result is problematical since it depends on the quality of the original photo, but I’m so pleased you enjoyed seeing it, as I did.

There's some information about the mine and accident here:

https://nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/coal-mining-in-the-british-isles/lancashire-coalfield/st-helens-coalfield/alexandra-colliery/

it doesn't say if any miners were injured in the collapse and says top shaft ran in 1911 causing the collapse of the headgear.
Though the timbers in the photo looks to be quite rotten in a lot of parts, and it was 66 feet high so it makes you wonder how it would be inspected - though would it have been, as there wouldn't be the health and safety checks then as there is now.