Wigan Album

I remember my dad coming home from the pit with a dirty face and my mother going up to wash his back for him.

The fella on the back row far right looks Donald Anderson.
He owned Quaker House colliery and has written several books about the history of the Wigan Coalfield.

Yes Donald Anderson is far right, I know some of the names and some i've forgot, Back row fourth from right with flat cap is Jimmy Anglsey from Orrell, just in front of Jimmy also with flat cap is Alan Pennington also from Orrell, Back row just left of centre with flat cap between the man with lots of Hair and the man with the cap lamp looks like Dickie ?-- from garswood, Front row second from left is Bob Knowles from Bryn, Front row centre with arms folded is Harry Tomlinson from Marsh Green, I worked with these lads from 1980/89, Sadly Donald, Dickie and Harry are no longer with us.

Looking again at the picture I seem to recognise more faces,the man standing right of centre with the Buckle belt near the back looks like Alan Lomax, Front row far left i'm not sure if this is Kenny Haydock,the one behind the second man on the front row far left looks like Jimmy Johnson, and the Front row third from the right if it is Derek Gormally or not, if these names are correct again i'm sorry to say sadly Kenny,Jimmy and Derek are no longer with us.

Hello WG, The man you say is Jimmy Johnson is his brother Tommy,and I am glad to say i'm very much alive!

€yes i have the same photo i am the last one at the front row wear the bob cap

My dad is Frank Boydell, 3rd from right front row. He managed the pit for Donald Anderson, my brother David worked there later too.

i also worked at quackerhouse along with my grandfather ernest my father clive and my uncles clarence ronny and cyril now all sadly departed

hi could the tom johnson who posted this picture please get in touch with me if possible my email is staceyhoward1985@hotmail.co.uk

sorry its staceyhoward1985@live.co.uk thanks

I ALSO HAVE A COPY OF THIS PHOTO MY DAD BILL HUNTER WAS ON BACKROW 2ND FROM RIGHT

I now keep my horses on the site that used to be the Quaker house colliery. Not much of the workings remain, just some flooring from the old buildings. We have had a couple of ventilation shafts open up in the field too. Would love to see any old pictures of it. It's a haven for wildlife cos we feed everything lol. Lisa

I have just been looking at the photo of the lads who worked at quaker house pit ,and my main reason for putting this on another thread is that I would really wish to know if any one of you remembers my dad THOMAS WINSTANLEY ( tom or tommy ) my brother did a spell there too his name was WILFRED WINSTANLEY, my dad died from SILICOSIS in July 27th 1974 he was only 64 I think he had to stop in 1968ish I would love to know if you knew them. there was a friend of our Wilf's a JIMMY HARRISON, AND A BOB WITHERINGTON THE LATTER MARRIED MY SISTER, THEY WORKED THERE TOO! I RECALL I USED TO ZIP UP FROM RIVINGTON CARPETS IN MIRY LANE WIGAN AND PICK THEM UP ABOUT 2-3 O'CLOCK IN MY LITTLE FORD POP CAR, ANOTHER QUESTION I'D LIKE TO ASK IS, IS IT TRUE THAT BECAUSE MINER'S WORKED FOR PRIVATE OWNER'S THEY DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE PAYMENT AWARD FOR THE DUST DESEASE ?? HOPE TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY.

The last deep mine in England shut today and all our coal will be imported. Very proud of my dad Frank Boydell (third from right front row)a miner most of his life. He died in 1998 aged 72.

The man third from left is Joe Fairhurst,the man eighth from the left is one of the murray brothers,along with Alan Pennington they all worked at Dalton No2 pit in the 1960s before it shut down due to flooding.They must have transferred to Quaker house after closure.Both pits belonged to the same group.I was eletriian at Dalton and sometimes travelled to Quaker house to do electrical work on my motorbike.Thbis was from 1960 to 1966.

I WAS JUST A TEENAGER WHEN I WORKED WITH THESE MEN.MY STEP DAD IS ON THE ONE KNEELING WEARING GLASSES TOM FORSTER.AND GEORGE WHO WAS THE FITTER I WORKED WITH HIM AND PADDY WHO GAVE ME MY FIRST JOB WHICH WAS DROWNING A BAG OF KITTENS IN THE SUMP HOLE.IT WAS MY INNORGURATION.WHAT MEMORYS

THE BOSS DONALD ANDERSON WAS A GREAT COAL MINE HISTORIAN ,HE CALLED ME TO HIS OFFICE ONE DAY TO SHOW ME A PICTURE OF MY GRANDAD WILF BROOKES WHO SAVED THE LIVES OF 50 MEN AT THE WOOD PIT

I went to the "bottom "pit in 1959 on Lees Lane Dalton to be interviewed by Tom Taberner the electrician for the job as Apprentice. I got the job and worked for Donald at the top pit and Bill Gorton at the bottom pits for Dalton Lees Coal and Fireclay Co. John Goodier, also director was based at Lees Lane in the office and did all the clerical work including wages etc. John looked after spares and getting a roll of insulating tape was "Do you really need 2 rolls". They had all worked in mining in India and returning to England started their company. They all lived in a cul de sac in Parbold, they had bought the land and all built bungalows together. As previously mentioned the Hollands were mainstays of the workforce, Ernie was father and all of his sons worked with him. They were all over 6ft and a sight to behold when they walked out of the mine .The first pit was the "Bottom " pit on Lees Lane and was a fireclay pit. Then they drove another drift to get to another seam which was about 2 ft of coal on top of 3 ft of fireclay, hence the name of the company. Then they moved up the hill (Dalton Beacon) and drove in to the Middle Mountain seam ,which again was coal on top of fireclay probably same seam.. Again it was a drift mine and going down the pit to repair cutters drills, pumps etc I often rode down in a tub and came up riding on the drag bar, All highly dangerous and illegal. All these pits were deemed as flame proof and so smoking was allowed ,a big bonus for some. In the early days there was only one electrician ie Tom Taberner who looked after the 2 mines at Dalton and Quaker House near Simms Lane End, ,North Ashton. As noted I joined in 1959 and served my apprenticeship with the due time off to attend Wigan Tech to get my ONC and become an Electrician of the Mine. Most important as now you could sign the appropriate documents relating to the electrical equipment. I well remember Frank Goodwill joining as apprentice , but shortly after I left to join the Merchant Navy as an Electrical Engineer Officer, but thats another story. I am now 83 but those days at Dalton Lees were rough and ready but with wonderful memories and set me up for a life where I travelled the world .

I had a walk to the site of the old pit and offices in Lees lane,all that is left there are the ruins of the old offices,then went to the site of the upper mine off longheys lane.Site totally overgrown,only sign of mine is small pieces of coal embedded into ground.Dug three pieces up and took them home to remind me of good old times working at the mine.