History of Wigan   (Help with ancient and recent history.)

Wasn't they taken over by Hulton Collieries?

I've come to the conclusion that all the 'Top Brass' pissed into the same pot with the collieries, mills and engineering works. The same names crop up as directors in them all. Pilkington for one, Legh and Gerard for others. They got where water couldn't, the Ainscoughs and Whelans of yesteryear, so to speak.
They also list the same Liverpool addresses and were well involved in the slave trade.