The Birley Collieries were a group of coal mines set in the Shire Brook Valley in south-east Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. They were connected to the railway system by a branch line from the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway at Woodhouse East Junction, about 800 yards east of Woodhouse station.
From 1877 to his death in 1926, William Dunn Gainsford was owner of the Birley Collieries, with his cousin Alfred John Gainsford serving as managing director.
The collieries The Birley collieries were owned by the Sheffield Coal Company who also owned nearby Brookhouse and North Staveley collieries. These collieries stood either side of the M.S.& L.R. line less than a mile to the east of Woodhouse East Junction.
In 1866 the Sheffield Coal Company, which had been founded in 1805, signed an agreement with the Earl Manvers to work below his lands in the Frecheville, Woodhouse and Hackenthorpe area, just outside the then Sheffield boundary. Over the following ten years they sunk and developed Birley West Colliery on a site in the Shirebrook Valley between Woodhouse and Hackenthorpe.
A further 10-year plan followed in which more land was acquired and a new shaft sunk, however, it was not until spring 1887 that work commenced on this new sinking. The following year the part completed colliery gained the name Birley East Colliery. Although a small amount of coal was being cut from the new colliery, brought to the surface at Birley West, it was not until 1890 when a new winding engine was installed that it fully came on stream. Later expansion came with mining rights being obtained from the Duke of Norfolk to mine below Handsworth Common.
Accidents
In 1856 John Walker (aged 16) was killed at Birley Vale a quantity of coal gave way and bruised him but he died before being taken home, he left a widowed mother.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 29 August 1856
Sheffield Free Press 26 September 1857. Anthony Mycock 61 severely burnt by Fire Damp at Birley Vale Plantation Pit. Died from his injuries 7 October 1857 Buried at Gleadless Christ Church.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 22 September 1857
On Saturday 19 January 1858 George Drury a large quantity of earth fell on him and killed him on the spot.Sheffield Independent – Saturday 16 January 1858
In 1863 a young man named Gillott was killed by a fall of bind on Thursday 17 September 1863.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 18 September 1863
On Thursday 13 September 1866, Thomas Downs (aged 14) of Normanton Spring was killed and two men injured at Planting Pit Birley Vale.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 15 September 1866
On Tuesday 9 October 1866 William Turner of Bird Field was killed by a fall of bind, he was extricated and removed home but died in two hours leaving a wife and three children.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 9 October 1866
In 1869 a quantity of coal fell on William Hirst on Thursday 18 February 1869 and killed him on the spot. He was 30 years old and left a widow and three children.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 19 February 1869
In 1869 Henry Liversage was run over by a loaded cove (wagon) and crushed his right leg.(Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 10 August 1869)
In 1869 on Saturday 18 September James Ellis aged 12 of Hollinsend was caught by a cove and dragged some considerable distance.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 20 September 1869
In May 1871 Joseph Pankethman, 38 years of age died following an accident six weeks previously at Birley Vale Colliery.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 12 May 1871
In August 1872 Samuel Warren a horsekeeper was run over by a "corve" he was removed to Sheffield Infirmary but died later.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 12 August 1872
On 19 October 1872. Fatal Accident Birley Vale Colliery. On Saturday morning, about ten o'clock, a number of men were engaged removing a pump in the workings of the above colliery. The pump is worked by endless chain communicating with an engine at the top, and owing to some mistake in the signal given to the engineman the machinery was set in motion, and young man named Willis Marples, residing at Gleadless, was caught the chain and drawn through a narrow opening, and instantaneously killed.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 21 October 1872
In March 1873 at Birley Vale Colliery, William Wheeler (40) an experienced pitman of Handsworth Woodhouse was knocked over by full wagons on the inclined plane and three passed over him, he died in 10 minutes.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 7 March 1873 Inquest jury returned "Accidentally run over by colliery wagons".Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 10 March 1873
On Friday 12 June 1874 Benjamin Hutchinson (36) was killed by a large quantity of earth from the roof fell on him.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 13 June 1874
In June 1876 six miners were killed in an explosion at the Birley Plantain Colliery. They were Ellis Cooper of Normanton Springs, leaves a widow and five children James Woodward, Ridgeway Moor, single Thomas Marples sen Hollinsend widow and two children, Thomas Marples jun nephew of above Gleadless widow and two children, Edward Saville Birley widow and eight children and Joseph Kelley Hollinsend widow.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 27 June 1876
The Coroner's jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against the fire-trier — William Clayton — and censured the manager and underviewer for their loose and inefficient management.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 17 July 1876
In 1876 a miner Jonathan Harrison (50) of Birly when a quantity of "bind" fell on him causing a fracture of the ankle joint, he was taken to Sheffield infirmary.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 18 November 1876
In 1877 a man named Thomas Oxspring of Normanton Springs when a large quantity of bind fell from the roof severely injuring him He was convey home on a cart accompanied by Dr Le Tall.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 3 March 1877
In 1877 On Friday 14 December 1877 Thomas Grady a bricklayers labourer was at work on a siding on the railway at Birley Colliery he stepped on the line in front of some loaded trucks and was killed instantly.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 15 December 1877
In 1879 at Birley colliery on Friday 17 July John Westenage a miner from Normanton Spring was knocked down by empty corves which he had not noticed he died on Saturday 19 July 1879.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 22 July 1879 The coroners inquest was held on 24 July 1879 at the Normanton Springs Hotel Woodhouse.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Thursday 24 July 1879
In May 1880 two accidents at Birley Colliery James Fielding of Woodhouse a Coal getter when a large quantity of coal fell on him. cutting his head and face. At the same time in another shaft the roof fell on Samuel Hobson, he was removed to his home in Intake and it was feared his back was broken.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 4 May 1880
On Tuesday 25 May 1880 Hans Ward of White Lane was ascending the shaft in the cage and had nearly reached the top when he was sized by a fit and fell out of the cage down the shaft a distance of 110 yards. The force of the fall broke a sump door at the pit bottom . The deceased skull was completely smashed and the backbone broken death being instantaneous. He was about 30 years of age single living with his father.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 26 May 1880
In December 1880 Joseph Clayton and William Wells jun of Woodhouse were clearing some loose dirt at there place of work when the roof came down It took half an hour before Wells was dug out and conveyed home in a serius state. Clayton was not dug out for an hour and was found to be dead.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 11 December 1880
On 7 January Rabery Granger (40) was killed at Birley Vale colliery by being crushed between two coal wagons. An inquest was held on 10 January 1881 at the Ball in Intake.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 15 January 1881
On 13 June 1881 Walter Hurst (14) a driver met his death by being run over by a number of loaded wagons . He was crushed internally and death was instantaneous. His body was removed to his home at Ridgeway.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 18 June 1881
On 22 April 1882 Thomas Rodgers was killed by 10cwt of coal falling on him and he was dead. The inquest pronounced that he was accidentally killed by a fall of coal at Birley Vale Coalpit.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Thursday 27 April 1882
In September 1883 Joshua Outram of Intake a datalllet or nightman was found leaning over the tool chest and upon lifting him up was found to be dead. He leaves a widow and five children.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Thursday 6 September 1883
On 28 May 1885 Frank Shaw (48) of Hollinsend a miner at Birley West Pit was struck by corves coming down.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 12 June 1885
In June 1885 at 3am John Glossop of Pond Lane was run over by a corve. He was taken to the infirmary but he got worse and died a 7 pm.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 23 June 1885
On 31 December 1886 Samuel Sheppard Duraham (19) was killed by a runaway corf the inquest recorded a verdict of "accidental death"Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 8 January 1886
On 5 January 1886 William Radcliffe received serious injuries after falling down in the cage with three others down Moor pit shaft of Birley Colliery he died at home the following day 6 January 1886 The fall was caused by the breaking of rope. Coroner record Accidental death.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 8 January 1886
In 1886 John William Brown age 19 of 3 the Green Darnal on his first day as a miner the roof fell on him, on being extricated he was found to be dead from a broken back.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 2 February 1886
On 13 March 1886 Benjamin Marriott (55) was accidentally killed by fall of Bind from the roof of Birley Vale West Pit. Inquest held at the Ball Inn Intake body was identified by William Marriot the deceased son jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death. Buried at Gleadless Christ Church.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 17 March 1886
On 13 May 1886 at Birley Colliery Frank Parkin (30) of St Johns Road Park. was seriously injured when a large quantity of coal fell on him. He had a broken leg, scalp wound and cut arm. He was in a serious condition.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 15 May 1886
On Wednesday 11 April 1888 at Birley Colliery Albert Sykes died when a section of roof fell on him he left a widow and two children.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Thursday 12 April 1888
On Tuesday 17 April 1888 John Henry Pearson was struck by a quantity of debris from the roof. His thigh was found to be badly injured. He was taken to the Infirmary in the pit ambulance.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 18 July 1888
On 12 December 1888 Henry White (48) of Handsworth Woodhouse was killed by a fall of bind Emma White his wife gave evidence that on that about 12 o'clock on Wednesday her husband was brought home dead from the mine where he had worked for 30 years she has two sons also working at the colliery. A verdict of Accidental death was recorded.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 15 December 1888
On Wednesday 14 March 1889 during an inspection by Mr Jaycock and Mr H Walters (the manager) were in the south pit and a portion of the roof fell on to Mr Walters. He was removed to his home in Woodhouse and was found that the splinter of bone of the leg was broken and several ribs detached.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Thursday 14 March 1889
On Tuesday 5 November 1889 George Lane of Hollinsend was injured on his back and neck by a fall of bind from the roof. He was carried home in the colliery ambulance and attended by the colliery surgeon.Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Thursday 7 November 1889