The Early Neston Collieries, 1759-1855

The early Neston collieries were extraordinary in many ways. For a time the main coal mine, Ness Colliery which was owned by the Stanley family, was more successful than most of its better-known contemporaries in nearby south-west Lancashire and North Wales. It was the first large industrial site in west Cheshire and introduced the area’s earliest steam engine.

For around thirty years a second colliery, Little Neston Colliery owned by the Cottingham family, operated yards from Ness Colliery and presented unwanted competition. Serious acts of sabotage were committed by Ness Colliery on the neighbouring works to try to destroy it, leading to acrimonious court action.

Ness Colliery was also remarkable for its use of underground canals to haul coals deep under the Dee Estuary where most of the mining occurred. In addition, figures as diverse as the engineer George Stephenson and Nelson’s future mistress Emma, Lady Hamilton are part of the mines’ story.

The names are known of over 600 men and children who worked at the collieries but there will be many more whose names have not been recorded. At least 27 workers died there including boys aged 9 and 10.

This section of the website gives information to support and amplify the material to be found in the book. More details of the book can be found here.

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