Fairbottom Colliery

of Ashton-under-Lyne

1847 'Felony.— Dominick Gerhan was charged with stealing a brass step [a bearing], the property of Messrs. Lees, Jones, and Booth, Fairbottom colliery. It appeared from the evidence of Robert Andrew, an engineer employed at the above works, that on the morning of the 1st instant, prisoner went the pit and purchased small quanity of waste and tar rope, and shortly after he missed the step; he immediately followed and overtook the prisoner and asked him for the step, which he took from his pocket and said he was going to take it back.— Mr. Newton, principal engineer at the works, said, they had missed a great many steps from the works at different times. In answer to a question from Mr. Hall, he said they were allowed to sell waste similar to that sold to the prisoner. Mr. Lord said he thought it was very bad practice, as it encouraged men of the same class as prisoner, to go about and pick up anything they saw loose. Prisoner said he bought the steps amongst the waste, but did not know it until he felt it among the rags on his back, when he took it out and was going back to the pit when he met Andrews. This tale was not believed by the bench, and the prisoner was committed for trial.'

1869 'Legal Notice. Notice is hereby given, that the PARTNERSHIP which heretofore existed between us, the undersigned, or some of us, in the carrying on of the colliery concern, called "The Fairbottom Colliery Company,” in the township of Ashton-under-Lyne, and elsewhere, in the county of Lancaster, under the style or firm of Leeses and Booth,” is DISSOLVED, so far as regards the undersigned George Edward Booth, and that the said concern will be carried on in future by the undersigned John Lees, James Lees, and Joseph Lees, under the style or firm of "The Fairbottom Colliery Company."
As witness our hands, the twentieth day of July, 1869. Witness to the signature of ...'

1870 'Death of a Druid and Colliery Underlooker.— On Saturday last P.D.G.M. John Lindley, of No. 316 Lodge of the Order of Druids, was interred at Bardsley Church, and was followed to his grave by a number oi working men formerly under his care from three of the coalpits belonging to the Fairbottom Colliery Company (the Bye Pit, the Nelson Pit, and the Dock Pit), besides some of the relatives and friends of the deceased, and amongst the latter noticed Mr. Ashton Stater, cashier of the above firm; Mr. Moses Mills, head engineer, and Mr. James Jackson, head under steward. The deceased had been in the employ of the Fairbottom Coal Company for upwards of forty years, and was much respected by his senior stewards, and also by the workmen under his care. ....'

'Stealing Apples. — A young fellow named Alfred Goddard was charged with stealing apples from premises belonging to the Fairbottom Colliery Company. — John Turner gave evidence as to seeing defendant take the apples. There were fifteen apples found on the defendant when he was taken. — Mr. Slater stated that he was the representative of the company. There had been great deal of damage done on the company’s premises lately. Scarcely a Saturday passed but some kind of depredations were committed, and they determined to put a stop to it. The apples stolen would be worth sixpence.— The bench gave defendant a severe repremand, showing him that he was liable to be sent to prison for six months, or be fined £20. —He was ultimately fined 5s. and costs, or seven days’ imprisonment.'

1870 'Extraordinary Longevity ... Ashton Buckley died October 3rd. 1868, in his 93rd year, being employed the Fairbottom Colliery Company for upwards of 60 years; Sarah Buckley, wife of Ashton Buckley, died December 21st, 1870, in her 86th year.'. Note: Ashton Buckley was a bookkeeper, not a collier!

In 1865 Isaac Watt Boulton designed and built a tiny 3ft 6" gauge 0-4-0 saddle tank locomotive for the company. It had to pass through a tunnel 6ft high and 5 ft wide. A. R. Bennett wrote that the Ashtonian 'filled both the specification and the tunnel so neatly that it was said that the driver had to swallow the exhaust steam.'!

See Also

Loading...