The exploration for coal at what later became known as No 5 pit, began in the summer of 1902. By November, the Vivian Boring Company had successful completed boring operations on a site close to Arkelby Mill. In July 1906, Harris, purchased the parcel of land from Richard Miller of West Farm. In August, a delivery of rails signalled the arrival of heavy plant. Electrical and water services were installed in October, and shortly afterwards the shaft sinking machinery was erected and a railway siding added. By early March of the following year the “sinkers” had reached a depth of 150 feet, when the water rushed in. Although this hampered operations, coal was finally won at a depth of 170 fathoms on July 14th 1910. The main shaft, one of the deepest in Cumberland at 1,034 feet to the Yard Band, was completed in 1912, and full production quickly followed.
From the outset, No 5 pit was totally committed to electrical power. By suspending an array of incandescent lamps in the shaft the contractors drastically cut the time required for the sinking operation. Once operational the mine was illuminated by electricity. This comprised, the surface arrangements, such as the workshops, engine-rooms, offices, shaft sidings, underground engine houses, stables, and a considerable distance along the main haulage roads. At the work places, portable electric safety lamps were installed, which although marginally heavier than there predecessors, omitted superior light for periods of twelve hours between charging’s. These electric lamps were almost impossible to open by accident and perfectly safe in the presence of fire damp; and since they contained no liquid they could be turned through a circle without detriment to light or safety. However having no means of detecting foul gas they were not without criticism.
Since coalmining was predominantly a labour-intensive industry mechanisation was required to reduce costs. However, Cumberland coal owners were reluctant to invest in costly machinery. Coal cutting machinery was both temperamental and expensive; and in consequence slow and gradual in its introduction.
The endless rope was the main means of haulage in the pit. A system whereby trains of tubs were coupled by clutch bogie to an endless steel wire rope drawn by a steam engine at bank. When the clutch was screwed tightly against the moving rope the gripping action drew the tubs to the foot of the shaft. This endless rope was 6,000 feet long, weighed over three tons and travelled at 3 miles per hour.
A study of the “occupations volume” included in the 1911 census returns, provided a table of the number of miners employed per thousand males aged twelve and over. The Aspatria district with a ratio of 509 was by far the highest of any other Cumberland area and emphasised the districts dependency on mining. The same source analysed the division of the various types of employment per thousand male miners.
Superintendent staff 52
Hewers and Getters 549
Conveyers of Materials to the Shaft 103
Makers & Repairers of Roadways 99
Other Underground Workers 79
Surface Workers 11 8
During the sinking operation there was only one fatality. This occurred in December 1908, when Isaac Oglanby, a 25-year-old fitter, died three days after receiving a blow from a falling object. The last fatal accident to occur underground at No 5 pit, took place on July 28th, 1939. Frederick Joseph Eland, a 55 year old hewer from Prospect, contacted toxaemia in the Cumberland infirmary, two weeks after receiving a blow from a falling stone. This was rather ironic as Fred had experienced a fortunate escape four years earlier. Fred Eland and his brother Tom went down the pit at 5.30 am. and were going to their workplace “haulage end” to carry out robbery work. They were crawling in a small tunnel about 3 feet high when they approached a loose stone propped in the roof. The second man said, “this is a very awkward stone!” The first man replied, “we had better go on, we can’t make any better of it.” Then as the second man crawled beneath, the three ton stone fell upon him. His brother heard him call, “Oh Fred.” The last fatal accident occurred on the afternoon of 30th April 1942. George Smith a 62-year-old engineer, with a lifetime experience at Brayton was working with the dismantling crew when his foot was lassoed in a coiling rope. With a catapult action his curling frame was smashed against a steel girder.
The underground workings were properly mapped out into sections and subdivided into districts. In section three, there was a district known as Foster’s Drift, connected by a roadway called Tadd’s Brow. In February 1933, a collapsed roof released a blower of gas. After allowing the danger to clear, John Craighill, a 55 year old shiftsman, and John Chaplow, were instructed to “fence off” the affected area and post restricting notices. Upon reaching the site they found themselves without a hammer and shovel. Craighill knew of the whereabouts of such items and went to collect them. When he failed to return Chaplow followed and found him asphyxiated on Tadd’s Brow.
Following the closure of No 4 pit a depression set into the Aspatria district. Harris, who had genuine concerns for the residents welfare granted the unemployed miners permission to glean coal from the waste bank at No 5 pit. Although a dangerous pastime it was not uncommon for a pair of miners to gather 5 cwt. of coal for a weeks labour. Harris asked the Police to offer safety warnings. On the morning of February 11th 1935, an officer assembled a group of over sixty participants and expressed the owners consternation. Later that day a Harriston man named George Dixon, was thrown from a moving wagon as it was scotched at the top of the bank. He died in hospital three days later the result of a fractured skull.
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