In 1910 the Pemberton New Venture Pit was started and it took 3 years to sink the shaft 600 yards to the Lower Mountain Mine.
By April 1913 operations were underway to extract the coal. Disasterously the workings broke into some water filled old mine workings releasing a torrent of water into the mine.
Below is a hand written copy of an account of the events by James Bradshaw, engine winder as told to a Mr. Brookes.
Download - Copy of the Original Account
With thanks to Linda Chouchane a descendant of James Bradshaw.
Linda is to donate the original manuscript to the Lanacshire Mining Museum at Astley.