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Red Hall Colliery (Timmins's Colliery), Gornal Wood.
Red Hall Colliery was mentioned as early as 1827 (see later).
Pigots Directory of 1835 and 1842, lists Philip Hickin as Coalmaster at Red Hall Colliery.
1835: Newspaper Auction Notice.
VALUABLE ESTATES AND MINES IN THE PARISH OF SEDGLEY.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION
At the house of John Cartwright, the Green Dragon, at Upper Gornall, on Friday the 28th day of August, 1835.
A close of LAND containing almost an acre, situate at Red Hall, having a considerable frontage to the road leading from Lower Gornall to Upper Gornall, which renders it very eligible for building upon.
The mines and minerals under this lot belong to Messrs Timmins and Massey.
1841: Newspaper Notice.
 T. TIMMINS
Begs most respectfully to announce to his friends who have supported him in the COAL TRADE, that the injury his pumping apparatus had sustained is now repaired, and the waters cleared from the mines, so as to enable him to supply them as heretofor.
T.Timmins, with thanks for the past, solicit the continuance of support from his numerous friends so long as a good supply of COAL, &c., can be obtained, and his conduct towards them merits the same.
Red Hall Colliery, near Himley,
1869: Newspaper Sale Notice.
The partnership between W. Massey and T. Timmins was dissolved in 1838 and Mr Timmins continued to run the colliery.
1841: Thomas Timmins, age 40 was Coalmaster in 'Red Hall'. [Census]
The sale notice below suggests that Thomas Timmins sold up in 1849 and he had been living at 'The Abbey' at that time.
1849: Birmingham Gazette, Monday, December 10.
TO COALMASTERS, IRONMASTERS,
AND THE PUBLIC GENERALLY
UNRESERVED SALE OF THE ENTIRE PLANT,
TIMMINS COLLIERY, GORNAL WOOD;
TOGETHER WITH THE
HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE AND EFFECTS,
AT THE ABBEY,
GORNAL WOOD, NEAR DUDLEY.
To be sold by Auction, by Mr. WILLIAM CALLUM, without reserve, on the premises at Timmins Colliery, Gornal Wood, near Dudley, on Wednesday next, the 12th day of December--the whole of the ENGINES, being four in number, Pit-frames, Roller Posts and Rollers, Pit Chains, Ropes, Rails, Sleepers &c:; together with a great variety of Colliery Implements; also all the neat, modern and substantially-built HOUSEHOLD FUNITURE and EFFECTS belonging to Mr. Timmins as situate at the Abbey, Gornal Wood, near Dudley aforesaid.
 The sale of the Household Furniture will commence punctually at ten o'clock in the morning, and of the Colliery Plant punctually at one o'clock in the afternoon.
 Catalogues may be had at the place of sale; or at the offices of the Auctioneers, 14 Bennett's Hill, Birmingham.
1827: Staffordshire Advertiser, June.
The following inquisition has been taken before Henry Smith, Esq. Coreoner:-
At Upper Gornall, on Charles Smith, a collier, who was at work in a pit at Red Hall Colliery, when three or four tons weight of coal suddenly gave way and fell upon him, and killed him instantaneously.
1839: Staffordshire Advertiser, October.
PIT ACCIDENT--George Mills, a miner in Timmins Colliery, Gornal-wood, was at work at the bottom of the pit, doing repairs to the shaft, and on the skip ascending, loaded with ironstone, a piece fell and caught the poor fellow on the head, causing a severe fracture of the skull; from which he lingered from Saturday last until Tuesday, when he died, leaving a widow and eight children to deplore his loss.
Thomas Timmins is listed as coalmaster in 1851 [Slates Directory]
1855. The Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser of 14 March reports...
EXRAORDINARY DEATH-An inquest was held on Thursday at the White Chimneys, Gornal Wood, before W.H. Phillips, Deputy Coroner, on the body of Mr. William Hicklin, a chemist and druggist at Gornal, and who came by his death in the following circumstances:- A witness named Benjamin Hicklin, stated that on Tuesday about two o'clock, the deceased came on the back of Red Hall pit, rather intoxicated, and, going to the hovel, drank some beer out of the pit bottles. He turned to go away, and immediately afterwards witness lost sight of him. Seeing the rope shake, he went and looked down the shaft, and saw deceased about ten yards down, lowering himself down by the rope. He directly afterwards, lost his hold and fell to the bottom of the shaft. where his body was found lifeless. It appears that the deceased was a powerful man, and took a pride on performing the feat of lowering himself down pit shafts by the ropes. On the present occasion it is supposed that the deceased lost his hold in consequence of his inebriate condition. Verdict, "Accidental Death".
In June 1862, Joseph Bate of Gornal, was accused of murdering twenty year old Mary Ann Higgins, a domestic servant, who's body was found at the bottom of Red Hall pit. It was known that the couple had quarrelled near to the pit in Mr Hink's field that night. The groans of the deceased were heard by folk from nearby houses, when she was recovered from the pit, her body was in a fearful condition-"almost dashed to pieces", Bate was arrested in a nearby pub where he stated, "She jumped in herself".
Later, at the inquest, it was determined that Mary Ann Higgins had quarrelled with Bate, but witnesses confirmed that in fact she was very unhappy and threw herself into the pit and had threatened to do so earlier that day.
The jury decided that she had destroyed herself whilst in a fit of temporary insanity.
1932: Dudley Chronical, 10th November.
TO COLLIERY PROPRIETORS & OTHERS
  Notice of SALE by AUCTION of the of the loose Colliery Plant & Effects upon and about
THE ABBEY FARM COLLIERY, GORNAL WOOD
(rear of Redhall Schools)
ALFRED W. DANDO & Co.
have received instructions from Lees & Baker to SELL BY AUCTION at the Colliery as above, on
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11th, 1932.
THE COLLIERY PLANT
comprising about three Tons Steel Bridge Rails, 86 Wooden Sleepers, 34 6ft. and 9ft. Galvanised Sheets, small quantity Pit Timber Pit Pony, 3 pit tubs, quantity of pit tools and general effets.
Sale to commence at 2 o'clock in the afternoon precisely, immediately following the Sale at Cotwall End Colliery.
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