1766  Said to have been originally galed to Foreigners.  Also known as Oiling Gin Coal Work.  Subsequently conveyed by them in shares at different times to different persons, free miners and others.  Sold in 1766 for £2,100.  First ‘fire engine’.

1841  The persons carrying on in trade under a firm called ‘The Old Fire Engine Company’.
Several tracts of coal in the Brazilly and all other veins above the same, lying on the land side of levels driven, or to be driven, from the Squib Pit.

F3 286
c1847  Old Fire Engine Co.  Outputs:
 1841 40 tons
 1842 85

Midsummer 1861  Arrears of rent against Thos. & Cornelius Brain.

F3 94
10 July 1864  Letter from Edward Teague
‘Having made arrangements with the partners of this colliery for the purchase of their shares in this work on account of my father having paid for the engine etc. etc. also having lost in a law suit no less a sum than £1,000 induced me to do so, as the engines etc. etc. are virtually mine being ther legal heir to my late father.

28 October 1868  Messrs. Edward Teague & Cornelius Walding the owners.

3 November 1868  Teague and Bennett wanting land for a brickyard as clay overlay coal. ‘Old Fire Engine Co.’  Joseph Bennett junior.

3 November 1871  T.B. & W.B. Brain’s Railroad shown passing through land required for brick kilns.  Wished to move kilns to other side of railway [Cinderford side]

15 May 1873  Assignment to Drybrook Iron Co. of clay license.

25 June 1874  Colliery owned by Teague and Mr. Sam Baldwin of Nailbridge, almost worked out, one of the oldest in Forest.

1879  Wanted land for building
Baldwin burning coke.

F3 95
15 January 1884  forfeited for non payment of dead rents.  Request from Baldwin that it not be.

6 February 1884  Baldwin bought half of Bennetts share in 1872 for £100.  Teague a sleeping partner.  Baldwin paid all expenses.  Four pits and airways had spent £1,500 -£1,600.
James Buffrey applied for a re-grant.
‘Baldwin a rogue’  Teague had paid the rents not Baldwin!

31 May 1901  Noah Howell applying for a regrant. [for Howell see also Dark Hill above]

17 June 1901  Granted.

14 March 1903  Notice to surrender Old Fire Engine No. 2 Colliery by E. Wasdell of Birmingham the registered owner.

16 May 1904  Registered owner Mr. Paley Hughes, Birmingham. William Aston Manager, applying for land opposite Old Engine Inn.

8 July 1904 Dean Forest Mercury Fire engine Colliery re-started under new management.  The present owners solicit the patronage of their former customers.  Boiler water carried from stream in buckets wishing to lay a line of pipes.

30 December 1905  Letter from L. Silverthorne.  Mr. Paley Hughes could not work profitably.  Purchased by L. Silverthorne and his brother on the understanding that there were five workable seams over 75 acres.  They opened the Starky but could not work it, searched for other veins but found nothing but old workings.  Gave up discouraged and disheartened losing over £400.  After colliery stopped they let it to Messrs. Baggett & Willstead, High Street, Cinderford.  They worked it for a short time but did not pay Silverthornes any rent.  Asking Crown for  a reduction in rent.
Luther and William Silverthorne.

7 January 1907  Mr. Paley Hughes was not the registered owner when the transfer of the mortgage was arranged.

10 July 1907 Fire Engine Colliery Co.  Got out 5,512 tons.

27 July 1907  A.W. Matthews, manager, and his brother are the company.  Paley Huges conveyed gale to the present vendors 10 december 1906.

9 January 1908  Colliery temporarily closed as could not get miners to work regularly by threats or persuasion.
Thomas Matthews, Artesian Well Borer, Engineer, Etc. Manchester.

1908 Potts Mining Register  Fire Engine Colliery Co. Ltd.  Steam Coal.  Employing 5 below ground and two above.

7 January 1913  Not worked for five years.

17 January 1913  List of previous registered owners;-
 Thomas Matthews   Colwyn Bay
 Edward Matthews    Manchester
 Frank Matthews       Pendleton, Manchester
 Reginald Matthews         “                     “
 Leigh Matthews      Colwyn Bay
Now the Fire Engine Colliery Co. Ltd. Pendleton, Manchester.

6 June 1921  John Arkell & Co. Fire Engine Colliery.
Proprietors James Walmsley, Aaron Crossley and John Arkell.
Had stopped pumping temporarily for the period of dispute.

23 June 1921  Re-commenced pumping and hoping to get coal again.

1 May 1923  Conveyance Fire Engine Colliery Co. to Steam Mills Colliery Co. Ltd.

5 August 1924  Wishing to erect further boilers etc.

25 June 1925  Steam Mills Colliery Co. into voluntary liquidation.

10 July 1925 Dean Forest Guardian Three principal shareholders from Lancashire.  Colliery produces good housecoal and with extra capital outlay for the provision of a railway siding and screens could, it is believed, yet be made a good paying concern.
Also had Haywood No. 2.

27 October 1925  Mr. J.J.Joynes registered owner of Haywood No. 2.  In consequence of the death of one of the lessees, Mr. Walmesley, the surviving lessee, Mr. Crossley, wishes to be relieved.

12 November 1925  Costing £42 per week to pump.  Negotiations re a possible sale. Plant worth £1,000.

11 January 1926  Lydney & Crump Meadow Co. temporarily taken responsibility for pumping.  Thinking about winning some Northern United coal through the pit.  Tremendous quantity of water being pumped.

18 January 1926  Lydney & Crump Meadow agreed to take over property.
27 January 1926  Present water dealt with 25,000 gallons per hour.  Unable to pump this at Crump Meadow where the limit is 30,000 gallons per hour.  Already pumping between 25 and 30,000 gallons.

25 June 1926  Steam Mills Colliery to Lydney & Crump Meadow Colliery Co. for £950.

28 December 1928  Notice to surrender on 17 June 1929.

Steam Mills Pit filled up 1922?