Albion Colliery shaft accident, March 1886

Two sinkers were killed by falling fireclay while working in the side of the shaft being sunk at Albion Colliery, Cilfynydd, on 24 March 1886.

Cause

A piece of fireclay fell from the side of the shaft where the men were drilling.

What happened

The Albion Colliery's two shafts were being sunk at Cilfynydd from December 1884. On 24 March 1886 two sinkers, Joseph Jones and Richard Jones, aged 20, were driving a lodge room in the side of the shaft, drilling into the wall, when a piece of fireclay fell from the side and killed them both.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• Two sinkers, Joseph Jones and Richard Jones, were killed in the Albion sinking shaft on 24 March 1886. ^1,2
• They were drilling in the side of the shaft when a piece of fireclay fell on them. ²
• They were driving a lodge room in the shaft when a falling stone killed them both. ¹

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…fireclay while working in the side of the shaft being sunk at Albion Colliery, Cilfynydd, on 24 March 1886.”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…were killed by falling fireclay while working in the side of the shaft being sunk at Albion Colliery, Cilfynydd, on 24 March 1886.”
• Shaft Sinking (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two sinkers were killed by falling fireclay while working in the side of the…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1886 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) Albion Colliery — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 7 October 2026 · Last researched: 7 October 2026