Big Pit roof fall, 1911

Two men barring down low roof on a road at Big Pit, Blaenavon, were caught by the fall on 12 December 1911; one died at once and the other six days later.

Cause

The roof fell while two men were barring it down during road repairs.

What happened

On 12 December 1911 James Thomas was barring down some low roof during repairs to a road at Big Pit, Blaenavon. The haulier William Williams, 28, came to help him, and as the two pressed on the bar the roof fell and caught them. Williams was killed, and Thomas was so badly hurt that he died on 18 December.

Recorded claims

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

• On 12 December 1911 a fall of roof during road repairs at Big Pit, Blaenavon, killed the haulier William Williams, 28, and fatally injured James Thomas, who died on 18 December. ^1,2,3
• Thomas was barring down some low roof and Williams had come to help him; as they pressed on the bar the roof fell and caught them both. ^1,3
• The colliery belonged to the Blaenavon Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. ³

Related terminology

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

• Haulier (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…some low roof during repairs to a road at Big Pit, Blaenavon. The haulier William Williams, 28, came to help him, and as the two pressed on…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1911 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) Accident record: James Thomas, Blaenavon, Big Pit, 1911 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (secondary) Accident record: William Williams, Blaenavon, Big Pit, 1911 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026