MineArchiveCambrian Colliery shaft accident, 1892
A squeeze in the Cambrian No. 2 shaft at Clydach Vale pushed out its lining early on 8 August 1892, burying three men cleaning the sump and killing two.
| Date | 8 August 1892 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Cambrian Colliery |
| Region | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two, with one man seriously injured.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Pressure in the strata forced out part of the shaft lining, which fell on the men in the sump.
What happened
Three men were working the Sunday night shift at the bottom of the Cambrian No. 2 Pit, cleaning out the sump. At about 3.30 on the morning of Monday 8 August 1892 a squeeze in the shaft forced out part of its lining, and bricks and rubbish fell and buried them. John Rowlands, 22, and Evan Hughes were killed outright and Thomas Owen was badly hurt about the head and shoulders. The lining had been reported dangerous and repairs ordered, but the masons had not done the work on the Saturday shift.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Two shaftsmen, John Rowlands, 22, and Evan Hughes, were killed when brickwork fell in the Cambrian No. 2 shaft on 8 August 1892. 1,2
- A squeeze in the shaft pushed out part of the lining, and bricks and rubbish fell on the men cleaning the sump at the pit bottom. 1
- NMRS records a fall of brickwork from arching in the shaft. 2
- Repairs to the lining had been ordered because of its dangerous state but had not been carried out on the Saturday shift. 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “A squeeze in the Cambrian No. 2 shaft at Clydach Vale pushed out its lining early on 8 August 1892,…” - Sump (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…its lining early on 8 August 1892, burying three men cleaning the sump and killing two.”
Sources
- (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines: Fatalities 1892 — welshcoalmines.co.uk
- (secondary) Cambrian Navigation Colliery — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 7 October 2026 · Last researched: 7 October 2026