Caprington Colliery inrush, 1855

Three men at Caprington Colliery, near Kilmarnock, were drowned on 19 September 1855 when their working holed into an old waste full of water.

Cause

Working through into an old waste where water had accumulated.

What happened

On 19 September 1855 the workings at Caprington Colliery, near Kilmarnock, broke through into an old waste in which water had gathered. The water came in on the men, and three were drowned: Alexander Cunningham, Francis Reaside and William Sym.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• One of the dead is also recorded as Robert Cunningham. (disputed) ²

Recorded claims

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

• On 19 September 1855 three men were drowned at Caprington Colliery, near Kilmarnock, when their working broke through into an old waste where water had accumulated. ^1,2,3,4
• The dead were Alexander Cunningham, Francis Reaside and William Sym. ^5,1,2
• One of the dead is also recorded as Robert Cunningham. (disputed) ²
• The colliery was worked by Thomas S. Cunningham. ^1,2,4

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: “Three men at Caprington Colliery, near Kilmarnock, were drowned on 19 September 1855 when their…”

Sources

1. (primary) Colliery accident, Caprington, 19 September 1855 — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Fatal accidents in Scottish mines, 1855 — Scottish Mining Website
3. (secondary) Mining deaths 1850-1859, surnames Q and R (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
4. (secondary) Mining deaths 1850-1859, surnames C (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
5. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Caprington Colliery — Durham Mining Museum, from the Lists of Mines

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