Coalbrook Vale inrush, 1831

About midday on Friday 20 May 1831 water from an accumulation in old workings broke into a coal level of the Coalbrook Vale Iron Works, Monmouthshire, where fourteen colliers were at work. Three reached the pits; nine drowned, and one man was brought out alive after nearly 55 hours.

Cause

Water from a known accumulation in the workings broke in on the colliers.

Contributing factors

Strict instructions had been given to bore to the right, left and ahead of the work, and it was feared the precaution had not been followed.

What happened

The water came in with such force that only three of the fourteen got to the pits. The company, helped by the Nantyglo and Blaina ironworks, worked without a break to clear the water. On the Sunday morning word spread that a man had been found alive who thought others might have escaped by retreating to the ends of their stalls, and thousands gathered; at five that afternoon one man, the last, was brought out, having been entombed for nearly 55 hours. All the bodies were recovered.

Rescue & recovery

The company, helped by the Nantyglo and Blaina works, cleared the water; one man was brought out alive after nearly 55 hours.

Investigation & inquiry

The inquest, before T. Hughes, sat with a jury of mineral agents and practical men from the neighbouring works and returned accidental death.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

Unknown.

Changes to practice & legislation

The Cambrian urged the district's mineral agents to see that their directions to the men were actually carried out.

Memorials & commemoration

Unknown.

Recorded claims

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

• Nine lives were lost; of fourteen colliers, three reached the pits. ^1,2
• Instructions had been given to bore right, left and in advance; the calamity was feared to have come from not observing them. ²
• One man was brought out on the Sunday afternoon after nearly 55 hours. ²

Related terminology

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

• Coal (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “…20 May 1831 water from an accumulation in old workings broke into a coal level of the Coalbrook Vale Iron Works, Monmouthshire, where…”
• Inrush (direct cause)
  Water from old workings broke in.
• Level (contextual relationship)
  The water broke into a coal level.
• Stall (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…thought others might have escaped by retreating to the ends of their stalls, and thousands gathered; at five that afternoon one man, the last,…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Coalbrook Vale — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) Calamitous accident (The Cambrian, 28 May 1831) — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)

Record created: 14 September 2026 · Last researched: 22 September 2026