Crimea Colliery shaft accident, 1860

On the morning of Tuesday 24 January 1860 Thomas Shipley and his son, agents at Thomas Walters's Cyfing New Pit Colliery in the Swansea Valley, were being lowered down the shaft when a tram rolled over the unprotected pit mouth and fell on them, killing both before they reached the bottom.

Cause

A tram fell down the shaft from the unguarded pit mouth onto the men descending in it.

What happened

The two Shipleys, father and son and both agents at the works, were being lowered by the banksman. The mouth of the pit was left unprotected, and for a reason not then explained a tram rolled over the side and fell on them, killing them instantly.

Investigation & inquiry

An investigation was to be opened at Graig-arw on the Friday, 27 January; the local press said the case then bore 'a somewhat suspicious aspect'.

Recorded claims

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

• On Tuesday 24 January 1860 two agents of the Cyfing New Pit Colliery, father and son, were killed in the shaft. ^1,2
• While the two men were being lowered down the pit, a tram rolled over the unprotected pit mouth and fell on them before they reached the bottom. ^1,2
• The colliery belonged to Thomas Walters. ²
• An inquiry was to be opened at Graig-arw on 27 January, the circumstances then bearing 'a somewhat suspicious aspect'. ²

Related terminology

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

• Banksman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…and son and both agents at the works, were being lowered by the banksman. The mouth of the pit was left unprotected, and for a reason not…”
• Borehole (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “…on the Friday, 27 January; the local press said the case then bore 'a somewhat suspicious aspect'.”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “…Shipley and his son, agents at Thomas Walters's Cyfing New Pit Colliery in the Swansea Valley, were being lowered down the shaft when a tram…”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…New Pit Colliery in the Swansea Valley, were being lowered down the shaft when a tram rolled over the unprotected pit mouth and fell on them,…”
• Tub (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…in the Swansea Valley, were being lowered down the shaft when a tram rolled over the unprotected pit mouth and fell on them, killing both…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines: Fatalities 1860 — welshcoalmines.co.uk
2. (primary) The Welshman, 27 January 1860: Coal pit accident (Cyfing New Pit Colliery) — The Welshman (Welsh Newspapers Online, National Library of Wales)

Record created: 19 October 2026 · Last researched: 19 October 2026