Dinas Colliery roof fall, 1871

In the afternoon of 21 or 22 August 1871 a stone of considerable size fell from a fault in the roof of the Dinas level in the Rhondda on a father and son, both named Isaac Johns. The son was killed on the spot and the father died about ten minutes later. The inspector found no one to blame, and the whole workforce attended the funeral.

Cause

A large stone fell from a fault in the roof of their working place at the end of the shift.

What happened

The two men were at work at about three in the afternoon, at the end of their shift, when a stone of considerable size fell from a fault on to them. The son, a young man, was killed on the spot and his father died about ten minutes after the fall. The men of the level hurried to the place but could do nothing; they carried the two out to the widow's house. Such accidents were very seldom known at the level, and the whole of the colliery's workmen attended the funeral; the two were buried at Taff's Well. The widow was left with two children.

Investigation & inquiry

The inquest, before Mr Reece, the coroner, was adjourned so that Mr Wales, the government inspector, could examine the cause. His letter, read at the resumed hearing at the White Rock, gave his opinion that it was a pure accident and that no blame attached to anyone, and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

What's uncertain

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

• Welsh Coal Mines dates the deaths to 22 August 1871; the Cardiff Times of 26 August reports them 'on Monday', the 21st. (disputed) ^1,2
• The son is given as 15 by Welsh Coal Mines and 17 by the Cardiff Times. (disputed) ^1,2

Recorded claims

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

• In August 1871 Isaac Johns and his son Isaac were killed together by a large stone falling from the roof at the Dinas level in the Rhondda. ^1,2
• Welsh Coal Mines dates the deaths to 22 August 1871; the Cardiff Times of 26 August reports them 'on Monday', the 21st. (disputed) ^1,2
• The son is given as 15 by Welsh Coal Mines and 17 by the Cardiff Times. (disputed) ^1,2
• The inquest was adjourned for the inspector, Mr Wales, who found it a pure accident with no blame attached to anyone; the jury returned accidental death. ³

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…accidents were very seldom known at the level, and the whole of the colliery's workmen attended the funeral; the two were buried at Taff's Well.…”
• Fault (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…of 21 or 22 August 1871 a stone of considerable size fell from a fault in the roof of the Dinas level in the Rhondda on a father and son,…”
• Level (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…of considerable size fell from a fault in the roof of the Dinas level in the Rhondda on a father and son, both named Isaac Johns. The son…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Fatalities 1871 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) Rhondda Valley: shocking accident, two persons killed, Cardiff Times, 26 August 1871 — Welsh Newspapers Online (National Library of Wales)
3. (primary) Dinas: fatal accident (inquest), Western Mail, 31 August 1871 — Welsh Newspapers Online (National Library of Wales)

Record created: 19 October 2026 · Last researched: 22 October 2026