MineArchiveElliot Colliery Cage Fall
| Date | 4 March 1892 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Elliot Colliery |
| Region | Caerphilly |
| Type | Winding / Shaft Accident |
| Fatalities | 3 (All three occupants of the cage were killed: George Davies (54, overman), Thomas Powell (26, rider) and Richard Roberts (36, roadman).) |
| Context | During active mining (Occurred at a small trial/exploratory shaft at Elliot Colliery during the colliery's early sinking and development period, not in the main working shafts.) |
| Status | Researched |
Three men fell to their deaths at Elliot Colliery, New Tredegar, on 4 March 1892 when a bolt connecting the top of their cage snapped as they were being lowered down an 86-yard trial shaft, dropping the cage and its occupants to the bottom.
Cause
A bolt connecting the top part of the cage to its suspension gear snapped while the cage was descending.
What happened
Between 4 and 5 p.m. on Friday 4 March 1892, George Davies, Thomas Powell and Richard Roberts descended an 86-yard trial shaft at Elliot Colliery. One of the bolts connecting the top part of the cage snapped, precipitating the cage with its three occupants to the bottom of the shaft. All three men were killed.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 4 March 1892 a cage bolt failed while three men were descending an 86-yard trial shaft, dropping the cage to the bottom and killing overman George Davies (54), rider Thomas Powell (26) and roadman Richard Roberts (36). 1
- A second account gives a different immediate mechanism: a large spanner being carried in the cage caught a 'bawk' (a supporting beam) as the cage approached the top, which pulled the winding rope out of its cap and sent the cage falling to the bottom of the shaft. Ages are also given slightly differently in this account — Davies 53 and Roberts 33, against 54 and 36 in the other source. (disputed) 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Cage (contextual relationship)
Named 6 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Tredegar, on 4 March 1892 when a bolt connecting the top of their cage snapped as they were being lowered down an 86-yard trial shaft,…” - Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Three men fell to their deaths at Elliot Colliery, New Tredegar, on 4 March 1892 when a bolt connecting the top of…” - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…their cage snapped as they were being lowered down an 86-yard trial shaft, dropping the cage and its occupants to the bottom.”
Sources
- (secondary) Elliot Colliery — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines: Fatalities 1892 — welshcoalmines.co.uk
Record created: 26 August 2026 · Last researched: 26 August 2026