Ellismuir Colliery shaft accident, 1885

On 2 November 1885 two sinkers enlarging the shaft at the Provanhall Coal Company's Ellismuir Colliery, Baillieston, were carried 82 fathoms to the bottom when part of the shaft side gave way above the scaffold they were working on.

Cause

A section of the shaft side gave way about four feet above the fixed scaffold during widening, and the falling material carried the scaffold away.

What happened

Morris and O'Keefe were standing on a fixed scaffold in the shaft, taking out the old timber and enlarging the shaft, and had prepared to replace eight feet of barring when a part of the shaft side about four feet above them came away. It carried the scaffold, with both men on it, to the bottom of the shaft, eighty-two fathoms down.

Investigation & inquiry

The case was described in the inspector of mines' report for 1885.

Recorded claims

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

• On 2 November 1885 two sinkers, Nicholas Morris and Michael O'Keefe, were killed at Ellismuir Colliery, Baillieston, while ripping and widening the shaft. ^1,2
• Part of the side of the shaft about four feet above the fixed scaffold on which they stood gave way and carried the scaffold and the two men to the bottom, a depth of 82 fathoms. ²
• They had been taking out the old wood and enlarging the shaft, and were about to replace eight feet of barring. ²
• The colliery then belonged to the Provanhall Coal Company. ^1,2

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: “On 2 November 1885 two sinkers enlarging the shaft at the Provanhall Coal Company's Ellismuir Colliery, Baillieston, were carried 82 fathoms…”
• Fathom (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…Coal Company's Ellismuir Colliery, Baillieston, were carried 82 fathoms to the bottom when part of the shaft side gave way above the…”
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “The case was described in the inspector of mines' report for 1885.”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named 7 times in this record, first in the summary: “On 2 November 1885 two sinkers enlarging the shaft at the Provanhall Coal Company's Ellismuir Colliery, Baillieston,…”
• Shaft Sinking (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “On 2 November 1885 two sinkers enlarging the shaft at the Provanhall Coal Company's Ellismuir…”

Sources

1. (primary) Ellismuir Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Scottish Mining Website: fatal accidents 1885 — Scottish Mining Website

Record created: 21 October 2026 · Last researched: 21 October 2026