MineArchiveGarw Colliery fall of stone, 1887
On the morning of 17 May 1887 a huge stone fell on three men ripping the top at the Ocean Colliery, Blaengarw, in the Garw valley, killing two of them on the spot.
| Date | 17 May 1887 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Garw Colliery |
| Region | Bridgend |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (William Roberts (18) and Griffiths (John or David); a third man, Richard Davies, was seriously injured.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A huge stone fell from the top on three men who were ripping to widen a road.
What happened
Three men were ripping the top early on the Tuesday morning when a large stone fell on them, killing two outright: William Roberts, of Alexandria Road, Pontycymmer, and a man named Griffiths. The third, Richard Davies, who also lived in Alexandria Road, was seriously hurt. The two accounts differ on the dead man Griffiths: the Western Mail, reporting the accident the next day, calls him John Griffiths, lately come to the valley from the Rhondda, while the Welsh Coal Mines fatalities list names him David Griffiths, a heading driver of 43, and gives Roberts's age as 18.
Sources
- (secondary) 1887 — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Garw Colliery (quoting the Western Mail, 18 May 1887) — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 20 September 2026 · Last researched: 22 September 2026