Garw Colliery shaft accident, 1901

Two men taking a water tank out of the upcast shaft at the Ocean Coal Company's Garw Colliery, Blaengarw, on 4 October 1901 fell from the six-feet landing to the bottom when the two trolleys they stood on came apart.

Cause

The two trolleys on which the men stood separated because they had not been fastened together.

What happened

On 4 October 1901 Henry Leonard, a 42-year-old hitcher, and Henry Jones, aged 22, were taking a water tank out of the upcast shaft at Garw Colliery so that the cage could be put in to lower the men. They were standing on two trolleys which they had not fastened together. The trolleys separated, and both men fell from the six-feet landing to the bottom of the shaft.

Recorded claims

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

• On 4 October 1901 two men were killed in a shaft accident at the Ocean Coal Company's colliery at Blaengarw. ^1,2,3
• The dead were Henry Leonard, 42, a hitcher, and Henry Jones, 22. ^1,2,3
• They were taking out a water tank to put the cage into the upcast shaft when the two trolleys they stood on separated and they fell from the six-feet landing to the bottom; they had not fastened the trolleys together. ^2,3

Related terminology

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

• Cage (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…a water tank out of the upcast shaft at Garw Colliery so that the cage could be put in to lower the men. They were standing on two trolleys…”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…water tank out of the upcast shaft at the Ocean Coal Company's Garw Colliery, Blaengarw, on 4 October 1901 fell from the six-feet landing to the…”
• Downcast Shaft and Upcast Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two men taking a water tank out of the upcast shaft at the Ocean Coal Company's Garw Colliery, Blaengarw, on 4 October…”
• Onsetter (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “On 4 October 1901 Henry Leonard, a 42-year-old hitcher, and Henry Jones, aged 22, were taking a water tank out of the…”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…and both men fell from the six-feet landing to the bottom of the shaft.”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh coal mining fatalities, 1901 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Henry Leonard, Garw, 1901 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Henry Jones, Garw, 1901 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 17 October 2026 · Last researched: 17 October 2026