MineArchiveGreat Laxey Mine scaffold collapse
| Date | 10 December 1904 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Great Laxey Mine |
| Region | Isle of Man |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Context | During active mining |
| Status | Researched |
A working scaffold gave way underground, and the four men on it fell into a water-filled sump about 17 feet deep. All four drowned, including the youngest, 18-year-old Henry Lewis Gelling.
What happened
On 10 December 1904, a scaffold collapsed underground at the Great Laxey Mine, and the four men working on it fell into a sump around 17 feet deep, drowning. Three bodies were recovered quickly; the youngest victim, Henry Lewis Gelling, aged 18, was not found for a further two days. All four were buried together at Lonan Churchyard on 13 December 1904.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Four miners, including 18-year-old Henry Lewis Gelling, drowned on 10 December 1904 after a scaffold collapsed and they fell into a water-filled sump. 1
Sources
- (observational) Laxey Mine: one of the most influential mines in the Isle of Man — Abandoned Spaces
Record created: 20 August 2026 · Last researched: 20 August 2026