Great Western Colliery roof fall, 1861

On 1 August 1861 two boys working at the Great Western Colliery, near Newbridge (later Pontypridd), were crushed by a heavy stone that fell from the roof of an old heading they were driving: Isaac Charles, aged 12, and John Morgan, 15.

Cause

A heavy stone in the roof of an old heading, which appeared safe, fell on the two boys as they worked beneath it.

What happened

Isaac Charles and John Morgan were driving in an old heading. Above them was a heavy stone that appeared to be safe, but when they were under it, it fell on them both and crushed them.

Investigation & inquiry

An inquest was held on both bodies at the Bridge End Inn, Gyfeillion, before George Overton, the coroner, and the jury attributed their deaths to accidental causes.

Recorded claims

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

• On 1 August 1861 two boys, Isaac Charles, 12, and John Morgan, 15, were killed by a fall from the roof at the Great Western Colliery, near Newbridge (Pontypridd). ^1,2
• They were driving in an old heading under a heavy stone that appeared safe, and it fell on them both. ¹
• The inquest was held at the Bridge End Inn, Gyfeillion, before the coroner George Overton, and the jury attributed their deaths to accidental causes. ²

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “On 1 August 1861 two boys working at the Great Western Colliery, near Newbridge (later Pontypridd), were crushed by a heavy stone…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh coal mine fatalities, 1861 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) District News, Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, 10 August 1861 — Welsh Newspapers Online (National Library of Wales)

Record created: 19 October 2026 · Last researched: 22 October 2026