MineArchiveGreat Western Colliery roof fall, 1907
A timberman and his assistant were buried by a fall of roof in the Nine Feet seam at the Great Western Colliery, Hopkinstown, on 12 October 1907 while securing a road.
| Date | 12 October 1907 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Great Western Colliery |
| Region | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two killed: the timberman Martin David Evans and his assistant George Worgan.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A heavy fall of roof onto men setting double timbers under it.
What happened
On 12 October 1907 the timberman Martin David Evans and his assistant George Worgan were setting double timbers to secure a road in the Nine Feet seam of the Great Western Colliery's No. 2 pit at Hopkinstown, near Pontypridd. They had set two pairs and were working on the third when a mass of cliff seven feet thick, held up by four old pairs of timber, came down, knocked out five pairs and buried them both.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 12 October 1907 a heavy fall of roof in the Nine Feet seam at the Great Western Colliery buried and killed the timberman Martin David Evans, 26, and his assistant George Worgan, 24. 1,2
- They were setting double timbers to secure a road and had set two pairs and were on the third when the fall came. 1,2
- A mass of cliff 15 feet by 5.5 feet by 7 feet thick, held by four old pairs of timber, fell and discharged five pairs, two new and three old. 2
- The colliery belonged to the Great Western Colliery Co. Ltd., and the fall was in the No. 2 pit. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…buried by a fall of roof in the Nine Feet seam at the Great Western Colliery, Hopkinstown, on 12 October 1907 while securing a road.” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “A timberman and his assistant were buried by a fall of roof in the Nine Feet seam at the Great Western Colliery, Hopkinstown, on…” - Timberman (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “A timberman and his assistant were buried by a fall of roof in the Nine Feet…”
Sources
- (secondary) Mining fatalities, 1907 - Welsh Coal Mines — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1900-1909, surnames E, part 3 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026