MineArchiveKelty Colliery sinking accident, 1894
Three sinkers were knocked off the kettle as they rode up the shaft at the Fife Coal Company's Kelty colliery on the morning of 8 May 1894.
| Date | 8 May 1894 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Kelty Colliery |
| Region | Fife |
| Type | Winding / Shaft Accident |
| Fatalities | 3 (Three killed: the sinkers Charles Clark, David Graham and Thomas Wood.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
The men were knocked off the kettle while ascending the shaft.
What happened
At half past ten on the morning of 8 May 1894 three sinkers at the Fife Coal Company's Kelty colliery, Charles Clark, David Graham and Thomas Wood, were riding up the shaft on the kettle when they were knocked off it and fell to their deaths.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- At 10.30 a.m. on 8 May 1894 three sinkers at Kelty Colliery, Charles Clark, 38, David Graham, 38, and Thomas Wood, 25, were killed in the shaft. 1,2,3,4
- They were knocked off the kettle while ascending the shaft. 1,2,3,4
- The colliery belonged to the Fife Coal Company. 1,4
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Coal (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…were knocked off the kettle as they rode up the shaft at the Fife Coal Company's Kelty colliery on the morning of 8 May 1894.” - Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…kettle as they rode up the shaft at the Fife Coal Company's Kelty colliery on the morning of 8 May 1894.” - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Three sinkers were knocked off the kettle as they rode up the shaft at the Fife Coal Company's Kelty colliery on the morning of 8 May…” - Shaft Sinking (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Three sinkers were knocked off the kettle as they rode up the shaft at the Fife…”
Sources
- (primary) Kelty Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames G part 3 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames W part 7 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames C part 2 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026