MineArchiveKilgetty Colliery (Grove Pit) shaft accident, 1856
On 23 August 1856, at the Pembrokeshire Iron Company's Grove Pit near Stepaside, then being sunk beside Kilgetty Colliery, the winding rope broke as David Thomas was ascending the shaft and he fell some sixty fathoms to his death; a beam that came down with it killed a second man, James, instantly.
| Date | 23 August 1856 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Kilgetty Colliery |
| Region | Pembrokeshire |
| Type | Winding / Shaft Accident |
| Fatalities | 2 (David Thomas; John or George James (the lists differ on his first name).) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
The winding rope failed in the shaft: one account says it became entangled with the machinery and broke, the other that a falling guide cut through it while the pit was being sunk.
What happened
The Pembrokeshire Iron Company's Grove Pit, at Merrixton Bottom near Stepaside, was then being sunk. On 23 August 1856 David Thomas was ascending the pit when the rope became entangled with the machinery and broke, and he was dashed down a distance of about sixty fathoms. A beam fell at the same time on a second man, James, and killed him instantly.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- The second man is John James in the Welsh Coal Mines list and George James in Winstanley's. (disputed) 1,3
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 23 August 1856 two men, David Thomas and a man named James, were killed at the Pembrokeshire Iron Company's Grove Pit, Kilgetty, near Stepaside. 1,2,3
- As David Thomas was ascending the shaft the rope broke and he fell some sixty fathoms; a falling beam killed James instantly. 1
- Winstanley's list records that the rope was cut through by a guide falling on it during sinking. 2,3
- The second man is John James in the Welsh Coal Mines list and George James in Winstanley's. (disputed) 1,3
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: “…Company's Grove Pit near Stepaside, then being sunk beside Kilgetty Colliery, the winding rope broke as David Thomas was ascending the shaft and…” - Fathom (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…broke as David Thomas was ascending the shaft and he fell some sixty fathoms to his death; a beam that came down with it killed a second man,…” - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…Colliery, the winding rope broke as David Thomas was ascending the shaft and he fell some sixty fathoms to his death; a beam that came down…” - Winding Rope (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…Pit near Stepaside, then being sunk beside Kilgetty Colliery, the winding rope broke as David Thomas was ascending the shaft and he fell some sixty…”
Sources
- (secondary) Welsh colliery fatalities, 1856 (Welsh Coal Mines) — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1850-1859, surnames D (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
- (secondary) Ian Winstanley, alphabetical list of mining victims 1850-1859: I — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley collection)
Record created: 23 October 2026 · Last researched: 23 October 2026