MineArchiveKingseat Colliery roof fall, 1873
| Date | 1873 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Kingseat Colliery |
| Region | Fife |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (George Condie, 20, and Robert Condie, 47, colliers. Whether they were father and son is not stated in the sources read.) |
| Context | During active mining (Henderson, Wallace and Co.'s Kingseat Colliery near Dunfermline, in its first year of work.) |
On 10 September 1873 a fall of roof at the face at Kingseat Colliery, near Dunfermline, killed two colliers named Condie, George, aged twenty, and Robert, forty-seven. The fireman had told them the place was bad. The Inspector's comment was that he should have stopped them going in.
Cause
A fall of roof at the face in a place the fireman had reported as bad.
Contributing factors
The fireman knew the place was bad and told the men so, but did not prevent them from going in.
Investigation & inquiry
The Inspector of Mines for the East of Scotland, Ralph Moore, recorded that the fireman had told them the place was bad and should have prevented them from going in.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- George Condie, 20, and Robert Condie, 47, colliers, were killed by a fall of roof at the face at Kingseat on 10 September 1873; the fireman had told them the place was bad and, the Inspector said, should have prevented them from going in. 1,2,3
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: “On 10 September 1873 a fall of roof at the face at Kingseat Colliery, near Dunfermline, killed two colliers named Condie, George, aged…” - Fireman (contributing factor)
The fireman knew the place was bad but let them in. - HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s investigation: “The Inspector of Mines for the East of Scotland, Ralph Moore, recorded that the fireman had…” - Roof Fall (direct cause)
A fall of roof at the face.
Sources
- (secondary) Kingseat Colliery — Durham Mining Museum — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Durham Mining Museum - Colliery Disaster 1873 (Kingseat) — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Fatal accidents in mines in Scotland, 1873 — Scottish Mining Website
Record created: 12 September 2026 · Last researched: 14 September 2026