Llanbradach Colliery cage accident, 1898

Two men were thrown out and killed at Llanbradach Colliery on 28 September 1898 when a cage of fifteen struck staging left jutting into the shaft at the Four Feet seam.

Cause

The descending cage struck landing staging at the Four Feet seam that had not been drawn far enough back.

What happened

On 28 September 1898 a cage carrying fifteen men was going down the shaft at Llanbradach Colliery, in the Rhymney valley. At the Four Feet seam it struck the landing staging, which had apparently not been drawn back far enough. Owen Arthur Davies and Thomas Powell were thrown out and fell about 45 yards to the bottom; three others were hurt by the shock. The cage itself was undamaged and winding carried on.

Recorded claims

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

• On 28 September 1898 two men, Owen Arthur Davies and Thomas Powell, were killed at Llanbradach when the descending cage, carrying fifteen, struck the landing staging at the Four Feet seam. ^1,2,3
• The two fell about 45 yards to the bottom of the shaft, and three others were hurt by the shock. ^2,3
• The staging had apparently not been drawn far enough back. ^2,3
• The colliery belonged to the Cardiff Steam Coal Co. Ltd. ^2,3

Related terminology

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

• Cage (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…out and killed at Llanbradach Colliery on 28 September 1898 when a cage of fifteen struck staging left jutting into the shaft at the Four…”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two men were thrown out and killed at Llanbradach Colliery on 28 September 1898 when a cage of fifteen struck staging left…”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…1898 when a cage of fifteen struck staging left jutting into the shaft at the Four Feet seam.”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1898 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames D part 2 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
3. (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames P part 4 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)

Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026