MineArchiveMaerdy Colliery roof fall, 1888
At about half past three on the morning of Tuesday 26 June 1888 three pairs of roof timbers gave way in the south-west part of No. 2 Pit at Mardy Colliery, at the head of the Rhondda Fach, and the rubbish that fell killed the repairer Evan Jones and the haulier James Davies, who had just come up to ask how much more there was to clear.
| Date | 26 June 1888 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Maerdy Colliery |
| Region | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Evan Jones, 27, repairer, of 25 Oxford Street, Mardy, a native of Ystradmeurig, Cardiganshire, married with three children; and James Davies, 29, haulier, of 5 Oxford Street, single, a native of Fishguard.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Three pairs of timbers supporting the roof gave way and a large quantity of rubbish fell on the two men.
What happened
Jones and others were at work clearing rubbish in the south-west part of No. 2 Pit when James Davies, a haulier, came to ask how much more there was to do. At that moment the timbers gave way, and both men were killed instantly.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Early on Tuesday 26 June 1888 a repairer, Evan Jones, and a haulier, James Davies, were killed by a fall in No. 2 Pit at Mardy Colliery, Rhondda Fach. 1,2,3
- Three pairs of timbers supporting the roof gave way and a great quantity of rubbish fell on them. 2,3
- The accident happened at about 3.30 in the morning, while Jones and others were clearing rubbish in the south-west part of the pit. 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: “…roof timbers gave way in the south-west part of No. 2 Pit at Mardy Colliery, at the head of the Rhondda Fach, and the rubbish that fell killed…” - Haulier (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…and the rubbish that fell killed the repairer Evan Jones and the haulier James Davies, who had just come up to ask how much more there was to…”
Sources
- (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1888 — Welsh Coal Mines
- (primary) The Western Mail, 27 June 1888: Colliery fatalities at Mardy, Rhondda Fach: two men killed — The Western Mail (Welsh Newspapers Online, National Library of Wales)
- (primary) South Wales Echo, 27 June 1888: Shocking accident at Mardy Colliery: two men killed — South Wales Echo (Welsh Newspapers Online, National Library of Wales)
Record created: 25 October 2026 · Last researched: 25 October 2026