MineArchiveMarkham Colliery roof fall, 1920
A fall of between 100 and 200 tons of roof at Markham Colliery in May 1920 killed two timbermen who were securing ground after an earlier fall.
| Date | 12 May 1920 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Markham Colliery, Sirhowy Valley |
| Region | Caerphilly |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two killed: Charles Barker and his assistant Francis Walker (or Waters).) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A large fall of roof in ground already disturbed by an earlier fall.
What happened
In May 1920 the timberman Charles Barker, 48, and his assistant Francis, 36, were timbering up after an earlier fall at Markham, watched by two firemen. Barker was setting a post and his assistant holding a light for him when a much larger fall came down, of 100 tons by one account and 150 to 200 by another. One body was recovered after five hours and the other two hours later. One fireman was injured and the other escaped.
Welsh Coal Mines gives the date as 12 May and the assistant's surname as Walker; the Northern Mine Research Society has 13 May and Waters.
Rescue & recovery
One body was freed after five hours and the second two hours later.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- A fall of roof at Markham Colliery in May 1920 killed two timbermen who were securing bad ground. 1,2
- The fall happened on 12 May 1920. (disputed) 2
- The fall happened on 13 May 1920. (disputed) 1
- Between 100 and 200 tons of roof came down. 1,2
- The bodies took up to seven hours to recover. 1,2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “A fall of between 100 and 200 tons of roof at Markham Colliery in May 1920 killed two timbermen who were securing ground after an…” - Fireman (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…was recovered after five hours and the other two hours later. One fireman was injured and the other escaped. Welsh Coal Mines gives the date…” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “A large fall of roof in ground already disturbed by an earlier fall.” - Timberman (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “In May 1920 the timberman Charles Barker, 48, and his assistant Francis, 36, were timbering up…”
Sources
- (secondary) Markham Colliery — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines fatalities, 1920 — Welsh Coal Mines
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026