MineArchiveMerthyr Vale Colliery roof fall, 1890
A fall of clod between the face and the gob wall killed a wasteman and his 14-year-old assistant at Merthyr Vale Colliery on 6 November 1890.
| Date | 6 November 1890 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Merthyr Vale Colliery |
| Region | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A large piece of clod fell from between two visible slants, between the face and the gob wall.
What happened
On 6 November 1890 the wasteman David Hughes, 47, and his assistant George Thomas, 14, were at work in the Four Feet seam, worked longwall, at Merthyr Vale. A slab of clod some 13 feet long, 4 feet wide and 2 feet thick came away between the face and the gob wall, knocking out five props, and killed them both. It fell between two slants that were visible in the roof.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- A wasteman, David Hughes, 47, and his assistant, George Thomas, 14, were killed by a fall of roof at Merthyr Vale Colliery on 6 November 1890. 1,2
- A piece of clod about 13 feet by 4 feet and 2 feet thick fell between the face and the gob wall, knocking out five props. 1
- The fall came between two slants that could be seen, in the Four Feet seam, worked longwall. 1
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: “…wall killed a wasteman and his 14-year-old assistant at Merthyr Vale Colliery on 6 November 1890.” - Goaf (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “A fall of clod between the face and the gob wall killed a wasteman and his 14-year-old assistant at Merthyr Vale…” - Longwall (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…George Thomas, 14, were at work in the Four Feet seam, worked longwall, at Merthyr Vale. A slab of clod some 13 feet long, 4 feet wide and…” - Slant (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “A large piece of clod fell from between two visible slants, between the face and the gob wall.”
Sources
- (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1890 — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Merthyr Vale Colliery — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 7 October 2026 · Last researched: 7 October 2026