MineArchiveNantmelyn Colliery roof fall, 1893
A fall of rock in an untimbered heading at Nantmelyn Colliery, Cwmdare, on 22 December 1893 killed at least two colliers, one of them seventeen.
| Date | 22 December 1893 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Nantmelyn Colliery |
| Region | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two or three killed: William Jones and James Proud, who died on 5 January 1894; one list also counts John Jones.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A fall of rock roof from a clay joint in an untimbered narrow heading.
Contributing factors
No timbers had been set; lack of timber was blamed.
What happened
On 22 December 1893 a slab of rock roof eleven feet by nine came away from a clay joint in a narrow heading in the Yard seam at Nantmelyn Colliery, near Aberdare. No timber had been set. William Jones, 36, was killed, and James Proud, 17, died of his injuries on 5 January 1894; one list also records a third collier, John Jones, as killed, and another man was seriously injured.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- A third collier, John Jones, is also listed as killed by the fall. (uncertain) 1
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 22 December 1893 a fall of rock roof eleven feet by nine in a narrow heading in the Yard seam at Nantmelyn Colliery, near Aberdare, killed the collier William Jones, 36, and fatally injured James Proud, 17, who died on 5 January 1894. 1,2
- The rock came away from a clay joint, and no timbers had been set. 1,2
- A third collier, John Jones, is also listed as killed by the fall. (uncertain) 1
- The colliery belonged to the Nantmelyn Colliery Co. Ltd. 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 rock in an untimbered heading at Nantmelyn Colliery, Cwmdare, on 22 December 1893 killed at least two colliers, one of…”
Sources
- (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines fatalities, 1893 — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames J part 5 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026