Oakeley Quarry bridge collapse, 1888

Shortly before noon on 16 February 1888 a timber bridge across an underground chamber in the old Welsh Slate Company workings at Blaenau Ffestiniog, taken over by the Oakeley Company seven weeks before, broke under four loaded wagons. Five trammers fell sixty feet to their deaths; a sixth saved himself by clinging to the guide rails.

Cause

The bridge, a 41-foot span of pitch-pine beams carried in the middle by a yellow-pine cross beam hung from the roof on iron rods, was built for a working load of about three tons, and the men had been told to take only one loaded wagon over at a time. When the first wagon stuck just past the bridge, the others closed up behind it until four, about nine tons, stood on it together; the slightly decayed yellow-pine cross beam failed and the main beams broke.

What happened

The Oakeley Company had taken over the Welsh Slate Quarry's underground workings seven weeks earlier, and the bridge had been inspected and reported safe. On the day, four loaded wagons of rubbish, each pushed by two men, set off together from the same place as the men went for their dinner. The first wagon stopped just after crossing, for no clear reason, and blocked the way; the second, third and fourth came up behind it onto the bridge. Under the load the cross beam gave way, the two main beams broke, and wagons and five of the six men on the bridge fell sixty feet to the chamber floor. Three died at once and two within a few minutes. John Roberts, in charge of the wagons with them, clung to the guide rails and survived. It was said to be the most serious accident that had ever happened in the district.

Investigation & inquiry

The inquest before G. Jones Williams, county coroner, was opened at Ffestiniog and adjourned to 8 March so that the inspector of mines, C. Le Neve Foster, could attend; the jury found that the men were accidentally killed by the breaking of the bridge. Foster considered the timbers otherwise sound but the yellow-pine cross beam a little decayed, and the wrong timber for the job.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

On the Home Secretary's instructions Foster prosecuted the Oakeley Slate Quarry Company, its managing director Mr Dunlop and its under manager Robert Roberts at Penrhyndeudraeth petty sessions on 31 May 1888, for failing to publish and enforce the company's rule that only one tram at a time should cross the bridges. Agents testified that they had repeatedly told the men, including those who died, not to take more than one.

Recorded claims

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

• Shortly before noon on Thursday 16 February 1888 an underground bridge collapsed in the Oakeley slate workings at Blaenau Ffestiniog, and five men fell some sixty feet to their deaths. ^1,2,3
• The bridge was built to carry about three tons, but four loaded wagons, some nine or ten tons, were on it when it gave way. ^1,4
• The inspector, C. Le Neve Foster, held that the principal cross beam should have been pitch pine rather than yellow pine. ^1,4
• John Roberts, in charge of the wagons with the dead men, saved himself by clinging to the guide rails. ³
• The inquest jury found that the men were accidentally killed by the breaking of the bridge. ³
• On the Home Secretary's instructions the Oakeley Slate Quarry Company, its managing director and its under manager were prosecuted for failing to publish and enforce a rule against taking more than one tram at a time over the bridges. ⁴

Related terminology

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

• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “…was opened at Ffestiniog and adjourned to 8 March so that the inspector of mines, C. Le Neve Foster, could attend; the jury found that the men were…”
• Slate (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “The Oakeley Company had taken over the Welsh Slate Quarry's underground workings seven weeks earlier, and the bridge…”
• Slate Chamber (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “Shortly before noon on 16 February 1888 a timber bridge across an underground chamber in the old Welsh Slate Company workings at Blaenau Ffestiniog, taken…”
• Tub (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s aftermath: “…for failing to publish and enforce the company's rule that only one tram at a time should cross the bridges. Agents testified that they had…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Oakley Slate Mine Accident, Blaenau Ffestiniog, 1888 (NMRS) — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (primary) Appalling accident at Festiniog, Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald, 17 February 1888 — Welsh Newspapers Online (National Library of Wales)
3. (primary) The recent catastrophe at Festiniog: adjourned inquest, Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald, 9 March 1888 — Welsh Newspapers Online (National Library of Wales)
4. (primary) Penrhyndeudraeth petty sessions: the recent bridge accident at Festiniog, Cambrian News, 8 June 1888 — Welsh Newspapers Online (National Library of Wales)

Record created: 23 October 2026 · Last researched: 23 October 2026