Penllwyngwent Colliery roof fall, 1933

Three men moving a heavy stone into the gob at Penllwyngwent Colliery, Ogmore Vale, in June 1933 knocked out a post, and a stone of about two tons fell from the roof, killing two of them.

Cause

A post knocked out while the men were tumbling a large stone into the gob, releasing a fall of roof.

What happened

In June 1933 the collier Phillips and his assistant, Glanmor Lewis, were clearing rubbish at the coalface at Penllwyngwent Colliery after firing a shot. Unable to shift a large stone, they called James Barnett from the next stall to help them move it into the gob. As they turned it over they knocked out a post, and a stone of about two tons fell from the roof on them. Barnett and Lewis were killed and Phillips seriously injured. Lewis, a single man of 22, had played on the wing for Ogmore Vale rugby club the season before.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• The accident was on 1 June 1933. (disputed) ²
• The accident was on 2 June 1933. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• In June 1933 a fall of roof at Penllwyngwent Colliery killed James Barnett, 44, and Glanmor Lewis, 22, and seriously injured a third man. ^1,2
• The men were moving a large stone into the gob when they knocked out a post, causing the fall. ^1,2
• The colliery was owned by Cory Brothers and Company Limited. ²
• The accident was on 1 June 1933. (disputed) ²
• The accident was on 2 June 1933. (disputed) ¹

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: “Three men moving a heavy stone into the gob at Penllwyngwent Colliery, Ogmore Vale, in June 1933 knocked out a post, and a stone of about…”
• Goaf (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Three men moving a heavy stone into the gob at Penllwyngwent Colliery, Ogmore Vale, in June 1933 knocked out a…”
• Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “…while the men were tumbling a large stone into the gob, releasing a fall of roof.”
• Stall (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…to shift a large stone, they called James Barnett from the next stall to help them move it into the gob. As they turned it over they…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines: fatalities 1933 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: James Barnett, Penllwyngwent, 1933 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 17 October 2026 · Last researched: 17 October 2026