MineArchiveRaglan Colliery roof fall, 1903
At about half past ten on the night of Thursday 15 January 1903 a fall of rock several tons in weight came down on two colliers holing under the No. 3 Rhondda seam at Hedley's Raglan Colliery, Heol-y-Cyw, killing George Britten, 32, and John Leyshon, 18. Men in the next stall saw it fall; both were dead when they were dug out after midnight.
| Date | 15 January 1903 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Raglan Colliery |
| Region | Bridgend |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (George Britten, 32, collier, of Heol Laethog, near Bryncethin (named John Britten by Welsh Coal Mines and George Brittain by the Evening Express); John Leyshon, 18, collier's lad, of Pencoed.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A mass of rock 13 feet wide fell from the roof on the two men as they were holing under the No. 3 Rhondda seam; timbers were crushed out, but which could not be established without blasting the rock away.
What happened
Two colliers from Coity, William Harvey and James Smith, were working in the adjoining stall at about 10.30 on the Thursday night when they saw several tons of roof come down on George Britten and John Leyshon. They were not struck themselves. They heard Leyshon groan about three times after the fall, but could see neither man. Shortly after midnight both were taken out of the debris, dead. No work was done at Raglan on the day of the funerals, which were very largely attended; Leyshon was buried at Coychurch.
Rescue & recovery
Men cleared the debris and brought both bodies out shortly after midnight, about an hour and a half after the fall.
Investigation & inquiry
The coroner, Mr Reece, held an inquest on John Leyshon only, not thinking it necessary to inquire into Britten's death; the verdict was accidental death.
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 on 15 January 1903 killed two colliers, George Britten and John Leyshon. 1,2
- A rock 13 feet wide fell on the two men as they were holing under the No. 3 Rhondda seam. 2
- Two colliers in the adjoining stall saw several tons of roof fall at about 10.30 at night; both men were dead when recovered after midnight. 1
- The inquest, held on Leyshon only, returned a verdict of accidental death. 3
- The older man was John Britten. (disputed) 1
- The older man was George Britten. (disputed) 3,2
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: “…two colliers holing under the No. 3 Rhondda seam at Hedley's Raglan Colliery, Heol-y-Cyw, killing George Britten, 32, and John Leyshon, 18. Men…” - Holing (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…1903 a fall of rock several tons in weight came down on two colliers holing under the No. 3 Rhondda seam at Hedley's Raglan Colliery,…” - Stall (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…killing George Britten, 32, and John Leyshon, 18. Men in the next stall saw it fall; both were dead when they were dug out after midnight.”
Sources
- (secondary) Mining fatalities, 1903 - Welsh Coal Mines — Welsh Coal Mines
- (primary) NMRS deaths database: George Britten, Raglan, 15 January 1903 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) Evening Express, 21 January 1903: Raglan Colliery accident — Welsh Newspapers Online (National Library of Wales)
Record created: 11 October 2026 · Last researched: 11 October 2026