Ravenhead Colliery roof fall, 1904

Roof gave way on two young daywagemen ripping down roof in a roadway at the St Helens Collieries Company's Ravenhead Colliery on 18 February 1904; the inquiry suggested better supervision of such work.

Cause

The roof gave way at a slip while the men were ripping six feet beyond the last bar.

What happened

On 18 February 1904 two daywagemen at Ravenhead Colliery, St Helens, owned by the St Helens Collieries Company, were ripping down roof in a roadway to heighten it. They had advanced about six feet beyond the last bar when they reached a slip, and the roof gave way, breaking two bars and three stretchers and killing Thomas Grundy, 23, and John W. Platt, 24.

An inspector of mines visited and attended the inquest, at which it was suggested that there should be better supervision of men doing this work.

Investigation & inquiry

An inspector made an inspection and attended the inquest; at the inquiry it was suggested there should be better supervision of men ripping roof.

Recorded claims

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

• On 18 February 1904 a fall of roof at Ravenhead Colliery killed two daywagemen. ^1,2,3
• They were ripping roof in a roadway about six feet beyond the last bar at a slip when the roof gave way, capping two bars and three stretchers. ^4,2
• At the inquiry it was suggested that there should be better supervision of the men in this work. ^4,3
• The dead were John W. Platt, 24, and Thomas Grundy (Gundy), 23. ^1,2,3

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…two young daywagemen ripping down roof in a roadway at the St Helens Collieries Company's Ravenhead Colliery on 18 February 1904; the inquiry…”
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…stretchers and killing Thomas Grundy, 23, and John W. Platt, 24. An inspector of mines visited and attended the inquest, at which it was suggested that…”
• Ripping (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “Roof gave way on two young daywagemen ripping down roof in a roadway at the St Helens Collieries Company's…”

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Ravenhead, 18 February 1904 — Durham Mining Museum
2. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: John W. Platt, Ravenhead, 1904 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Thomas Gundy, Ravenhead, 1904 — Northern Mine Research Society
4. (primary) Ravenhead Colliery — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 18 October 2026 · Last researched: 18 October 2026