Rhymney Merthyr Colliery roof fall, 1907

Four men clearing a fall in the Rhas Las seam at Pontlottyn in February 1907 were buried by a second fall; two were dug out alive after nearly three hours and two were dead.

Cause

Timber at one end of an old fall was crushed out while it was being cleared, bringing down the rubbish resting on the collars.

What happened

In February 1907 repairers at the No. 2 East Level of the Rhymney Merthyr Colliery, Pontlottyn, known as Tynewydd, had nearly cleared a large fall on a double parting in the Rhas Las seam when timber at one end was crushed out and the rubbish resting on the collars came down, burying four men. A rescue party that included the colliery manager, general manager and under-manager worked for nearly three hours to reach them. James Bowring and John Bowen were found alive, seriously injured; David Jenkins, 56, and Thomas Gunter were dead. The day is given as the 14th in one account and the 21st in another.

Rescue & recovery

A rescue party including the colliery manager, general manager and under-manager took nearly three hours to reach the four buried men; two were brought out alive.

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 happened on 14 February 1907. (uncertain) ¹
• The accident happened on 21 February 1907. (uncertain) ²

Recorded claims

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

• In February 1907 two men, David Jenkins, 56, and Thomas Gunter, were killed while clearing a fall in the Rhas Las seam at the No. 2 East Level of the Rhymney Merthyr (Tynewydd) Colliery, Pontlottyn. ^1,2
• The accident happened on 14 February 1907. (uncertain) ¹
• The accident happened on 21 February 1907. (uncertain) ²
• They were clearing a large fall on a double parting when timber at one end was crushed out and they and two other men were buried by the rubbish that had rested on the collars. ^1,2
• A rescue party including the colliery manager, general manager and under-manager took nearly three hours to reach the men; James Bowring and John Bowen were brought out alive but seriously injured. ¹
• The colliery belonged to the Rhymney Iron Co. Ltd. ²

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 narrative: “…1907 repairers at the No. 2 East Level of the Rhymney Merthyr Colliery, Pontlottyn, known as Tynewydd, had nearly cleared a large fall on a…”
• Level (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “In February 1907 repairers at the No. 2 East Level of the Rhymney Merthyr Colliery, Pontlottyn, known as Tynewydd, had…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Mining fatalities, 1907 - Welsh Coal Mines — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) Accident record: Thomas Gunter, Rhymney Merthyr No.2, 1907 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 9 October 2026 · Last researched: 9 October 2026