MineArchiveThomas Chapel Colliery inrush, 1838
On 16 June 1838 colliers at Thomas Chapel, near Begelly in Pembrokeshire, cut into old workings full of water and six men and boys of Begelly were drowned, the worst accident in the local coalfield for a century. William Brace, who ran the pit, was prosecuted for manslaughter by the father of one of the dead, but the grand jury never sent the case to trial.
| Date | 16 June 1838 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Thomas Chapel Colliery |
| Region | Pembrokeshire |
| Type | Flooding / Inundation |
| Fatalities | 6 (Six, all of Begelly, aged 12 to 35.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
The miners cut into old, water-filled workings and the water broke in on them.
Contributing factors
Unknown.
What happened
Thomas Chapel was an anthracite colliery of several shallow pits between the Reynalton and Bramble Hill faults, its coal carried by tramway to Saundersfoot. On 16 June 1838 the workings broke into old flooded ground and six were drowned: James Thomas, 20, Isaac Rees, 23, Henry Lewis, 22, George Tasker, 35, John Bowen, a boy of 12, and William Phillips, 24, all of Begelly. The coroner's records give the cause as accidental suffocation by the breaking in of water.
Rescue & recovery
The water was so great that pumping went on night and day at two pits, helped by a steam engine at a third, from the day of the accident until the Thursday morning before the bodies could be reached; three of the dead were buried at Begelly on 22 June.
Investigation & inquiry
No report of the inquest has survived. A local newspaper blamed a 'very thoughtless' cutting in of water.
Legal & regulatory aftermath
James Thomas of Thorny Park, East Williamston, father of one of the dead, prosecuted William Brace for manslaughter, alleging that Brace, having care and management of the pit, had not used the proper equipment. Welsh Coal Mines calls Brace the owner, the prosecution bill his manager. The case came to the Pembrokeshire Assizes at Haverfordwest on 11 March 1839, with twelve Begelly miners ready to give evidence, but the grand jury, sitting in private, found insufficient evidence and it was never tried.
Changes to practice & legislation
Unknown.
Memorials & commemoration
Unknown.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- Welsh Coal Mines records Brace's appearance on a manslaughter charge with the outcome unknown. (uncertain) 1
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 16 June 1838 an inrush of water killed six men of Begelly: James Thomas, Isaac Rees, Henry Lewis, George Tasker, John Bowen and William Phillips. 1,2
- William Brace was taken before the Assizes for the manslaughter of James Thomas, but there was deemed insufficient evidence to try the case. 2
- Welsh Coal Mines records Brace's appearance on a manslaughter charge with the outcome unknown. (uncertain) 1
- Pumping at two pits and a steam engine at a third were needed before the bodies were reached; three were buried at Begelly on 22 June 1838. 3
- The prosecution of William Brace, as manager of the pit, was brought by James Thomas of Thorny Park, father of one of the deceased; the case failed before the grand jury at Haverfordwest on 11 March 1839. 3
- It was the worst accident in the local coalfield since 1732. 3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Coal (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…shallow pits between the Reynalton and Bramble Hill faults, its coal carried by tramway to Saundersfoot. On 16 June 1838 the workings…” - Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “Thomas Chapel was an anthracite colliery of several shallow pits between the Reynalton and Bramble Hill…” - Inrush (direct cause)
Old water-filled workings broke in. - Pumping Engine (rescue/recovery concept)
A steam engine helped pump out the water. - Waggonway (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…between the Reynalton and Bramble Hill faults, its coal carried by tramway to Saundersfoot. On 16 June 1838 the workings broke into old flooded…”
Sources
- (secondary) Thomas Chapel colliery — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Extract of coroners' inquests in the coalfield of eastern Pembrokeshire — GENUKI
- (secondary) The Importance Of The Thomas Chapel Colliery Disaster — A Pembrokeshire Mining Community
Record created: 19 September 2026 · Last researched: 21 September 2026