MineArchiveVivian Colliery roof fall, 1906
The roof of the Elled seam engine plane at Powell's Tillery Steam Coal Company's Vivian Pit, Abertillery, fell on a night overman and a repairer on 1 August 1906 as they stood discussing what to do about some low timbers.
| Date | 1 August 1906 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Vivian Colliery |
| Region | Blaenau Gwent |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (2 killed: William Owen (40, or 39), night overman, and William Clothier (57), repairer.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A sudden fall of roof at three or four low pairs of timber on the Elled seam engine plane.
What happened
On 1 August 1906 William Owen, the night overman at the Vivian Pit, and William Clothier, a 57-year-old repairer, were on the engine plane in the Elled seam examining three or four pairs of timber that had come rather low and discussing what was best to be done with them. While they talked, the roof fell suddenly and killed them both. Apart from that one place, the road was in good order.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 1 August 1906 a fall of roof at the Vivian Pit, Abertillery, killed the night overman William Owen and the repairer William Clothier. 1,2,3
- While they were examining and discussing three or four pairs of low timber on the Elled seam engine plane, the roof fell suddenly; the road was otherwise in good order. 2,3
- The colliery was owned by Powell's Tillery Steam Coal Company Limited. 2,3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Coal (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “The roof of the Elled seam engine plane at Powell's Tillery Steam Coal Company's Vivian Pit, Abertillery, fell on a night overman and a…” - Overman (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…Steam Coal Company's Vivian Pit, Abertillery, fell on a night overman and a repairer on 1 August 1906 as they stood discussing what to do…” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “A sudden fall of roof at three or four low pairs of timber on the Elled seam engine plane.”
Sources
- (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1906 — Welsh Coal Mines
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: William Owen, Vivian Pit, 1906 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: William Clothier, Vivian Pit, 1906 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 17 October 2026 · Last researched: 17 October 2026