Westminster Colliery roof fall, 1896

Two byemen drawing timber from an abandoned road at Westminster Colliery, near Wrexham, were buried by a roof fall along a slip on 3 December 1896.

Cause

The roof of an abandoned road gave way along a slip while timber was being knocked out.

What happened

On 3 December 1896 two byemen, Thomas Pearce, 56, and Jowerth Williams, 19, were knocking out timber in an abandoned road at Westminster Colliery, near Wrexham. The roof gave way along a slip, capping two props, and buried them both.

Investigation & inquiry

The Inspector of Mines made an inspection and attended the inquest.

Changes to practice & legislation

The inquest recommended that capping timber in old workings be done by practical men, and that the underlooker instruct them in the best way to do it.

Recorded claims

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

• On 3 December 1896 two byemen, Thomas Pearce, 56, and Jowerth Williams, 19, were killed by a fall of roof at Westminster Colliery. ^1,2,3
• They were knocking out timber in an abandoned road when the roof gave way along a slip, capping two props and burying them. ^1,2,3
• The inquest recommended that capping timber in old workings be done by practical men, with the underlooker instructing them in the safest way to do it. ^1,2,3
• The colliery belonged to the Westminster and Brymbo Coal and Coke Company Ltd. ^2,3

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two byemen drawing timber from an abandoned road at Westminster Colliery, near Wrexham, were buried by a roof fall along a slip on 3 December…”
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “The Inspector of Mines made an inspection and attended the inquest.”
• Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “…road at Westminster Colliery, near Wrexham, were buried by a roof fall along a slip on 3 December 1896.”

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Westminster Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames W part 5 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
3. (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames P part 2 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)

Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026