Windsor Colliery roof fall, 1907

Two men died at Windsor Colliery, Abertridwr, early on 26 February 1907 when up to fifteen tons of rock fell on a gang strengthening the timbers at a junction in the Four Feet seam.

Cause

Twelve to fifteen tons of cliff fell from a cavity above the timbers while they were being strengthened.

What happened

Early on 26 February 1907 a gang was doubling and strengthening the heavy framing timbers at the junction of two roads in the Four Feet seam, on the west side of Windsor Colliery at Abertridwr, setting 23-foot bowks. About 4.30 a.m. some twelve to fifteen tons of cliff fell from a cavity above the timbers, knocked out three pairs of timber and buried three men. The others dug for them. The fireman, Thomas, was got out quickly, the bowks having held up part of the fall. John Cornelius McCarthy's body was recovered about 6 a.m. and Richard Kingdom's at 7.

Rescue & recovery

The men dug through the fall; the fireman was released alive, and the two bodies were recovered by 7 a.m.

Recorded claims

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

• At about 4.30 a.m. on 26 February 1907 a fall at Windsor Colliery, Abertridwr, buried three men strengthening the timbering at a road junction, killing John Cornelius McCarthy, 25, and Richard Kingdom, 30. ^1,2,3
• About 12 to 15 tons of cliff fell from the roof and side of a cavity above the heavy framing timbers, knocking out three pairs of timber. ^2,3
• The fireman was quickly released, the bowks having held up part of the fall; McCarthy's body was recovered about 6 a.m. and Kingdom's at 7 a.m. ¹
• The colliery belonged to the Windsor Steam Coal Co. (1901) 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 men died at Windsor Colliery, Abertridwr, early on 26 February 1907 when up to fifteen tons of…”
• Fireman (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…pairs of timber and buried three men. The others dug for them. The fireman, Thomas, was got out quickly, the bowks having held up part of the…”
• Kibble (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…on the west side of Windsor Colliery at Abertridwr, setting 23-foot bowks. About 4.30 a.m. some twelve to fifteen tons of cliff fell from a…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Mining fatalities, 1907 - Welsh Coal Mines — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) 1900s K2: Ian Winstanley's alphabetical list of mining victims — Healey Hero
3. (secondary) Mining deaths 1900-1909, surnames M, part 3 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)

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