MineArchiveYnyshir Colliery roof fall, 1897
A collier and his twelve-year-old son were killed by a fall of fireclay roof on the Barry road at the Ynyshir Standard Colliery in August 1897.
| Date | 3 or 4 August 1897 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Ynyshir Colliery |
| Region | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two killed: the collier John Rees Jones and his son Rees Jones, a collier's boy.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A fall of fireclay from the roof over a timbered road.
What happened
In early August 1897 a mass of fireclay roof about eight feet long fell over the timbered Barry road at the Ynyshir Standard Colliery, in the Rhondda, killing the collier John Rees Jones, 33, and his son Rees Jones, a collier's boy of 12. One list dates the accident to 3 August and another to the 4th.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- One list dates the deaths to 4 August 1897. (disputed) 3
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- A fall of roof on the Barry road at the Ynyshir Standard Colliery killed the collier John Rees Jones, 33, and the collier's boy Rees Jones, 12, on 3 August 1897. 1,2
- One list dates the deaths to 4 August 1897. (disputed) 3
- The boy was the son of John Rees Jones. 3
- A mass of fireclay about 8 feet by 3 feet by 1 foot fell from the roof over the timbered road, in a nine-foot seam. 1,2
- The colliery belonged to the Ynyshir Steam Coal Company. 1,2
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: “…by a fall of fireclay roof on the Barry road at the Ynyshir Standard Colliery in August 1897.”
Sources
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames J part 5 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames J part 4 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
- (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1897 — Welsh Coal Mines
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026