BRYN CETHIN. Bridgend, Glamorganshire. 26th. September, 1874.

The colliery was the property of the Barrow Steam Coal Company. There were many small drifts in the area which exploited the Red Ash seam and others which outcropped in the area and provided house coal. The Barrow Company wished to reach the more profitable Steam Coal which lay at a greater depth. This could be done only by sinking shafts. The men were killed by falling down a sinking shaft when part of a cast iron crab winch broke. The stage was tipped and seven men fell 30 feet into the sump which was 12 feet deep. Two managed to save themselves by clutching the bowk which was about to ascend but the others drowned in the water.

The men who died were:

  • S. Llewellyn aged 36 years, mason,
  • W. Franks aged 23 years, mason,
  • T. Davies aged 23 years, mason,
  • J. Rook aged 23 years, sinker,
  • C. Howell aged 27 years, sinker.

At the inquest which was held at The Royal Oak Inn, Bryncethin, Mr. Thomas Burns, the manager of the colliery, said that cracks were found in the cast iron of the crab which had widened under strain, causing the drum to run free. Mr. Wales suggested that wooden crabs should be used instead of iron ones.

 

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report, 1874. Mr. Thomas Wales.
”And they worked us to death” Vol.2. Ben Fieldhouse and Jackie Dunn. Gwent Family History Society.

Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.

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