Like the incredible 2 chamber + 1 wall bridge on DE floor in Welsh Slate (Oakeley lower) which was all spliced together.... until they trammed three loaded wagons onto it at the same time and it collapsed!
I meant to reply to this ages ago and forgot 😞 Do you know if any photographs of this bridge survived at all Graham?
Regrettably this happened in 1888 and, as far as I know, the bridges had not been photographed. This is the full account(from my volume 2):
....an accident in the Lower Quarry in which five men were killed. The site of the accident was one of the bridges across the chambers. It was described briefly in the Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald on the 17th. February 1888, the day after the accident and more details were given on the 24th:
"The five men, together with John Roberts, Rhiw, started out of the underground workings for their dinner, taking with them three loaded trucks, which they pushed before them, two men being in charge of each truck. The first wagon was pushed forward by Owen Parry and John Roberts, and when they had reached the bridge which crossed shaft No.1, they appear to have stopped on the bridge. John Roberts, knowing that the other two trucks were following closely upon their track, stepped forward in order to avoid being crushed between his wagon and the next that came up, and this step of his proved the means of saving his life. The other two trucks followed quickly, and all three were massed on the bridge, together with the six men, when suddenly a sound was heard as of timber or iron breaking, and in a moment the bridge gave way, breaking in the middle, and precipitating the unfortunate men and their trucks into the dreadful abyss below, a depth of over 30 yards. John Roberts felt the bridge giving way and clutched an iron rail which ran along the side of the falling structure, and thus he held himself up until assistance came. His feelings at these moments may be better imagined than described, hanging as he was by the arms onto a light rail, which, for all he knew, might give way at any moment and precipitate him after his unfortunate fellow workmen, whose bodies lay mangled in the shaft below him. The sound of falling timber, stone and iron quickly brought men to the place, and they rescued Roberts from his perilous position. Dr. Jones appeared promptly upon the scene, only to confirm the worst fears of the assembled workmen and find that all five men were beyond the reach of all human aid.
The sad news rapidly spread through the extensive quarry, and all work was suspended for the day. The inhabitants of the district generally were thrown into consternation at learning the news, and deep gloom seemed to settle over Ffestiniog as the sad details were made known."
The inquest was held in the presence of Dr. C.LeNeve Foster, the Government Inspector of Mines and the Quarry Manager - presumably Robert Roberts, although the newspaper account says the Manager of the Welsh Slate Quarry (sic). The coroner addressed the jury on the importance of the inquest they were to conduct, saying that he had spoken to Dr. Foster on the subject and would be in communication with the Secretary of State on the matter. He said that one of the most important things they had to determine was the strength of the bridge and went on,"My duty as coroner is simply to ascertain whether there has been any criminal negligence on the part of any party or parties in a case of this nature. For instance, it is our duty to ascertain whether or not the bridge had been so imperfectly erected as to be a source of danger to anyone using it." He went on to warn the jury not to listen to any tittle-tattle they might hear, but to keep their minds clear. After viewing the bodies and adjourning the inquest the coroner praised the jury, saying that he had never had any trouble or bother with Ffestiniog juries.
The dead were: David Jones, 29, a carter of Rhiw - he was buried at Penmachno; Richard Edwards of Penmorfa, 48; Evan Jones of Wesley Street, Blaenau, 30 - he was buried at Capel Garmon; Owen Parry of Gwyndy, Rhiw, 31; and William Lloyd of Park Square, Blaenau, 19. Only William Lloyd was unmarried, the others leaving four wives and nine children behind them. It was estimated that over 1500 people were present in each of the funeral processions.
The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.