ABSTRACT
Rylands v Fletcher (1868) LR 1 Exch 265; LR 3 HL 330 Key Facts The defendant, a mill owner, hired contractors to create a reservoir on his land to supply water to the mill. The contractors carelessly failed to block off disused mineshafts which, unknown to the contractors, were connected to other mine works on adjoining land. When the reservoir was filled it flooded these neighbouring mines, causing damage.
