Gwendraeth Colliery Inrush – Pontyberem – 1855

GWENDRAETH. Pontyberem, Glamorganshire. 10th. May, 1855.

The colliery was owned by Alfred Watney and was situated in the Gwendraeth Valley about three and a half miles from Llan and a mile from Pembrey on the coast. The colliery suffered an inundation of quicksand from the valley. Twenty-seven men and boys lost their lives.

On Monday evening about twenty-eight colliers were at work and everything went on as normal until about 10 o’clock when the water suddenly broke in. The effect was so instantaneous that only one man escaped by climbing the machinery in the shaft.

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report, 1854. Mr. Herbert Macworth.
Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian.

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