Llynvi Colliery Explosion – Maesteg – 1863

LLYNVI. Maesteg, Glamorganshire. 26th. December, 1863.

The colliery was worked in connection with a large ironworks and was owned by the Llynvi Iron and Coal Company and was 6 or 7 miles from Bridgend. It was known as the Gin Pit. The pit employed 160 men and boys and 18 horses.

The explosion took place on the Saturday morning after Christmas Day and there had been no work at the mine from the previous Thursday evening until the morning of the fateful day and neither had the colliery been examined for almost thirty-six hours.

It was the duty of the fireman to examine the mine every morning before the men went to work and to report the results of his examination to the appointed place. The colliery overman, Eynon Jones, had told his son who was the fireman to report to the underviewer as he was unable to be at work and asked his son to appoint someone in his place. It appeared from the evidence given at the inquest that his son did not carry out the inspection and he was killed in the explosion that followed.

Mr. Evans, the Inspector examined the colliery after the disaster and found that in many places the coal was charred and coked and iron trams had been completely doubled up by the force of the blast.

The men who died were:

• William Isaac aged 40 years, married.
• Morgan Thomas aged 21 years.
• Benjamin Rees aged 17 years.
• David Williams aged 44 years, married.
• David Williams aged 14 years, son of David.
• David Rees aged 36 years, married.
• Dennis Mahoney aged 14 years.
• David Jones aged 21 years.
• William Davies aged 23 years.
• David John aged 30 years.
• Daniel Edwards aged 25 years, married.
• John Bevan aged 41 years, married.
• William Elias aged 27 years, married.

The Company paid a weekly amount to the relatives of the victims.

The inquest was held before Mr. Alexander Cuthbertson, Coroner. The explosion was caused by a young lad who took a naked light into work before the fireman had been there. The gas had accumulated in a stall in front of the air. The place was a considerable height and the coal eight feet thick. The Inspector commented:

If this stall had been properly bratticed and the rules carried out as regards the examination of the workings, this explosion would not have taken place. The important office of the fireman was entrusted to a young man about 21 years of age, of no great experience as a workman and none as a fireman. Some time previous to this explosion I felt it to be my duty to serve on the general manager notice of the dangerous condition of the colliery. It was then nearly at an explosive point, and safety lamps were used in lieu of ventilation. A change of the management of the colliery took place soon after and it is due to Mr. Grey, who is in charge of the mine, to state that he has made a considerable improvement.

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report 1863.

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