Park Colliery Explosion – Neath – 1863

PARK. Neath, Glamorganshire. 26th. June, 1863.

The colliery was about two miles from Neath and was owned by Thomas and Company.. The agent was Mr. Moozley and the overman at the colliery, William Thomas. On the morning of the disaster, the men were making their way to work as usual when a terrific explosion was heard in the workings. Most of the men were able to get out of the colliery uninjured, but six men lost their lives.

Mr. Evans, the Inspector, was able to inspect the colliery a short time after the disaster and found that the only means of ventilation in the mine was a small fan on the surface which conducted the air through wooden pipes about six feet in sectional area and there were no facilities to conduct the air to the working places. He found that the whole colliery was in an explosive state and the workings had not been examined before the men went to work and this was a clear breach if the 1st. General Rule.

Safety lamps were used in the mine but the majority of them were unlocked and many were without their tops. The men had often found gas in the workings when they went to work and they remove it by brushing it out of their stalls with their coats. The Inspector commented:

The manager must have been aware of the condition of the mine, as he was a man of considerable practical experience. I had upon many prior occasions warned him of the necessity of paying strict attention to the use of lamps, and more particularly to the observance of the first general rule.

Those who lost their lives were:

• Francis Jenkins, aged 18 years, collier.
• Richard Edwards, aged 54 years, collier.
• Thomas Griffith, aged 41 years, collier.
• Thomas Arnold, aged 18 years, collier.
• William Lewis, aged 21 years, collier.
• George Davis, aged 29 years, collier.

At the inquest, the jury after hearing of the deplorable state of the mine returned a verdict on the men of “Accidental Death”. The Inspector took proceedings against the manager of the colliery and the highest penalty which the law allowed was imposed on him. He was fined £20.

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report, 1863. Mr. John Evans.
The Colliery Guardian, 11th July 1863. p.469.

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