St David’s Pit Explosion – Llanelli – 1840

ST DAVID’S PIT. Llangennech. Llanelli, Glamorganshire. 6th. July, 1840.

The pit was 660 feet deep and was the largest and deepest in the district. Two men and three boys were killed in an explosion at the colliery and twenty-six others injured. Some accounts give the death toll as four but is probable that some of the injured later died. The men were killed by the afterdamp when they stayed in the workings after the blast and the gas accumulated while the men were eating. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death” and did not attach blame to any party.

REFERENCES
Annals of Coal Mining. Galloway. Vol.2, p.109.
Mining Journal. Vol. x, p.230.
The Children’s Employment Commission. Append. ii, p.697.
The Cambrian.

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