Risca Colliery Explosion – Risca – 1853

RISCA. Risca, Monmouthshire. 12th. March, 1853.

The colliery was owned by John Russell. There were not locked lamps in the colliery and firedamp exploded suffocating the seven victims. An appendix in the 1880 Mines Inspectors Report by Messrs. Dickinson, Wales and Cadman on the explosions at the Risca Colliery say that there were ten victims. This was the fifth explosion that had occurred at the colliery and since the one in 1846 the levels had been extended almost to their limit from the shafts. That on the west was 960 yards out and the one on the east 1,300 yards with the air current on the west side travelling 2,700 yards and that on the east, 3,650 yards. The area of the workings extended over 120 acres of which 70 acres were closed by falls and impervious goaves. During an inspection of the pit in May of the previous year, by Mr. Herbert Mackworth, the ventilation was measured at 12,895 cubic feet per minute and he found firedamp in the higher parts of the workings.

The explosion was found to be caused by the leaving open of an air door and in the opinion of the Inspector, “was due to the wanton neglect of two of the deceased”. There had been a blower that had been issuing gas which could be ignited for three weeks had come from the shale above. In this part of the workings, there was an airway which was designed to allow the accumulation of gas when the ventilation was slackened. The two deceased, regardless of any cautions given to him by the fireman, took down a sheet which caused the gas to accumulate on the windway and then, by leaving a stall door open; the gas was forced out to be ignited at a candle

Those who died were:

• Joseph Bryant aged 24 years collier,
• Aaron Bryant,
• Rees Davies, collier aged 24 years,
• George Purnell, door boy aged 11 years,
• Moses Moor, door boy aged 12 years
• Samuel Darke, aged 12 years,
• Solomon Jenkins aged 20 years, collier who was burnt and suffocated.
• Brought out of the pit injured were:
• William Beachan, a boy.
• John Chivers.
• James Christopher, a boy.
• Thomas Davies, died three days later.
• David Morgan, died three days later.
• John Porch.
• William Purnell, father of Henry.
• Henry Purnell, son of William.
• Richard Richards.
• Alfred Sims.
• John Williams, died three days later.
• Samuel Williams.

In his official report on the disaster Mr. Mackworth states:

An attempt having been made by persons of some authority to account for some explosions by a slight increase in the ventilation, and as the property of these goaves yield carbonic acid gas instead of firedamp might give a colouring to the assumption it is necessary to point put its fallacy. from my explanations of the hazardous condition of many firedamp collieries and to which Risca had been and is known by no means an exception, it is evident that the system adopted placed too much within the power of the colliers the means of occasioning, by ignorance or neglect, a fearful sacrifice of human life.

This statement apparently refers to an answer given by Mr. T.E. Forster to questions before the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Coal Mines in 1852:

Following up the question of inspection, I think that Lancashire and Wales my opinion is there will be a great many more accidents than there had been yet, because, previous to the Inspectors being appointed, there was not sufficient atmospheric air in the mines to make the gas explosive now the inspectors are insisting upon a little better ventilation, and upon their putting in ore, which makes it dangerous between the transition from bad to good a great many lives will be lost.

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report, 1855. Mr. Mackworth.
Appendix to the joint report by Messrs. Dickinson, Wales and Cadman as to the cause of the frequent explosion in the Risca coalfield. Mines Inspectors Report 1880.
”And they worked us to death”. Vol.1. Ben Fieldhouse and Jakie Dunn. Gwent Family History Society.

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