MineArchiveAlbion Colliery explosion, 1906
At about 3.10 p.m. on Saturday 10 November 1906, after the day shift had ended, an explosion of firedamp in C district of the No. 1 seam at the Albion Colliery, Cilfynydd, killed repairers and officials at work there. It was put down to a spark from an electric lamp relighter.
| Date | 1906 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Albion Colliery |
| Region | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 6 (Six (Welsh Coal Mines); the NMRS account names eight, among them the overman Henry Hill, who died of afterdamp going for help.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
In the inspector's view, two falls on the main level released gas, which put out the men's lamps; taking them to the relighting station, which had been moved out of its brick housing while the parting was being lengthened, they set a lamp on the dish wrongly, and a spark ignited the gas.
Contributing factors
The relighter had been taken out of its locked housing and stood at the side of the parting.
What happened
About fifty men were repairing in the No. 1 seam. A haulier felt a rush of air and telephoned that there had been a heavy fall. The undermanager, following the overman Henry Hill, smelt afterdamp and found two men alive and three dead, all badly burned, at the mouth of Gill's heading; both survivors died within days. Hill had reached the burned men and turned back for help with a companion, who collapsed where the air was clearing and lived; Hill missed the crosscut, lost his way and died. The relighter's attendant was found a few feet from it, with dropped lamps near him.
Rescue & recovery
Unknown.
Investigation & inquiry
The inquest opened on 13 November at the Commercial Hotel, Cilfynydd. The inspector, Mr Gray, thought it an explosion of firedamp in which dust played little part. The jury accepted the theory of the colliery agent, supported by the inspectors, that sparks from the electric relighter caused it, and found no one at fault.
Legal & regulatory aftermath
Unknown.
Changes to practice & legislation
After the disaster the management moved all the relighters near the downcast shaft.
Memorials & commemoration
Unknown.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- The NMRS account lists eight dead, including Henry Hill, overman, and Thomas Prosser, master haulier. (disputed) 2
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- An explosion on 10 November 1906 killed six men, believed caused by a spark from a lamp relighter igniting a pocket of gas. 1
- The NMRS account lists eight dead, including Henry Hill, overman, and Thomas Prosser, master haulier. (disputed) 2
- The jury agreed the explosion was probably caused by sparks from the electric battery and attached no blame. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Crosscut (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…who collapsed where the air was clearing and lived; Hill missed the crosscut, lost his way and died. The relighter's attendant was found a few…” - Downcast Shaft and Upcast Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s changes to practice: “After the disaster the management moved all the relighters near the downcast shaft.” - Haulier (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “About fifty men were repairing in the No. 1 seam. A haulier felt a rush of air and telephoned that there had been a heavy fall.…” - Overman (contextual relationship)
The overman was among the dead. - Safety Lamp (relevant method/equipment)
Magnetically locked lamps were relit electrically.
Sources
- (secondary) Albion Colliery, Cilfynydd — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Albion Colliery Explosion - Pontypridd - 1906 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 22 September 2026 · Last researched: 22 September 2026