MineArchiveBedwellty Pits explosion, 1879
An explosion of firedamp at Bedwellty Pits, south of Tredegar, on the night of 2 April 1879 killed three men outright and burned three more, who WCM records as dying in the weeks after.
| Date | 2 April 1879 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Bedwellty Pits |
| Region | Blaenau Gwent |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 3 (Three killed and three badly burned (NMRS); Welsh Coal Mines counts six deaths in all.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Firedamp, thought to have been released by two or three falls at the face of a heading between the day and night shifts.
What happened
The explosion came on the night of Wednesday 2 April 1879, as the night shift came on. Three men were killed and three severely burned. Welsh Coal Mines names six who died: Thomas Bailey, John Pritchard, George Flook, Morgan Morgan, Samuel Harper and the fireman John Evans, 52, the last of them dying three weeks later. Harper died at his lodgings in Whitworth Terrace.
Investigation & inquiry
Mr Bain, assistant inspector of mines, examined the workings; the jury returned that the men were accidentally killed by an explosion underground.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- An explosion of firedamp at Bedwellty Pits in April 1879 killed three men and severely burned three more. (disputed) 1
- Six men died of the April 1879 explosion, the last of them, the fireman John Evans, three weeks later. (disputed) 2
- The explosion happened on Wednesday night, 2 April 1879. (disputed) 2
- NMRS dates the explosion 4 April 1879. (disputed) 1
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- An explosion of firedamp at Bedwellty Pits in April 1879 killed three men and severely burned three more. (disputed) 1
- Six men died of the April 1879 explosion, the last of them, the fireman John Evans, three weeks later. (disputed) 2
- The explosion happened on Wednesday night, 2 April 1879. (disputed) 2
- NMRS dates the explosion 4 April 1879. (disputed) 1
- The assistant inspector, Mr Bain, thought falls at the heading face had released gas that met the oncoming night shift. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…came on. Three men were killed and three severely burned. Welsh Coal Mines names six who died: Thomas Bailey, John Pritchard, George Flook,…” - Firedamp (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “An explosion of firedamp at Bedwellty Pits, south of Tredegar, on the night of 2 April 1879…” - Fireman (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…John Pritchard, George Flook, Morgan Morgan, Samuel Harper and the fireman John Evans, 52, the last of them dying three weeks later. Harper…” - HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s investigation: “Mr Bain, assistant inspector of mines, examined the workings; the jury returned that the men were…”
Sources
- (secondary) Bedwellty Pits — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Welsh coal mine fatalities, 1879 — Welsh Coal Mines
Record created: 7 October 2026 · Last researched: 7 October 2026