MineArchiveBedwellty Pits explosion, 1880
A sudden outburst of gas fired by naked lights killed at least four men at Bedwellty Pits on the evening of 10 March 1880, less than a year after the previous explosion.
| Date | 10 March 1880 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Bedwellty Pits |
| Region | Blaenau Gwent |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 4 (Four in NMRS; six named by Welsh Coal Mines.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A sudden outburst of gas ignited by naked lights.
What happened
On the evening of Wednesday 10 March 1880, less than a year after the last explosion, gas burst out at Bedwellty Pits and fired at the men's open lights. Welsh Coal Mines names six who died: Thomas Ball, 34, John 'Seth' Williams, 27, Robert Cooper, 23, and Henry Anthony, 29, killed outright; Thomas John Roberts, 27, who died later; and Charles Pugh, 19, who died on the 12th. They were buried together at Tredegar Cemetery on the 15th, before a vast crowd.
Investigation & inquiry
The inquest jury found the accident due to a sudden outburst of gas fired by naked lights, and pressed the managers to work the pit with locked lamps.
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 at Bedwellty Pits in March 1880 killed four men. (disputed) 1
- Six men died of the explosion of 10 March 1880. (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 at Bedwellty Pits in March 1880 killed four men. (disputed) 1
- Six men died of the explosion of 10 March 1880. (disputed) 2
- The jury found the accident due to a sudden outburst of gas ignited by the men's naked lights, and urged working with locked lamps. 2
- The dead were buried together at Tredegar Cemetery on 15 March 1880. 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: “…out at Bedwellty Pits and fired at the men's open lights. Welsh Coal Mines names six who died: Thomas Ball, 34, John 'Seth' Williams, 27,…” - Naked Light (contextual relationship)
Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “A sudden outburst of gas fired by naked lights killed at least four men at Bedwellty Pits on the evening of 10…” - Outburst (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “A sudden outburst of gas fired by naked lights killed at least four men at Bedwellty…”
Sources
- (secondary) Bedwellty Pits — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1880 — Welsh Coal Mines
Record created: 7 October 2026 · Last researched: 7 October 2026