MineArchiveBryndu Colliery explosion, 1852
| Date | November 1852 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Bryndu Colliery |
| Region | Bridgend |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 4 (Thomas Jenkins, 35; David James, 25; Henry Jones, 16 (NMRS) or 17 (Welsh Coal Mines); David Edmunds (or Edmonds), 12, a collier's boy.) |
| Context | During active mining (Early morning at George Ford and Sons' Bryndu Colliery, Kenfig Hill, where firedamp gathered overnight and the fireman examined the workings with a safety lamp before work began.) |
One Thursday morning in November 1852 three men and a youth at Bryndu Colliery, Kenfig Hill, went into their workings with candles before the fireman had examined them with a safety lamp for firedamp gathered in the night. The gas exploded at once and killed all four, the youngest a boy of twelve.
Cause
Firedamp accumulated overnight in the workings, fired by the candles of men who entered before the fireman's examination.
Contributing factors
The four went in, in the words of a contemporary report quoted by Welsh Coal Mines, 'rashly' before the fireman had examined the place with a safety lamp.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Three men and a youth, Thomas Jenkins, 35, David James, 25, Henry Jones, 16 or 17, and David Edmunds, 12, were killed when gas fired at their candles after they entered their workings before the fireman had examined them. 1,2,3
- Welsh Coal Mines dates the explosion Thursday morning, 11 November 1852, on its colliery page and fatality list. (disputed) 1,3
- The NMRS dates it 18 November 1852. (disputed) 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “One Thursday morning in November 1852 three men and a youth at Bryndu Colliery, Kenfig Hill, went into their workings with candles before the…” - Firedamp (direct cause)
Gas gathered overnight exploded. - Fireman (contributing factor)
They went in before the fireman's examination. - Naked Light (direct cause)
The men carried candles. - Safety Lamp (contextual relationship)
The fireman examined with a safety lamp.
Sources
- (secondary) Bryndu colliery — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Brynddu Colliery — Northern Mine Research Society (information supplied by Ray Lawrence)
- (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1852 — Welsh Coal Mines
Record created: 14 September 2026 · Last researched: 14 September 2026