MineArchiveBryndu Colliery explosion, 1853
| Date | 23 December 1853 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Bryndu Colliery |
| Region | Bridgend |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 5 (John Williams, 41, and his son Rees Williams, 11; William Johns (W. John), 27 (37 in one list); William Rees, 37; John Williams, 16.) |
| Context | During active mining (Bryndu Colliery at Kenfig Hill, a year after four had died there going into gassy workings with candles.) |
Two days before Christmas 1853 John Williams, a collier of forty-one, went against orders into a part of Bryndu Colliery known to be gassy. His naked light fired the gas, and the explosion killed him, his eleven-year-old son Rees and three others. It was the colliery's second fatal explosion at a naked light in thirteen months.
Cause
Firedamp fired at the naked candle of a collier who entered an area known to be gassy against orders.
Contributing factors
Orders had been given not to enter the gassy area; candles were still in use.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Five were killed in an explosion of gas at Bryndu on 23 December 1853: John Williams, 41, William Johns, 27 or 37, Rees Williams, 11, William Rees, 37, and John Williams, 16. 1,2
- John Williams ignored orders not to go into an area known to be gassy, and his naked light fired the gas, killing him, his son Rees, 11, W. John, 27, and W. Rees, 37. 3
- William Johns is 27 on the Welsh Coal Mines colliery page and in the NMRS account, and 37 in Welsh Coal Mines' 1853 list. (disputed) 1,3,2
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: “…a collier of forty-one, went against orders into a part of Bryndu Colliery known to be gassy. His naked light fired the gas, and the explosion…” - Firedamp (direct cause)
Gas fired at a naked light. - Naked Light (direct cause)
A naked candle fired the gas.
Sources
- (secondary) Bryndu colliery — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1853 — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Brynddu Colliery — Northern Mine Research Society (information supplied by Ray Lawrence)
Record created: 14 September 2026 · Last researched: 14 September 2026