MineArchiveBryndu Colliery explosion, 1853
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.
| 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.) |
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.
What happened
Thirteen months after four of its men had died going into unexamined workings with candles, Bryndu Colliery lost five more to a naked light. On 23 December 1853 John Williams, a collier of 41, went into a part of the pit known to be gassy, against orders that had been given not to enter it. His naked lamp fired the gas. The explosion killed him and his son Rees, aged eleven, together with William Johns, 27, William Rees, 37, and a second John Williams, aged 16. The Northern Mine Research Society's account, from Ray Lawrence, names the first four and gives December 1853 without a day; Welsh Coal Mines gives the 23rd, names all five, and its fatality list for the year records the cause simply as an explosion of gas caused by a naked candle. Bryndu's worst explosion, in the West Nine Feet heading, followed in May 1858.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- 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
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: 16 September 2026