Bute Colliery explosion, 1865

An explosion of firedamp at the Bute Merthyr Colliery, Treherbert, the Rhondda's first steam-coal pit, killed four colliers on 17 February 1865.

Cause

An explosion of firedamp in a heading.

What happened

At about four in the morning of Friday 17 February 1865 firedamp exploded in a heading of the Bute Merthyr Colliery at Treherbert, in the parish of Ystradyfodwg, where six men were working near the spot. John Middleton, 34, Thomas Williams, 28, and George Dyer, 22, were found dead in the heading. Joseph Hare, 21, was so badly burnt that he died the following morning. Many of the workmen went out with the bodies of their companions. The coroner opened an inquest on the Saturday and adjourned it for further evidence.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• At about four in the morning of 17 February 1865 an explosion of firedamp in the Bute Merthyr Colliery, Treherbert, killed four colliers. ^1,2,3,4
• John Middleton, 34, Thomas Williams, 28, and George Dyer, 22, were killed on the spot; Joseph Hare, 21, was badly burnt and died the next day. ^1,2,3
• Six men were working near the place where the gas fired. ²
• The coroner opened the inquest the next day and adjourned it for further evidence. ⁴

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: “An explosion of firedamp at the Bute Merthyr Colliery, Treherbert, the Rhondda's first steam-coal pit, killed four…”
• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “An explosion of firedamp at the Bute Merthyr Colliery, Treherbert, the Rhondda's first…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines: Bute Colliery, Treherbert — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) Aberdare: explosion, four men killed (Monmouthshire Merlin, 25 February 1865) — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)
3. (primary) Fatal fire-damp explosion (Merthyr Telegraph, 25 February 1865) — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)
4. (primary) Aberdare: explosion of firedamp at the Bute Merthyr Colliery (Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, 24 February 1865) — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)

Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 9 October 2026