MineArchiveCaepontbren Colliery explosion, 1912
On 1 November 1912 a spark from the electric signalling system at New Caepontbren Colliery, Pontyates, ignited gas, and four men, a mechanic and three hitchers, were badly burnt.
| Date | 1 November 1912 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Caepontbren Colliery |
| Region | Carmarthenshire |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 0 (None.) |
| Injuries | Four badly burnt: John Davies, 50, mechanic; Thomas Lewis, 28, Samuel Morris, 37, and David Jenkins, 23, hitchers. |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Gas ignited by a spark from the electric signalling system.
What happened
Caepontbren was a drift in the Gwendraeth valley, reopened in 1909 as New Caepontbren after its first company went into liquidation. On 1 November 1912 gas was ignited by a spark from the signalling system. Four men were badly burnt: John Davies, 50, mechanic, and the hitchers Thomas Lewis, 28, Samuel Morris, 37, and David Jenkins, 23. No one was killed.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 1 November 1912 an ignition of gas at Caepontbren injured four men. 1,2
- The gas was ignited by a spark from the signalling system. 1
- The injured were the mechanic John Davies and the hitchers Thomas Lewis, Samuel Morris and David Jenkins. 2
- The colliery then belonged to the New Caepontbren Colliery Co. 1,2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…1912 a spark from the electric signalling system at New Caepontbren Colliery, Pontyates, ignited gas, and four men, a mechanic and three…” - Drift (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “Caepontbren was a drift in the Gwendraeth valley, reopened in 1909 as New Caepontbren after…” - Onsetter (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…Colliery, Pontyates, ignited gas, and four men, a mechanic and three hitchers, were badly burnt.”
Photographs & further reading
This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.
The colliery's history, with the 1912 signalling-spark ignition.
View sourceRecord of one of the four men burnt in the ignition.
View sourceSources
- (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines: Gwendraeth Colliery, Pontyates (with Caepontbren Colliery) — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: John Davies (injured), Caepontbren, Pontyates, 1 November 1912 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 10 October 2026 · Last researched: 10 October 2026