Cambrian Colliery steam pipe burst, 1900

Four men died of scalds at Cambrian Colliery, Clydach Vale, on Sunday 11 November 1900 when the main steam pipe burst in the No. 2 winding-engine house while new exhaustion gear was being fitted.

Cause

The 14-inch main steam pipe under the winding-engine house floor burst while new exhaustion gear was being installed.

What happened

On Sunday 11 November 1900 a Kilmarnock firm was fitting new exhaustion gear to the winding engine at the Cambrian Colliery's No. 2 pit, Clydach Vale, to economise in steam and fuel, as it had at the No. 1 pit two days before. At about 3 p.m. the 14-inch main steam pipe, which came from the boiler outside under the engine-house floor, burst and filled the house with scalding water and steam; a fragment of pipe flew out through the roof. The chief mechanical engineer, W. J. Peace, escaped through a window and hung from the sill until a ladder was brought. The hitcher Thomas Wilson, who had only come up for his food, stuck fast trying to escape between the engine drum and the side. A young fitter, William Morris Williams, badly scalded himself, ran out and shut off the steam. Edward Henry Davies, the engine cleaner, died soon after; Peace and Wilson died next day, and the Scottish fitter Colin Thompson three days later.

Rescue & recovery

A badly scalded fitter, William Morris Williams, ran out and closed the steam valve; Wilson was freed from between the drum and the wall after about fifteen minutes.

Recorded claims

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

• On Sunday 11 November 1900 the main steam pipe burst in the No. 2 pit winding-engine house at Cambrian Colliery, Clydach Vale, scalding four men fatally. ^1,2,3
• A Kilmarnock firm was installing new exhaustion gear on the winding engine, to save steam and fuel, under the patentee Mr Barclay. ¹
• The 14-inch main steam pipe from the boiler outside, under the engine-house floor, burst suddenly and filled the house with scalding water and steam. ¹
• The dead were the chief mechanical engineer W. J. Peace, the hitcher Thomas Wilson, the engine cleaner Edward Henry Davies and Colin Thompson, a fitter with the Kilmarnock firm. ^1,2,3
• A young fitter, William Morris Williams, though badly scalded, ran out and closed the steam valve, which no doubt saved lives. ¹

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: “Four men died of scalds at Cambrian Colliery, Clydach Vale, on Sunday 11 November 1900 when the main steam pipe…”
• Engine House (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…main steam pipe, which came from the boiler outside under the engine-house floor, burst and filled the house with scalding water and steam; a…”
• Onsetter (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…a window and hung from the sill until a ladder was brought. The hitcher Thomas Wilson, who had only come up for his food, stuck fast trying…”
• Winding Engine (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Sunday 11 November 1900 when the main steam pipe burst in the No. 2 winding-engine house while new exhaustion gear was being fitted.”

Sources

1. (secondary) Fatalities 1900 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) Mining deaths 1900-1909, surnames P, part 2 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
3. (secondary) Mining deaths 1900-1909, surnames D, part 2 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)

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