Carnarvon Colliery explosion, 1868

An explosion of firedamp at Carnarvon Colliery, Bynea, near Llanelli, early on 13 May 1868 filled the lower level with afterdamp; sixty or seventy men got out, but four who stopped to dress were overcome.

Cause

An explosion of firedamp of unknown origin in the lower level; the four died of afterdamp.

What happened

Between seven and eight on the morning of Wednesday 13 May 1868 men in the lower level of Carnarvon Colliery, at Bynea between Llanelli and Loughor, heard an explosion of firedamp. Sixty or seventy were at work and nearly all made at once for the shaft, but four or five stayed behind to put on some clothing and were overpowered by the afterdamp. The pit had three levels and an upcast and a downcast shaft, each about twenty-five fathoms deep, and was reckoned well ventilated; the cause of the explosion was not known.

Men who had reached the surface volunteered to go back down. Two went down twice: the first time they brought up one body, the second time they were pulled out exhausted. The search was suspended for a few hours, and in the afternoon, once the foul air had cleared, the other bodies were recovered; the men appeared to have died without a struggle. The dead were David Bevan, 64, John Hopkins, 34, Thomas Phillips, 27, and Thomas Richards, 20. The inquest opened before the coroner, James Rowlands, at the Plough Inn, Bynea, the following week and was adjourned to 29 May.

Rescue & recovery

Volunteers who had escaped went back down; one body was recovered at once and the others in the afternoon, after the foul air had cleared.

Investigation & inquiry

The inquest was opened before James Rowlands, coroner, at the Plough Inn, Bynea, and adjourned to 29 May 1868.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• The explosion was on the morning of Wednesday 13 May 1868. (disputed) ^1,2
• The explosion was on 12 May 1868. (disputed) ³

Recorded claims

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

• The explosion was on the morning of Wednesday 13 May 1868. (disputed) ^1,2
• The explosion was on 12 May 1868. (disputed) ³
• Four men, David Bevan, 64, John Hopkins, 34, Thomas Phillips, 27, and Thomas Richards, 20, died of afterdamp. ^1,2,4
• Sixty or seventy men were at work; those who stayed behind to put on clothing were overpowered by the afterdamp. ²
• The pit had three levels and up- and downcast shafts each about twenty-five fathoms deep. ²
• The inquest was opened at the Plough Inn before James Rowlands and adjourned to 29 May. ⁴

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Afterdamp (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…near Llanelli, early on 13 May 1868 filled the lower level with afterdamp; sixty or seventy men got out, but four who stopped to dress were…”
• Bad Air (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…search was suspended for a few hours, and in the afternoon, once the foul air had cleared, the other bodies were recovered; the men appeared to…”
• Downcast Shaft and Upcast Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…were overpowered by the afterdamp. The pit had three levels and an upcast and a downcast shaft, each about twenty-five fathoms deep, and was…”
• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “An explosion of firedamp at Carnarvon Colliery, Bynea, near Llanelli, early on 13 May 1868…”
• Level (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Bynea, near Llanelli, early on 13 May 1868 filled the lower level with afterdamp; sixty or seventy men got out, but four who stopped…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Mining fatalities, 1868 - Welsh Coal Mines — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) The Welshman, 15 May 1868: Fatal explosion of fire damp — The Welshman (Welsh Newspapers Online, National Library of Wales)
3. (secondary) Carnarvon Colliery, Bynea — Welsh Coal Mines
4. (primary) The Welshman, 22 May 1868: Bynea: the colliery explosion — The Welshman (Welsh Newspapers Online, National Library of Wales)

Record created: 17 October 2026 · Last researched: 18 October 2026