Castle Pit explosion, 1895

In the early hours of a July morning in 1895 gas exploded in the Four Feet seam at Castle Pit, Troedyrhiw, south of Merthyr Tydfil, burning three rippers so badly that all three died of their injuries.

Cause

Gas released by a fall of roof near a ripping in the Four Feet seam, driven out by a second fall as the men cleared the first, met their light.

What happened

Three rippers were working in the Four Feet seam of the Crawshay Brothers' Castle Pit during the night shift. A slight fall of roof had occurred close by during the night, and gas had gathered. When the men set about clearing the fall another stone came down, there was a rush of gas, and it exploded at their light. All three were severely burnt about the head, chest and arms. Crowds gathered at the pit head although it was long past midnight. The local paper noted that had it happened in the daytime, with the whole shift at work, the result would have been far worse; the damage stopped work in that part of the pit for a time while the rest of the mine carried on.

Rescue & recovery

Dr Marsh and Dr Jones were at the pit at once, and the three men were brought out quickly. Sullivan was taken to the Merthyr General Hospital and the other two to their homes, but all three died the next day.

Investigation & inquiry

The coroner, R. J. Rhys, opened the inquest on Daniel Sullivan at Merthyr, took evidence of identification from his brother and from the hospital nurse, and adjourned it so that the case could be thoroughly examined.

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 happened at 12.30 am on 10 July 1895. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• An explosion of gas at Castle Pit, Troedyrhiw, in July 1895 killed three rippers. ^1,2
• The explosion happened at 12.30 am on 10 July 1895. (disputed) ¹
• A fall of roof near the men's working released gas, which a further fall drove onto their light as they cleared it. ²
• The coroner R. J. Rhys opened the inquest on Daniel Sullivan and adjourned it. ²

Related terminology

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

• Pithead (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…burnt about the head, chest and arms. Crowds gathered at the pit head although it was long past midnight. The local paper noted that had…”
• Ripping (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…at Castle Pit, Troedyrhiw, south of Merthyr Tydfil, burning three rippers so badly that all three died of their injuries.”
• Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “Gas released by a fall of roof near a ripping in the Four Feet seam, driven out by a second fall as…”

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines: Castle Pit, Troedyrhiw — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) 'Terrible explosion at Troedyrhiw. Three men killed', Merthyr Times, 25 July 1895 — Welsh Newspapers Online (National Library of Wales)

Record created: 10 October 2026 · Last researched: 10 October 2026