Cwmbach Colliery explosion, 1845

An explosion of firedamp in a single heading at Cwmbach, near Aberdare, on 2 August 1845 killed 28 men and boys aged nine to 78, the first great colliery disaster of the Aberdare valley.

Cause

Firedamp, supposed to have been driven out of an old stall by a fall of roof, fired by candles in the heading.

What happened

At about eleven on the morning of Saturday 2 August 1845 firedamp exploded in a heading at Cwmbach, near Aberdare. Everyone in that heading was killed: 24 colliers, two labourers, a haulier and a door boy, 28 in all, the youngest nine and the oldest 78. Among them were a father and his son of ten. Choke-damp kept rescuers out at first; only two were brought out that day and the rest over the Sunday and Monday.

The Northern Mine Research Society records the explosion at Cwmbach Colliery, the former Abernant-y-groes pit. The newspapers of the time, followed by Welsh Coal Mines and by Gareth Harris's history of the valley's disasters, put it at Thomas Powell's Duffryn Colliery at Cwmbach, later called the Old or Upper Duffryn. Powell's agent told the inquest that the heading ran partly under Abernant-y-groes Isaf. The pit was worked with candles, and gas was supposed to have been driven out of an old stall by a fall of roof and fired by the lights of the men further up.

The inquest at the Boot Inn, Aberdare, with Matthew Wayne as foreman of the jury, returned a verdict of accidental death. Powell paid for the burials and settled on each widow nine shillings a week, a house and her coal.

Rescue & recovery

Choke-damp kept rescuers out of the heading; two bodies were brought out on the Saturday and the rest on the Sunday and Monday.

Investigation & inquiry

Inquest at the Boot Inn, Aberdare, from 4 August 1845 before the coroner William Davies; verdict accidental death.

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 Northern Mine Research Society dates the explosion to 1 August 1845. (disputed) ³
• The Northern Mine Research Society places the explosion at Cwmbach Colliery. (disputed) ³
• Contemporary newspapers place it at Thomas Powell's Duffryn Colliery at Cwmbach, later called the Old or Upper Duffryn. (disputed) ^1,2
• Gas was supposed to have been driven out of an old stall by a fall of roof and fired by the candles of men working further up the heading. (uncertain) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• At about 11 a.m. on Saturday 2 August 1845 an explosion of firedamp at Cwmbach, near Aberdare, killed 28 men and boys. ^1,2
• The Northern Mine Research Society dates the explosion to 1 August 1845. (disputed) ³
• The Northern Mine Research Society places the explosion at Cwmbach Colliery. (disputed) ³
• Contemporary newspapers place it at Thomas Powell's Duffryn Colliery at Cwmbach, later called the Old or Upper Duffryn. (disputed) ^1,2
• The dead, all in one heading, were 24 colliers, two labourers, a haulier and a door boy; the youngest was nine and the oldest 78. ^1,3
• Gas was supposed to have been driven out of an old stall by a fall of roof and fired by the candles of men working further up the heading. (uncertain) ¹
• Choke-damp kept rescuers out of the heading, and the bodies were recovered over the following days. ^1,3
• The inquest at the Boot Inn, Aberdare, returned a verdict of accidental death. ^1,3

Related terminology

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

• Bad Air (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…nine and the oldest 78. Among them were a father and his son of ten. Choke-damp kept rescuers out at first; only two were brought out that day and…”
• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “An explosion of firedamp in a single heading at Cwmbach, near Aberdare, on 2 August 1845…”
• Haulier (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…Everyone in that heading was killed: 24 colliers, two labourers, a haulier and a door boy, 28 in all, the youngest nine and the oldest 78.…”
• Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “Firedamp, supposed to have been driven out of an old stall by a fall of roof, fired by candles in the heading.”
• Stall (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “Firedamp, supposed to have been driven out of an old stall by a fall of roof, fired by candles in the heading.”

Sources

1. (secondary) The Aberdare Valley Colliery Disasters 1845-1861 — People's Collection Wales
2. (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines: fatalities, 1845 — Welsh Coal Mines
3. (secondary) Cwmbach Colliery (Northern Mine Research Society) — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 6 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026