Cwmbargoed Colliery explosion, 1879

On Monday 15 September 1879 a small explosion of gas in No. 2 heading of the Dowlais Iron Company's Long Work Pit at Cwmbargoed burnt five colliers. David Griffiths, burnt all over, died the next day; Welsh Coal Mines counts two dead.

Date	15 September 1879
Mine	Cwmbargoed Colliery
Region	Merthyr Tydfil
Type	Explosion
Fatalities	2 (David Griffiths, 35 or 36, collier, of 74 Church Street, Penydarren. Welsh Coal Mines gives two killed but names only Griffiths; the newspapers of that week report one death.)
Context	During active mining

Cause

An explosion of firedamp in No. 2 heading.

What happened

The explosion, described as slight, burnt David Griffiths severely over his whole body and head. He was taken home to Church Street, Penydarren, and attended by Dr Cresswell, but died shortly after noon on the Tuesday. Four other colliers, John Hicks of North Street, Penydarren, Thomas Jones, John Griffiths of Church Street, and Thomas Hitchins of Dowlais, were burnt less seriously.

What's uncertain

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

Welsh Coal Mines records two killed and three slightly injured. (disputed) ⁴

Recorded claims

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

On Monday 15 September 1879 a slight explosion of gas in No. 2 heading of the Long Work Pit, Cwmbargoed, belonging to the Dowlais Iron Company, burnt five colliers. ^1,2,3
David Griffiths, a collier of Penydarren, burnt all over the body and head, died shortly after noon the next day. ^4,1,2
Welsh Coal Mines records two killed and three slightly injured. (disputed) ⁴
The other four burnt were John Hicks, Thomas Jones, John Griffiths and Thomas Hitchins. ^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: “…colliers. David Griffiths, burnt all over, died the next day; Welsh Coal Mines counts two dead.”
Firedamp (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “An explosion of firedamp in No. 2 heading.”

Sources

(primary) The Cardiff Times, 20 September 1879: Colliery explosion near Dowlais — The Cardiff Times (Welsh Newspapers Online, National Library of Wales)
(primary) The Western Mail, 17 September 1879: Colliery explosion at Dowlais — The Western Mail (Welsh Newspapers Online, National Library of Wales)
(primary) Weekly Mail, 20 September 1879: Colliery explosion at Dowlais — Weekly Mail (Welsh Newspapers Online, National Library of Wales)
(secondary) Welsh coal mine fatalities, 1879 — Welsh Coal Mines

Record created: 19 October 2026 · Last researched: 19 October 2026