MineArchiveCwmnantddu Colliery Explosion, 1849
| Date | 10 August 1849 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Llanerch Colliery |
| Region | Torfaen |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 5 (Five men and boys; four of the five left widows and eleven children between them.) |
| Context | During active mining |
| Status | Researched |
An explosion of firedamp in the New Pit at Cwmnantddu — the colliery later known as Llanerch — killed five men on the morning of 10 August 1849. Two of them were a father and his son of about fourteen.
Cause
An explosion of firedamp in the New Pit.
What happened
The explosion took place between seven and eight o'clock on the Friday morning in the New Pit at Cwmnantddu, then the property of the Pentwyn and Golynos Company. Five men were killed: William Cooke, who left a wife and two children; William Jeffries, a wife and five children; Samuel Ball, a wife and two children; and James Crumbs together with his son William, a boy of about fourteen.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Five were killed: William Cooke, William Jeffries, Samuel Ball, and James Crumbs with his son William, aged about fourteen. (medium) 1
- The New Pit at Cwmnantddu was at this date the property of the Pentwyn and Golynos Company. (medium) 1
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: “An explosion of firedamp in the New Pit at Cwmnantddu — the colliery later known as Llanerch — killed five men on the morning of 10…” - Firedamp (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “An explosion of firedamp in the New Pit at Cwmnantddu — the colliery later known as Llanerch…”
Sources
- (secondary) Llanerch Colliery, Abersychan — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1849 — Welsh Coal Mines
Record created: 3 September 2026 · Last researched: 3 September 2026