MineArchiveCwmtillery Colliery Explosion, 1876
An explosion at Cwmtillery Colliery on 18 December 1876 killed either sixteen or twenty-three men and boys, depending on which account is followed. It was the worst and the last of four underground explosions at the colliery in twenty years.
| Date | 18 December 1876 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Cwmtillery Colliery |
| Region | Blaenau Gwent |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 23 (The figure is disputed: the Welsh Coal Mines disaster list gives 23, the Wikipedia article on the village 16. The higher figure is recorded here because it comes from the disaster list compiled specifically for this purpose, but neither is confirmed.) |
| Context | During active mining |
What happened
The colliery above Abertillery had already had three underground explosions since 1857, the first of them killing thirteen. The fourth came on 18 December 1876 and was the worst. Beyond the date and the toll, the sources give no account of what happened underground.
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 Welsh Coal Mines list of disasters gives 23 killed. The Wikipedia article on the village says the 1876 explosion killed 16 men and boys. The two have not been reconciled. (disputed) 1,2
- It was the last and worst of four underground explosions recorded at the colliery between 1857 and 1876. (uncertain) 1
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- The Welsh Coal Mines list of disasters gives 23 killed. The Wikipedia article on the village says the 1876 explosion killed 16 men and boys. The two have not been reconciled. (disputed) 1,2
- It was the last and worst of four underground explosions recorded at the colliery between 1857 and 1876. (uncertain) 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “An explosion at Cwmtillery Colliery on 18 December 1876 killed either sixteen or twenty-three men and…”
Sources
- (secondary) Cwmtillery — Wikipedia
- (secondary) Welsh mining disasters: list of accidents with five or more fatalities — Welsh Coal Mines
Record created: 3 September 2026 · Last researched: 3 September 2026