Dinas Colliery explosion, 1850

On 8 April 1850 two brothers, Shadrach David, 15, and the younger Idris, went with a lighted candle into an old part of Dinas Colliery in the Rhondda to look for a chain, and fired gas that blew them a hundred yards along the road. Both died about three hours later.

Cause

A lighted candle carried into old workings not used for some time, where firedamp had gathered.

What happened

Shadrach David's usual partner, Thomas Williams, had left a chain for safety in an old windway, and that morning could not come to work. Shadrach took his younger brother Idris in his place, and the two went to look for the chain. One of them carried a lighted candle into the part of the pit that had not been worked for some time, and the gas exploded at once. The boys were blown about a hundred yards and were found lying on their backs, covered with rubbish. Both died about three hours after the accident.

Rescue & recovery

Help was fetched and the boys were found under the rubbish and brought out alive.

Investigation & inquiry

An inquest was held at the Dinas works on the Wednesday before the coroner, R. L. Reece; the verdict was that they died from injuries received from fire-damp.

Recorded claims

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

• On Monday 8 April 1850 an explosion of firedamp at Dinas Colliery in the Rhondda fatally injured two brothers, Shadrach David, 15, and Idris David. ^1,2
• Sent to look for a chain left in an old windway, the boys took a lighted candle into a part of the pit not worked for some time and fired the gas. ^1,2
• The blast threw them a hundred yards; they were found on their backs under rubbish and died about three hours later. ^1,2
• The inquest at the Dinas works before the coroner returned a verdict that they died from injuries received from fire-damp. 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: “…younger Idris, went with a lighted candle into an old part of Dinas Colliery in the Rhondda to look for a chain, and fired gas that blew them a…”
• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “…candle carried into old workings not used for some time, where firedamp had gathered.”
• Old Workings (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “A lighted candle carried into old workings not used for some time, where firedamp had gathered.”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1850 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) Explosion of fire damp at the Dinas Colliery, Monmouthshire Merlin, 13 April 1850 — Welsh Newspapers Online (National Library of Wales)

Record created: 23 October 2026 · Last researched: 23 October 2026