MineArchiveFfrwd Colliery Explosion, 1854
On 19 October 1854 an explosion of gas at the No. 9 Pit of Ffrwd Colliery, near Brymbo in Denbighshire, killed seven men and boys. It was fired by a naked candle flame igniting gas that escaped when an air-door was opened.
| Date | 19 October 1854 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Ffrwd Colliery |
| Region | Wrexham |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 7 (Seven men and boys, the last, George Randles, dying of his burns some days after the explosion.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A naked candle flame ignited gas released when an air-door was opened, firing the No. 9 Pit.
What happened
The explosion at the No. 9 Pit killed seven: Edward Edwards senior and his son Edward Edwards junior, Edward Williams, Edward Thomas, Edward Griffiths and Stephan Davies, with George Randles dying some days later of his burns. Opening an air-door let gas into a working where a candle burned, and it ignited at once.
Sources
- (primary) Ffrwd Colliery, near Brymbo — Welsh Coal Mines, from the Inspector of Mines lists
- (secondary) North Wales colliery fatalities, 1854 — Welsh Coal Mines website
Record created: 9 September 2026 · Last researched: 22 September 2026