MineArchiveGlyn Pits explosion, 1864
| Date | 1 June 1864 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Glyn Pits, Pontypool |
| Region | Torfaen |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 4 (William Hill (53, collier/haulier), John Stephens (16, haulier), John Thomas (69, collier) and Henry Vaux (17, haulier) all died; Durham Mining Museum gives Thomas's age as 69, Welsh Coal Mines as 70.) |
| Context | During active mining |
A firedamp explosion in the Rock Vein coal at Glyn Pits, Pontypool killed four — three men and a boy haulier — on 1 June 1864, after both ventilation doors on the heading were left open, cutting off the air to the face.
Cause
Both doors on the ventilation heading had been left open by the haulier, William Hill — himself among the dead — cutting the fresh air off from the face entirely; gas accumulated and was ignited.
What happened
An explosion of firedamp occurred in the Rock Vein coal on 1 June 1864. Welsh Coal Mines attributes it to a length of timber left propping open an air door by the young door-boy; Durham Mining Museum's fatality record instead attributes it to both doors on the heading having been left open by the haulier, William Hill, who was himself killed — the two accounts agree on the mechanism (an open door cutting off ventilation to the face) but differ on exactly who left which door open. Henry Vaux, 17, died instantly; John Stephens, 16, John Thomas, a collier in his late 60s, and William Hill died with him or shortly after.
Investigation & inquiry
The 1864 Mines Inspector's report, by H.M. Inspector of Mines Lionel Brough, is cited by Durham Mining Museum as its source; its findings beyond the fatality record have not been read for this pass.
Memorials & commemoration
No memorial has been found for this disaster.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Welsh Coal Mines: a length of timber left propping open an air door by the young door-boy caused the loss of ventilation. (disputed) 1
- Durham Mining Museum: both doors on the heading were left open by the haulier William Hill, himself among the dead, cutting the fresh air off the face entirely. (disputed) 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Coal (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “A firedamp explosion in the Rock Vein coal at Glyn Pits, Pontypool killed four — three men and a boy haulier —…” - Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…of firedamp occurred in the Rock Vein coal on 1 June 1864. Welsh Coal Mines attributes it to a length of timber left propping open an air door…” - Firedamp (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “A firedamp explosion in the Rock Vein coal at Glyn Pits, Pontypool killed four…” - HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s investigation: “The 1864 Mines Inspector's report, by H.M. Inspector of Mines Lionel Brough, is cited by Durham Mining Museum as its source; its…” - Haulier (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Vein coal at Glyn Pits, Pontypool killed four — three men and a boy haulier — on 1 June 1864, after both ventilation doors on the heading were…”
Sources
- (secondary) Glyn pits, Pontypool — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Durham Mining Museum - Glyn Pits (UK) — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 13 September 2026 · Last researched: 14 September 2026