Glynea Colliery explosion, 1913

Four days after Senghenydd, on 18 October 1913, a blown-out shot of Swalite ignited firedamp in the Fiery seam at Glynea Colliery near Llanelli. Nine men eating their food outbye of the brattice were burned and eight died over the following fortnight; criminal proceedings and civil claims followed.

Cause

A blown-out shot of Swalite fired in a new top hole ignited firedamp lying in the roof at its mouth and along the upper side of the heading.

Contributing factors

The heading face and the new top hole beyond the last connection were not ventilated by any current of air, a brattice sheet cutting them off.

What happened

Glynea, owned by the Glynea and Castle Coal and Brick Company, had two shafts to the Bushey seam at 130 yards and worked the Fiery, Bushey and Golden seams on pillar and stall with locked safety lamps and a 21-foot Waddle fan. About 10.30 a.m. on 18 October 1913, in the Fiery seam 1,200 yards from the shaft, a certificated fireman fired a shot electrically from outbye of the brattice. The explosion that followed burned nine men who were out of the heading, seven of them probably eating their food; two men working in another top hole were unhurt. Its effects were confined to about 150 yards of the heading.

Rescue & recovery

The injured were brought to the surface, given first aid, and taken home or to Llanelli Hospital.

Investigation & inquiry

Investigated by the Mines Inspector, Mr Atkinson, in the report for 1913.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

Criminal proceedings against the management and civil suits for compensation followed.

Changes to practice & legislation

Unknown.

Memorials & commemoration

Unknown.

People

8 of the 8 who died are named in the archive; the rest are not named in the sources read for this record.

• John Edwards (d. 1913) · victim, 1913 — Trammer, 32.
• Thomas Hopkins (d. 1913) · victim, 1913 — Collier, 43.
• David John (d. 1913) · victim, 1913 — Fireman, 38; fired the shot.
• David Jones (d. 1913) · victim, 1913 — Named by Welsh Coal Mines only.
• Henry Mainwaring (d. 1913) · victim, 1913 — Collier, 52.
• Daniel Price (d. 1913) · victim, 1913 — Collier, 53.
• William Price (d. 1913) · victim, 1913 — Collier, 39.
• Oliver Thomas (d. 1913) · victim, 1913 — Trammer, 21.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• NMRS lists seven names; WCM adds David Jones as the eighth. (disputed) ^2,1

Recorded claims

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

• An explosion of firedamp caused by a blown-out shot of Swalite burned nine men, eight of whom died over the next two weeks. ¹
• The explosion on 18 October 1913 resulted in eight miners losing their lives; about 300 were employed and 150 underground. ²
• NMRS lists seven names; WCM adds David Jones as the eighth. (disputed) ^2,1
• The explosion resulted in criminal proceedings against management and civil suits for compensation. ²

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Brattice (contributing factor)
  A brattice sheet cut the face off from the air current.
• Fireman (contextual relationship)
  The certificated fireman who fired the shot died.
• Room and Pillar (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…seam at 130 yards and worked the Fiery, Bushey and Golden seams on pillar and stall with locked safety lamps and a 21-foot Waddle fan. About 10.30 a.m.…”
• Shot-firing (direct cause)
  A blown-out shot of Swalite.
• Waddle Fan (relevant method/equipment)
  A 21-foot Waddle fan ventilated the mine.

Sources

1. (secondary) Glynea Colliery Explosion - Glynea - 1913 — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (secondary) Glynea Colliery — Welsh Coal Mines

Record created: 19 September 2026 · Last researched: 21 September 2026