MineArchiveGlynhebog Colliery explosion, 1900
On 28 May 1900 a roof fall where a pillar was being worked out in the Pumpquart anthracite seam at Glynhebog Colliery slant, Pontyberem, released gas that the air current carried onto the naked lights of men waiting nearby; three were badly burnt and two died.
| Date | 28 May 1900 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Glynhebog Colliery |
| Region | Carmarthenshire |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 2 (David Rees, 35, collier, of Ty Isaf, Tumble, died on 3 June (NMRS) or 9 June (Welsh Coal Mines); Joseph Davies, 33, collier, died on 14 June.) |
| Injuries | Three men were badly burnt, two of whom died. |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Gas released by a roof fall during pillar extraction was carried by the air current onto naked lights.
What happened
The men were waiting outside their working place, No. 3 stall, while a pillar of coal was being taken out, when the roof fell. The fall drove out gas, which the ventilating current carried to their naked lights, and it fired. Three men were badly burnt. David Rees, a collier of Ty Isaf, Tumble, and Joseph Davies, a collier of 33, died of their injuries in June; the doctor attributed Rees's death to inflammation of the brain and lungs caused by extensive burns.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- An explosion at Glynhebog Colliery on 28 May 1900 fatally burnt two colliers, David Rees and Joseph Davies. 1,2
- A roof fall where a pillar was being worked out in the Pumpquart released gas that the air current carried onto naked lights. 1,2
- David Rees died on 3 June 1900. (disputed) 2
- David Rees died on 9 June 1900. (disputed) 1
- Joseph Davies died on 14 June 1900. 1,2
- Glynhebog then belonged to the Pontyberem Collieries Co. Ltd. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Anthracite (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…a roof fall where a pillar was being worked out in the Pumpquart anthracite seam at Glynhebog Colliery slant, Pontyberem, released gas that the…” - Naked Light (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Pontyberem, released gas that the air current carried onto the naked lights of men waiting nearby; three were badly burnt and two died.” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “On 28 May 1900 a roof fall where a pillar was being worked out in the Pumpquart anthracite seam…” - Slant (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…worked out in the Pumpquart anthracite seam at Glynhebog Colliery slant, Pontyberem, released gas that the air current carried onto the…” - Stall (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “The men were waiting outside their working place, No. 3 stall, while a pillar of coal was being taken out, when the roof fell. The…”
Photographs & further reading
This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.
Record of the roof fall and gas ignition in the Pumpquart vein.
View sourceThe 1900 list of Welsh mining deaths, with the explosion at Glynhebog slant.
View sourceSources
- (secondary) Fatalities 1900 — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: David Rees, Glynhebog, Pontyberem, 28 May 1900 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 10 October 2026 · Last researched: 10 October 2026