Henwain Colliery explosion, 1882

Early on Monday 27 February 1882 an explosion in the Three Quarter workings of the Henwain Pit, Blaina, killed the fireman and four of the repairing shift he had taken in with him before examining the workings. The jury blamed the fireman's neglect and cleared the management.

Cause

Gas accumulated over the weekend, probably after a door or sheet was left open, ignited at a naked light carried into Colborne's stall.

Contributing factors

The fireman took men in with naked lights before examining the workings, against the special rules; a falling barometer; a naked-light pit ventilated by furnace.

What happened

The Henwain Pit, 165 yards deep, belonged to J. Lancaster and Company and employed about 330. On the Sunday night the fireman James Hoskins took the repairing shift into the western Three Quarter workings with him, as he often did on Sundays for company, instead of examining first. William Bennett appears to have gone into Colborne's stall with the fireman's lamp and an open light; the explosion followed. The bodies of Miles, Hoskins, James and Jones were found together near a dead horse, Bennett's beyond a door.

Rescue & recovery

The manager, John Williams, joined the exploring party and met afterdamp before the bodies were found.

Investigation & inquiry

The adjourned inquest before the coroner W. H. Brewer at the Castle Hotel, Blaina, heard R. D. Bain, deputy inspector, conclude that ventilation had been deranged over the weekend and that Hoskins let the men go in with open lights unexamined. The verdict was neglect by the fireman; the jury censured him without attributing criminal negligence and praised the officials.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

Unknown.

Changes to practice & legislation

Unknown.

Memorials & commemoration

Unknown.

People

6 of the 5 who died are named in the archive; the rest are not named in the sources read for this record.

• Richard Donald Bain · inspector, 1882 — Deputy inspector of mines for Monmouthshire at the inquest.
• William Bennett (d. 1882) · victim, 1882 — Roadman or labourer, 18 or 20.
• Edmund Harris (d. 1882) · victim, 1882 — Labourer, 66; named by NMRS only.
• James Hoskins · victim, 1882 — Fireman, 65 (NMRS spells Hawkins).
• John James (d. 1882) · victim, 1882 — Roadman or repairer, 42 to 49.
• James Jones (d. 1882) · victim, 1882 — Roadman or repairer, 42 or 48.
• Thomas Miles (d. 1882) · victim, 1882 — Haulier, 25 or 26.
• John Williams · manager, 1882 — Manager of the pit; went down with the exploring party.

What's uncertain

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

• Five men were killed: James Hoskins, 65, fireman; James Jones, 48; John James, 42; Thomas Miles, 25; William Bennett, 20. (disputed) ¹
• Six died, including Edmund Harris, 66, labourer; the fireman is spelled Hawkins. (disputed) ²
• Ages differ: James Jones 48 (press) or 42 (NMRS, WCM); John James 42 (press), 48 (WCM) or 49 (NMRS); Thomas Miles 25 or 26; William Bennett 20 or 18. (disputed) ^3,2,1

Recorded claims

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

• Five men were killed: James Hoskins, 65, fireman; James Jones, 48; John James, 42; Thomas Miles, 25; William Bennett, 20. (disputed) ¹
• Six died, including Edmund Harris, 66, labourer; the fireman is spelled Hawkins. (disputed) ²
• The explosion occurred through the neglect of the fireman in not examining the workings before permitting the night men to enter with naked lights. ^3,2,1
• Ages differ: James Jones 48 (press) or 42 (NMRS, WCM); John James 42 (press), 48 (WCM) or 49 (NMRS); Thomas Miles 25 or 26; William Bennett 20 or 18. (disputed) ^3,2,1

Related terminology

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

• Afterdamp (hazard involved)
  Survivors and explorers met afterdamp.
• Deputy (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “…coroner W. H. Brewer at the Castle Hotel, Blaina, heard R. D. Bain, deputy inspector, conclude that ventilation had been deranged over the…”
• Fireman (contributing factor)
  The fireman took men in before examining.
• Naked Light (direct cause)
  Gas was fired at a naked light.
• Stall (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “…was left open, ignited at a naked light carried into Colborne's stall.”

Sources

1. (primary) The Blaina Colliery Disaster: the adjourned inquiry (South Wales Daily News, 8 March 1882) — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)
2. (secondary) Henwain Colliery Explosion - Blaina - 1882 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (secondary) Henwaun Pit Blaina — Welsh Coal Mines

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