MineArchiveLewis Merthyr (Coedcae) Colliery explosions, 1882
On Saturday 11 February 1882, pay day, with the Coedcae pit of the Lewis Merthyr Navigation Collieries empty, two men repairing the shaft were burnt to death by a fire on the cage. A second explosion, as an exploring party went down, killed four more, among them the banksman.
| Date | 1882 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Lewis Merthyr Colliery |
| Region | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 6 (Six: George Warlow and Jacob Thomas in the first incident, four in the second.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Two ignitions in the shaft: the first put down to a blower firing at the men's naked lights (or an upset paraffin lamp on the cage); the second to further gas, or the burning staging.
Contributing factors
Naked lights were used in the shaft while the fan was stopped.
What happened
The day shift had finished at 2 p.m. At about 7 p.m. George Warlow, 56, and Jacob Thomas, 51, began repairs some 40 yards down the shaft, standing on a platform on the cage with 'Comet' lamps; smoke was soon seen and the cage was on fire. About twenty minutes later three men went down in the carriage and there was a second explosion that threw it into the roof and knocked over watchers at the top, including the manager. Thomas Williams, banksman, 45, Joseph Rowlands, master haulier, 24, Benjamin James, labourer, 66, and James Howell Lewis, a boy of 16, were killed.
Rescue & recovery
For two hours no one could enter; the manager Davies restored the ventilation and the dead were brought up.
Investigation & inquiry
A joint inquest by the coroners Overton and Grover at the New Inn, Pontypridd, heard the inspector Wales and the miners' leader William Abraham (Mabon); it was found that the men had gone down with a naked light while the fan was stopped, and that the first fire set the staging alight.
Legal & regulatory aftermath
Unknown.
Changes to practice & legislation
Unknown.
Memorials & commemoration
Unknown.
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's separate Coedcae page dates the same incident 13 February and attributes the first explosion to a blower at naked lights; the inquest report it quotes says 17 February. (disputed) 3
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 11 February 1882 Warlow and Thomas were burnt when a paraffin lamp upset on the cage; an explosion of firedamp killed four more. 1,2
- NMRS's separate Coedcae page dates the same incident 13 February and attributes the first explosion to a blower at naked lights; the inquest report it quotes says 17 February. (disputed) 3
- Killed: George Warlow, Jacob Thomas, Thomas Williams, Joseph Rowlands, Benjamin James and James Howell Lewis. 1,3,2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Banksman (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…as an exploring party went down, killed four more, among them the banksman.” - Blower (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “Two ignitions in the shaft: the first put down to a blower firing at the men's naked lights (or an upset paraffin lamp on the…” - Cage (contextual relationship)
The men worked from the cage. - Haulier (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…the manager. Thomas Williams, banksman, 45, Joseph Rowlands, master haulier, 24, Benjamin James, labourer, 66, and James Howell Lewis, a boy of…” - Naked Light (direct cause)
Used in the shaft.
Sources
- (secondary) Lewis Merthyr Colliery Explosion - Pontypridd - 1882 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Welsh coal mining fatalities, 1882 — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Coedcae Colliery Explosion - Pontypridd - 1882 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 21 September 2026 · Last researched: 21 September 2026