MineArchiveLlay Hall Colliery explosion, 1881
On 8 May 1881, four years after Llay Hall Colliery near Wrexham was sunk, an explosion of gas killed the furnaceman and the pumping engineman, Alfred and Thomas Williams, and ten pit horses.
| Date | 8 May 1881 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Llay Hall Colliery |
| Region | Wrexham |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 2 (Alfred Williams, 29, furnaceman; Thomas Williams, 38, pumping engineman.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An explosion of firedamp.
What happened
Llay Hall, at Cefn-y-bedd north of Wrexham, had been sunk by the Llay Hall Coal, Iron and Fireclay Company in February 1877. On 8 May 1881 gas exploded in the pit. The two men killed were both men whose work kept the mine safe and dry: Alfred Williams, aged 29, who tended the ventilating furnace, and Thomas Williams, 38, the pumping engineman. Ten horses died with them. It came five months after a cage accident at the same pit had killed four men.
Investigation & inquiry
The inspector of mines made an inspection and attended the inquest.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 8 May 1881 an explosion of gas at Llay Hall Colliery, Cefn-y-bedd, killed two men. 1,2
- Ten horses were also killed in the explosion. 2
- The dead were the furnaceman, Alfred Williams, and the pumping engineman, Thomas Williams. 1
- The inspector of mines visited and attended the inquest. 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Cage (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…engineman. Ten horses died with them. It came five months after a cage accident at the same pit had killed four men.” - Coal (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…at Cefn-y-bedd north of Wrexham, had been sunk by the Llay Hall Coal, Iron and Fireclay Company in February 1877. On 8 May 1881 gas…” - Firedamp (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “An explosion of firedamp.” - HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s investigation: “The inspector of mines made an inspection and attended the inquest.” - Pit Pony (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…and the pumping engineman, Alfred and Thomas Williams, and ten pit horses.”
Sources
- (primary) Llay Hall Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Llay Hall Colliery (People's Collection Wales, North Wales Miners Association Trust) — People's Collection Wales
Record created: 23 October 2026 · Last researched: 23 October 2026