MineArchiveMiddle Duffryn Colliery explosion, 1850
| Date | 12 December 1850 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Middle Duffryn Colliery |
| Region | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 8 (Eight named: Edmund Beard, 22, hitcher; William Davies, 17, haulier; William Saunders, 12, door-keeper; William Jones, 17, sawyer; David Thomas, 23; James Morgan, 20; James Burgam, 24; and Mathew Tingle, 35, the last four dying of burns. Welsh Coal Mines counts thirteen, adding five of the burned survivors.) |
| Injuries | Henry Jenkins, William Meredith, Thomas Meredith, Richard Tingle and two of his children, George Meredith and a son, Peter Price, John Ruck and James Williams were burned, several severely. |
| Context | During active mining (An afternoon at Thomas Powell's Middle Duffryn Colliery in the Cynon valley, a gassy pit worked with candles and safety lamps used only at the morning examination.) |
Between three and four in the afternoon of 12 December 1850 a fall of roof in No. 4 heading of Middle Duffryn Colliery released gas that fired at the candle of the fireman, Henry Jenkins, who was cutting a new wind-way to keep the air course open. The blast killed men underground and a sawyer at the pit top, and more died of their burns over the following week. The number of dead is given as eight or thirteen.
Cause
Firedamp released by a fall of roof in stall No. 2 of No. 4 heading, ignited at the fireman's naked candle.
Contributing factors
The stall was part of the air course and its roof was known to be coming in; men had left it that day. Safety lamps were used only in the morning and when thought necessary, and a number of men had gathered to watch the fireman's precautions.
What happened
Jenkins had been told the stall roof was falling and was driving a fresh wind-way in case it closed the air course. William Meredith, master of the level, was a few yards off; he heard pieces falling in the stall and thought a blower had broken out, as there was plenty of air where they stood. About fourteen men had collected to watch, and Jenkins believed that was why so many were hurt. The blast broke the engine, blew down a brick partition and damaged the stage at the top of the pit, killing a young sawyer there. Jenkins lay seven hours at the pit bottom before he was brought up.
Rescue & recovery
The chief viewer, Thomas Williams, came the eight miles from Gelligaer as soon as he heard and was still at work after ten that night.
Investigation & inquiry
Evidence was taken from Jenkins and William Meredith; the Government Inspector, Mr Blackwell, reported on the condition of the colliery that December, a report read at the inquest into the 1852 explosion.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 12 December 1850 a roof fall released gas which was fired at a naked candle; eight died at once, including a man on the surface killed when the blast smashed the staging he stood on, and five more died later of their injuries. (disputed) 1,2
- The contemporary report reproduced in the Cynon Valley compilation lists eight dead, four killed on the day and four who died of burns by the 19th, and eight named survivors badly burned; the same eight names head the Welsh Coal Mines death roll. (disputed) 3,2
- The fireman Henry Jenkins was making a fresh wind-way beside stall No. 2 in No. 4 heading, where the roof was falling, when gas released by a fall came against his candle. 3
- William Jones, 17, a sawyer, was killed at the top of the pit, and the stage at the pit top was damaged by the blast. 3,2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Blower (hazard involved)
A witness thought a blower had broken out. - Firedamp (direct cause)
Gas released by a roof fall fired. - Fireman (contextual relationship)
The fireman was cutting a new wind-way. - Naked Light (direct cause)
The gas fired at the fireman's candle. - Stall (contextual relationship)
The gas came from stall No. 2.
Sources
- (secondary) Middle Duffryn Colliery, Aberdare — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Death Rolls: Middle Duffryn Colliery, 12 December 1850 and 10 May 1852 — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) The Aberdare Valley Colliery Disasters 1845-1861 — People's Collection Wales
Record created: 4 September 2026 · Last researched: 13 September 2026