MineArchiveMoreton Colliery explosion, 1870
On a Friday morning at the end of September 1870 gas exploded at a naked light in the newly deepened pit at Moreton Colliery, Saundersfoot, killing two boys and burning eight others.
| Date | Late September 1870 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Moreton Colliery |
| Region | Pembrokeshire |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 2 (Owen Richards, 14, of Norchard, and Thomas Jones, 13, of Fold Park, Jeffreston, who died before the adjourned inquest. The first newspaper report gave one lad killed, as 'James Richards'.) |
| Injuries | Eight others were burnt; the first report said nine 'fearfully burnt'. |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Gas was fired at a naked light after a boy left his post.
What happened
In the late 1860s Moreton's upcast shaft had been deepened to the Lower Level seam at 316 yards, and this new pit belonged to Mr C. C. Williamson. On a Friday morning at the end of September 1870 gas exploded in the workings, reportedly after a boy had left his post, and was fired at a naked light. Owen Richards, 14, was killed and nine others were burnt; one of them, Thomas Jones, 13, died of his injuries before the adjourned inquest.
Investigation & inquiry
The inquest opened on 1 October 1870 before the coroner W. V. James, with the inspector of mines T. E. Wales, and was adjourned; the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- The explosion happened on 18 October 1870. (disputed) 3
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- An explosion in the new pit at Moreton Colliery on a Friday morning, before the inquest opened on 1 October 1870, killed two boys and burnt eight others. 1,2
- The explosion happened on 18 October 1870. (disputed) 3
- The gas was fired at a naked light, after a boy left his post. 1,2
- The inquest, before the coroner W. V. James with the inspector T. E. Wales, returned a verdict of accidental death. 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…gas exploded at a naked light in the newly deepened pit at Moreton Colliery, Saundersfoot, killing two boys and burning eight others.” - Downcast Shaft and Upcast Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “In the late 1860s Moreton's upcast shaft had been deepened to the Lower Level seam at 316 yards, and this new…” - HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s investigation: “…opened on 1 October 1870 before the coroner W. V. James, with the inspector of mines T. E. Wales, and was adjourned; the jury returned a verdict of…” - Level (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…the late 1860s Moreton's upcast shaft had been deepened to the Lower Level seam at 316 yards, and this new pit belonged to Mr C. C. Williamson.…” - Naked Light (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “On a Friday morning at the end of September 1870 gas exploded at a naked light in the newly deepened pit at Moreton Colliery, Saundersfoot, killing…”
Photographs & further reading
This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.
The adjourned inquest and verdict.
View sourceThe first report of the explosion in Mr C. C. Williamson's new pit.
View sourceSources
- (primary) Pembrokeshire Herald, 21 October 1870: The late explosion at Moreton Colliery — National Library of Wales, Welsh Newspapers
- (primary) Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, 8 October 1870: Terrible colliery explosion — National Library of Wales, Welsh Newspapers
- (primary) Bonville's Court Colliery — Welsh Coal Mines, from the Inspector of Mines lists
Record created: 10 October 2026 · Last researched: 10 October 2026