New Duffryn Colliery explosion, 1883

A heavy fall of roof at the Rhymney Iron Company's New Duffryn Colliery, Rhymney, released gas that was fired at the men's naked lights on 25 June 1883; six died, the youngest a 13-year-old collier, and eight were injured.

Cause

Gas released from a natural slip by a heavy fall of roof along thirty yards of the face, ignited at naked lights.

What happened

The colliery worked its coal at a depth of 130 yards from a seam 8 feet 10 inches thick, divided by two bands; only the bottom 4 feet 9 inches was taken, the clod above it brought down for height and the coal above that left as the roof. It was worked longwall, with trams run along the face between two rows of props, in districts sixty to seventy yards wide, each in the charge of a timberman as well as the overmen and firemen. The mine had been free of firedamp and explosion for over forty years, and naked lights were in general use.

On the morning of 25 June 1883 the ground began to 'work', and the men were withdrawn to the heading for safety. Soon afterwards a very heavy fall came down along thirty yards of the face, and almost at once there was an explosion: a large natural slip in the strata had released gas, which was fired at the naked lights. Patrick Farrell, a 52-year-old labourer, and Elias Thomas, a 24-year-old collier, died in the explosion. E. John Griffiths, a collier of 13, died on the 27th, the timberman John Roberts, 55, on the 29th, David Evans, 23, on 3 July and Edward Price, 24, on 21 July. Eight more were injured.

Investigation & inquiry

The colliery lay close to the Glamorgan-Monmouthshire border, so two inquests were held on consecutive days. The Glamorgan jury found the deaths caused by an explosion of gas unexpectedly discharged from a fall underground; the Monmouthshire jury returned accidental death and found no blame attached to any of the colliery's officials. The manager said the place was well timbered and ventilated and that he had not known falls to occur there before. The Inspector of Mines, Mr Cadman, gave the date as the 20th in his report and the 25th in its appendix of the dead.

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 Inspector of Mines gave the date as the 20th in his report and the 25th in the appendix listing the victims. (disputed) ²

Recorded claims

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

• On 25 June 1883 an explosion at New Duffryn Colliery, Rhymney, killed six and injured eight. ^1,2
• A very heavy fall extending thirty yards along the face released gas from a large natural slip, which was ignited by the naked lights in use. ²
• The Inspector of Mines gave the date as the 20th in his report and the 25th in the appendix listing the victims. (disputed) ²
• Patrick Farrell, 52, and Elias Thomas, 24, died in the explosion; E. John Griffiths, 13, John Roberts, 55, David Evans, 23, and Edward Price, 24, died later. ^1,2
• Because the colliery was near the county border two inquests were held on consecutive days, and the Monmouthshire jury found no blame attached to any official. ²
• The colliery was the property of the Rhymney Iron Company. ^1,2

Related terminology

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

• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “…and that he had not known falls to occur there before. The Inspector of Mines, Mr Cadman, gave the date as the 20th in his report and the 25th in…”
• Longwall (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…for height and the coal above that left as the roof. It was worked longwall, with trams run along the face between two rows of props, in…”
• Naked Light (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Duffryn Colliery, Rhymney, released gas that was fired at the men's naked lights on 25 June 1883; six died, the youngest a 13-year-old collier, and…”
• Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “A heavy fall of roof at the Rhymney Iron Company's New Duffryn Colliery, Rhymney,…”
• Timberman (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…in districts sixty to seventy yards wide, each in the charge of a timberman as well as the overmen and firemen. The mine had been free of…”

Sources

1. (secondary) New Duffryn colliery, Rhymney — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) New Duffryn Colliery Explosion - Rhymney - 1883 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 17 October 2026 · Last researched: 17 October 2026