MineArchivePark Slip Colliery explosion, 1884
An explosion of gas at Park Slip Colliery, Tondu, on 2 April 1884 killed two men, one of them the manager's son, and injured seventeen.
| Date | 2 April 1884 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Park Slip Colliery |
| Region | Bridgend |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two, with seventeen injured (NMRS) or one badly burned (Welsh Coal Mines).) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An explosion of firedamp.
What happened
On Wednesday 2 April 1884 gas exploded in the slants of Park Slip Colliery near Tondu. Two men were killed, Jones (David by NMRS's account, Thomas, 48, by Welsh Coal Mines') and William Howells or Howell, 31; one of them was the manager's son. Seventeen others were hurt.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- An explosion at Park Slip Colliery on Wednesday 2 April 1884 killed two men. 1,2
- One of the two killed was the son of the manager; seventeen others were injured. 1
- Welsh Coal Mines names the dead as Thomas Jones, 48, and William Howells, 31, with one man badly burned. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “An explosion of gas at Park Slip Colliery, Tondu, on 2 April 1884 killed two men, one of them the manager's…” - Firedamp (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “An explosion of firedamp.” - Slant (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “On Wednesday 2 April 1884 gas exploded in the slants of Park Slip Colliery near Tondu. Two men were killed, Jones (David…”
Sources
- (secondary) Park Slip Colliery - Tondu - Bridgend — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines fatalities, 1884 — Welsh Coal Mines
Record created: 7 October 2026 · Last researched: 7 October 2026