Pencoed Colliery dynamite explosion, 1888

Two men were killed by an explosion of dynamite at Pencoed Colliery, near Llanelli, on 17 December 1888; the accounts differ on whether it was being thawed at a fire or used to blow up an old engine house.

Cause

An explosion of dynamite: by one account while it was being thawed at a fire, by another while an old engine house was being blown up.

What happened

On 17 December 1888 two men at Nevill, Druce and Company's Pencoed Colliery, James Griffith and Llewellyn Griffith, aged 17, were killed by an explosion of dynamite. One account says the dynamite went off while it was being thawed at a fire in the carpenter's shop. Another says it exploded while they were blowing up the old engine house to make way for a new one.

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 dynamite exploded while it was being thawed at a fire in the carpenter's shop. (disputed) ²
• The dynamite exploded when the men were blowing up the old engine house in order to build another. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• On 17 December 1888 James Griffith and Llewellyn Griffith were killed by an explosion of dynamite at Pencoed Colliery. ^1,2
• The dynamite exploded while it was being thawed at a fire in the carpenter's shop. (disputed) ²
• The dynamite exploded when the men were blowing up the old engine house in order to build another. (disputed) ¹
• The colliery was owned by Nevill, Druce and Company. ^3,2

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two men were killed by an explosion of dynamite at Pencoed Colliery, near Llanelli, on 17 December 1888; the accounts differ on whether…”
• Engine House (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…on whether it was being thawed at a fire or used to blow up an old engine house.”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1888 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Pencoed dynamite explosion, 17 December 1888 — Durham Mining Museum
3. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Pencoed Colliery — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 16 October 2026 · Last researched: 17 October 2026