Pencoed Colliery explosion, 1854

Firedamp being brushed out of the workings at Pencoed Colliery, near Llanelli, exploded on 11 July 1854 and killed a collier and his two sons; the inspector put it down to neglect of his cautions.

Cause

Firedamp ignited while it was being brushed out, with naked lights and in neglect of the inspector's cautions.

What happened

In July 1854 Charles Evans, a 50-year-old collier, and his sons William, 26, and John, 12, were killed at Pencoed Colliery, then worked by Sims, Willyams, Nevill and Company, by an explosion of firedamp during 'brushing out' of gas. The inspector attributed it to neglect of the cautions he had given, and one list notes that the colliery had no locked lamps. The accident is dated 11 July by two accounts and 10 July by another, and one list places it at the neighbouring Llandafen colliery of the same owners.

Investigation & inquiry

The Mines Inspector attributed the explosion to neglect of his cautions; no locked safety lamps were in use.

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 is placed at Llandafen colliery, of the same owners. (disputed) ¹
• The explosion is dated 10 July 1854. (disputed) ³

Recorded claims

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

• On 11 July 1854 an explosion of firedamp at Pencoed Colliery killed three men: Charles, William and John Evans. ^1,2
• The three killed were a father and his two sons. ³
• The explosion happened during brushing out and resulted from neglect of the Inspector's cautions; no locked lamps were used. ^1,2
• The explosion is placed at Llandafen colliery, of the same owners. (disputed) ¹
• The explosion is dated 10 July 1854. (disputed) ³

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “Firedamp being brushed out of the workings at Pencoed Colliery, near Llanelli, exploded on 11 July 1854 and killed a collier and…”
• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Firedamp being brushed out of the workings at Pencoed Colliery, near…”
• Naked Light (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “Firedamp ignited while it was being brushed out, with naked lights and in neglect of the inspector's cautions.”
• Ripping (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…Willyams, Nevill and Company, by an explosion of firedamp during 'brushing out' of gas. The inspector attributed it to neglect of the cautions…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Ian Winstanley, Alphabetical List of Mining Victims in Great Britain 1850-1859, E — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's lists)
2. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Pencoed explosion, 11 July 1854 — Durham Mining Museum
3. (secondary) Welsh colliery fatalities, 1854 — Welsh Coal Mines website
4. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Pencoed Colliery — Durham Mining Museum

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