MineArchivePentre Colliery Explosion, 1871
An explosion on the night shift at Pentre Colliery in the Rhondda on 24 February 1871 killed thirty-eight men and boys. The blast wrecked one side of the headgear, and a rescue party of five was overcome by afterdamp the moment its cage reached the pit bottom; two of the five died and are counted among the dead.
| Date | 24 February 1871 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Pentre Colliery |
| Region | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Primary type | Explosion |
| Associated types | Rescue |
| Fatalities | 38 (Thirty-eight men and boys, two of them members of the rescue party. Some accounts give 41; the source that lists the names gives 38 and considers that figure correct.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An explosion in the workings during the night shift; no cause is given.
What happened
It happened at about half past nine at night, on the night shift. The force of the blast did extensive damage to the headgear, leaving only one side of the pit able to operate — which mattered immediately, because it halved the means of getting anyone in or out.
A rescue party of five men went down. As soon as the cage reached the pit bottom they were overcome by the afterdamp. Two of the five died there, and are counted among the thirty-eight.
Rescue & recovery
The rescue was crippled from the start: one side of the headgear was out of action and the first party down lost two of its five men to afterdamp at the shaft bottom.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- Thirty-eight men and boys were killed. The source notes that some accounts claimed 41, but that 38 appears to be correct, and lists 38 names. (uncertain) 1,2
- The force of the blast caused extensive damage to the headgear, allowing only one side of the pit to operate. (uncertain) 2
- A rescue party of five men descended the shaft, but as soon as the cage reached the pit bottom they were overcome by the effects of afterdamp. Two of them succumbed and are numbered among the dead. (uncertain) 2
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Thirty-eight men and boys were killed. The source notes that some accounts claimed 41, but that 38 appears to be correct, and lists 38 names. (uncertain) 1,2
- The force of the blast caused extensive damage to the headgear, allowing only one side of the pit to operate. (uncertain) 2
- A rescue party of five men descended the shaft, but as soon as the cage reached the pit bottom they were overcome by the effects of afterdamp. Two of them succumbed and are numbered among the dead. (uncertain) 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Afterdamp (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…one side of the headgear, and a rescue party of five was overcome by afterdamp the moment its cage reached the pit bottom; two of the five died and…” - Cage (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…and a rescue party of five was overcome by afterdamp the moment its cage reached the pit bottom; two of the five died and are counted among…” - Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “An explosion on the night shift at Pentre Colliery in the Rhondda on 24 February 1871 killed thirty-eight men and boys.…” - Headgear (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…killed thirty-eight men and boys. The blast wrecked one side of the headgear, and a rescue party of five was overcome by afterdamp the moment its…” - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s rescue and recovery: “…the first party down lost two of its five men to afterdamp at the shaft bottom.”
Sources
- (secondary) Welsh mining disasters: list of accidents with five or more fatalities — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Pentre Colliery, Rhondda — Welsh Coal Mines
Record created: 3 September 2026 · Last researched: 3 September 2026