MineArchiveSeven Sisters Colliery Explosion, 1907
| Date | 10 November 1907 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Seven Sisters Colliery |
| Region | Neath Port Talbot |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 5 (Five men, ranging from a collier of seventeen to a shotman of fifty-five.) |
| Context | During active mining |
An underground explosion at Seven Sisters Colliery on 10 November 1907 killed five men. It was attributed to a defective safety lamp, and the manager afterwards prosecuted both the fireman who had an unlocked lamp underground and the surface lampman who had let a defective one be given out. Both were convicted.
Cause
A defective safety lamp, in an anthracite district prone to sudden outbursts of gas.
What happened
The explosion came underground on 10 November 1907 and killed five men: Owen Gethin, a shotman of fifty-five; Morgan Hugh Jones, thirty-three, and Evan Harris, thirty-nine, both overmen; Phillip Williams, a collier of seventeen; and Edward Jones, a haulier of forty-five. That two of the five were overmen suggests the blast caught the men responsible for the district as well as those working in it. The cause was put down to a defective safety lamp. Anthracite fields of this kind are prone to blow-outs — sudden outbursts of gas from the coal — and a lamp that would not contain a flame in such conditions was the difference between a scare and five deaths.
Legal & regulatory aftermath
The manager prosecuted the fireman for having an unlocked lamp in the mine, and the surface lampman for permitting a defective lamp to be given out. Convictions were obtained in both cases.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Five men were killed: Owen Gethin, 55, a shotman; Morgan Hugh Jones, 33, and Evan Harris, 39, both overmen; Phillip Williams, 17, a collier; and Edward Jones, 45, a haulier. (high) 1
- The explosion was caused by a defective safety lamp. (medium) 1
- The manager prosecuted the fireman for having an unlocked lamp in the mine and the surface lampman for permitting a defective lamp to be given out. Convictions were obtained in both cases. (high) 1
- The Wikipedia account describes the incident as a blow-out, the sudden outburst of gas to which anthracite coalfields are prone. (medium) 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Coal (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…this kind are prone to blow-outs — sudden outbursts of gas from the coal — and a lamp that would not contain a flame in such conditions was…” - Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “An underground explosion at Seven Sisters Colliery on 10 November 1907 killed five men. It was attributed to a…” - Fireman (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…safety lamp, and the manager afterwards prosecuted both the fireman who had an unlocked lamp underground and the surface lampman who had…” - Safety Lamp (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…10 November 1907 killed five men. It was attributed to a defective safety lamp, and the manager afterwards prosecuted both the fireman who had an…”
Sources
- (secondary) Seven Sisters Colliery, Dulais Valley — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Seven Sisters, Neath Port Talbot — Wikipedia
Record created: 3 September 2026 · Last researched: 3 September 2026