MineArchiveWynnstay Colliery Explosion (1868)
An explosion following the replacement of a ventilation door with a brick stopping killed ten men -- the second of three fatal explosions to strike this colliery within a decade.
| Date | 30 September 1868 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Wynnstay Colliery |
| Region | Wrexham |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 10 (Ten men died: Thomas Ward (13), Henry Davies (35), Moses Andrew (19), David Roberts (20), John Lloyd (27), James Davies (33), Hugh Edwards (23), Edward Edwards (40), Meshach Jones (29) and John Brown (15).) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A ventilation door was removed and replaced with a brick stopping; the affected workings were suspected to have already been fouled with gas while the door was absent, and restoring ventilation carried the accumulated gas to an ignition source whose exact nature was never established.
What happened
On 30 September 1868, an explosion at Wynnstay Colliery, Ruabon, killed ten men following the removal of a ventilation door and its replacement with a brick stopping. Inspector Peter Higson suspected the affected workings had already been fouled with gas while the door was absent, and that restoring ventilation then carried the accumulated gas to an ignition source; suspicions included sparks from the furnace or workers using naked lights, but the exact source was never conclusively established. This was the second of three fatal explosions to strike Wynnstay within a single decade -- see also the already-published 1863 and 1873 explosions at the same colliery.
Investigation & inquiry
Inspector Peter Higson investigated the cause but could not conclusively establish the ignition source.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 30 September 1868, an explosion following the replacement of a ventilation door with a brick stopping killed ten men; Inspector Peter Higson suspected the workings had already been fouled with gas while the door was absent. 1
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: “…ten men -- the second of three fatal explosions to strike this colliery within a decade.” - Naked Light (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…source; suspicions included sparks from the furnace or workers using naked lights, but the exact source was never conclusively established. This was…”
Sources
- (secondary) Wynstay Colliery Explosion - Ruabon - 1868 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Wynstay disasters (death roll) — Welsh Coal Mines
Record created: 31 August 2026 · Last researched: 31 August 2026