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Scott's Pit, Llansamlet
Originally started by Captain John Scott in the 1770's, it was abandoned because of water inundation and left idle for a number of years before being restarted with the help of a Cornish beam pump.
During sinking there is some evidence, which suggests a locomotive steam engine designed by George Stephenson was used for pumping purposes. This was later replaced by a steam-winding engine also designed by Stephenson.
In 1818 John Scott sold the colliery to his friend Charles Henry Smith, who started production in 1819.
It is also thought Robert Mills introduced the Davey safety lamp at this colliery in 1827, the first in South Wales.
It closed around 1840.
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Scott's Pit, Cornish Pumping House, 1970's and again after consolidation.
Charles Henry Smith also owned the nearby Llansamlet colliery or "Charles pit", which was opened by his uncle, Henry Smith.
Sinking began in 1821 and the Swansea five feet seam was reached at 136 yards in 1826.
In due course the shaft was deepened to the Swansea three feet seam at 316 yards. This was one of the most productive collieries in the area for the period, with an annual output of nearly 70,000 tons in the mid 1830's.
Because it was not a gaseous pit it was thought safe practice to work with naked lights. But by 1870 its was encroaching on the workings of an old abandoned colliery. It is thought gas seeped from these old workings causing an explosion, which occurred at 5.00 a.m. on Saturday July the 23rd, 1870 killing 19 men and boys.
Evan Matthew Richards bought the colliery in 1872, but by 1874 production has ceased and it was finally abandoned in 1876.
List of the dead 1870.
Biddicombe, David 17, Married Evans, Daniel 30, Married Evans, D 17, Fowley, John 14 Leyshon, John 14 (son) Leyshon, William 44 (father)Married Llewellyn, John 14 Phillips, Thomas 21 Rees, Edward 16 Rees, Evan 23 Married Rees, William 14 Thomas, David 16 Thomas, William 26 Married Williams, John 22 Williams, Thomas 27 Married Williams, Thomas 18 (son) Williams, Thomas 48 (father)Married Williams, William 26 One other unnamed died later of his injuries.