 |
|
Llanerch Colliery, February 6th, 1890.
During 1858 the Ebbw Vale Co. reopened the old Cwmnantddu
colliery to the steam coal measures. This old colliery is shown
on the Map of ironworks and collieries in Monmouthshire, by John
Prujean, 1843.
The name was changed when it was leased to Partridge Jones &
Co. Ltd. in 1887. Each of the two shafts were 253 yards deep and
the original headgear, which was 45ft high, was made of pitch
pine.
The ventilation was by furnace until 1888 when a steam driven fan was installed.
On the 25th of May 1869 an explosion of gas killed 7 men in
the Meadow vein seam at the Middle sinking pit.
They were-
William Cook, a bottom cutter.
Alfred Davies, collier, aged 30
John Jones, collier, 53
David Rees, collier, 30
Evan Rees, collier's helper, 15
Hananiah Williams, collier, 31
Thomas Williams, bottom cutter, 27
It was leased to Partridge, Jones & Co. Ltd. in 1887 who worked it until 1947.
Another explosion on October 19th 1889 occurred at the Llanerch although there were no fatalities two men were badly burned. This prompted the inspector of mines to advise the mine owners to introduce closed safety lamps. A letter dated December 5th 1889 and signed by Edward Jones the managing director of the mine stated, "At present we think the colliery is thoroughly well ventilated and safe to work with naked lights".
Just two months later on February the 6th. 1890, 176 men and boys were killed in a massive gas explosion.
The above sketch depicts the scene after this explosion.
Llanerch reopened just 13 days later on 19th of February 1890.
Llanerch provided downcast ventilation for the nearby Blaenserchan colliery, until this colliery developed it's own downcast shaft in 1913.
In 1908 the Llanerch, Havod Van and Blaenserchan Pits employed a total of 1,963 men.
By 1918 the workforce at these two collieries was 2,060.
The Llanerch employed 913 men in 1923, producing from the Elled, Big Vein, Three Quarters, Old Coal and Black Vein seams.
There were 325 employed at the Llanerch in 1938.
It was closed down shortly after Nationalisation in 1947.
* See "Proud Sarah" in the poems page.
|
The above photograph was taken at the Llanerch pithead and it shows the survivors of the explosion.
My Grandfather and two of his brothers are probably on this photograph, they survived the explosion, but their father Alfred Parfitt aged 41 and another brother George aged 12 were both killed.
Llanerch Explosion 1869 Death Roll
Llanerch
Explosion 1890 Death Roll