A Welsh Coal Mines web page

Death Roll

Albion Colliery 25th of June 1894

Addis, Alexander
27
Davies Street, Coedpenmain
Allaroad, Herbert
22
3 Councillor's Row
Allen, James
36
18 Merthyr Road, Norton Bridge
Ashton, John
28
44 Howell Street Cilfynydd
Ashton, Morris
33
44 Howell Street Brother
Bal,l Henry John
23
2 Upper East Street
Barr, William
29
5 Lewis Street
Barrett, Patrick
50
24 Catherine Street, Aberdare Junction
Bates, Samuel
17
19 Lewis Street
Bennett, Edward
53
27 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Berridge, Walter
21
6 Cilfynydd Road
Bevan John
31
6 William Street, Cilfynydd
Biddle John
17
88 Merthyr Road
Bluck Richard
28
5 Lewis Street
Bowden, Edwin
14
Bassett Terrace, Norton Bridge
Bowden, Richard
18
Bassett Terrace, Brother
Bowill, Reuben
23
2 Park Street, Treforest
Boyce, George
17
1 Rocking Stone Place, Pontypridd
Brain, Samuel
31
23 Upper Middle Street
Brown, William
17
30 Maritime Street, Pontypridd
Bryant, John
24
Coedpenmain
Burford George
20
66 Taff View, Coedpenmain
Burns, James
18
87 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Byrne, Patsey
20
28 Albion Terrace
Cann, John
28
72 William Street, Cilfynydd
Canning, John
39
50 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Carp, Frederick
25
Norton Bridge
Chamberlain, W.
21
10 Bodwenarth Terrace, Cilfynydd
Clarke, Enoch
16
22 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Coles, John
23
3 Ann Street, Cilfynydd
Colwill, James
21
3 Ann Street, Brother
Comley, Isaac
25
36 Merthyr Road, Pontypridd
Connell, Charles
20
Albion Terrace, Cilfynydd
Cox, John
33
20 Police Row, Norton Bridge
Cox, Sydney
22
38 Danygraig Street, Pontypridd
Crocombe, Edward
50
22 Police Row
Cronin, James
28
10 Thomas Street, Cilfynydd
Cullen, James
-
28 High Street, Pontypridd
Daley Timothy
27
10 Bodwenarth Terrace
Daniels, Edmund
16
33 William Street, Cilfynydd
Davies, Albert
17
36 Norton Bridge
Davies, Daniel
21
Richard Street, Cilfynydd
Davies, David
15
35 Ann Street, Cilfynydd Son
Davies, David
37
35 Ann Street, Cilfynydd Father
Davies, Price David
32
9 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Davies, Elias
36
6 Brynderwen Terrace, Cilfynydd
Davies, Evan
17
3 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Davies, John E.
26
29 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Davies, Richard
20
Waun Coch
Diamond, John
18
Graig-Y-Helva
Dobbs, William
39
87 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Downs, Stephen
22
90 Cilfynydd Road
Edwards, Evan
19
Couch's Houses, Coedpenmain
Edwards, Nathaniel
19
25 Police Row, Norton Bridge
Edwards, William D.
19
6 Cwm Houses Cilfynydd
Emmott, Fred.
19
33 Union Street
Evans, Evan Pearce
33
18 Lewis Street
Evans, George
30
16 Police Row
Evans, Henry
30
-
Evans, John
25
-
Evans, John
-
27 Cilfynydd Road
Evans, John
26
Howell Street
Evans, Levi
45
16 Police Row
Evans, Richard
28
16 Howell Street
Evans, Samuel
26
Ann Street, Cilfynydd
Evans, Stephen
28
16 Police Row
Evans, Thomas
38
3 Howell Terrace
Evans, Thomas
19
48 Howell Street
Evans, William
29
Tonwyn Villas
Evans, William
46
9 William Street, Cilfynydd
Eynon, Benjamin J.
58
6 Cilfynydd Road
Facey, Eli
36
2 Park Street, Treforestreet
Farrow, William
34
Cwm Eldeg Cottages, Cilfynydd
Fletcher, Phillip
19
Ty Isha Farm
Freeman, George
23
52 Danygraig Street, Coedpenmain
Frost, William Henry
21
37 Ann Street, Cilfynydd
Furlong, Patrick
19
Mildran Place, Cilfynydd
Gilfoyle, Emmanuel
24
10 Bodwenarth Terrace, Cilfynydd
Gittings, Thomas
26
52 William Street, Cilfynydd
Godwin, Edwin
43
18 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Gould, John
24
4 Davies Street
Gregory, John
26
12 Middle Street
Grey, Joseph
25
15 Bassett Terrace
Griffiths, David
17
12 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Griffiths, John
47
Cilfynydd
Griffiths, Richard
26
99 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Griffiths, William
24
39 Howell Street
Gronow, Cornelius
36
Coedpenmain
Gronow, Evan
24
2 Brynteg Terrace
Gronow, Richard
21
Pleasant View
Gronow, William
33
7 Cilfynydd Road
Guard, Phillip John
18
33 Cilfynydd Road
Gulliford, Charles
17
25 Danygraig Street, Pontypridd
Hardidge, John
25
21 William Street, Cilfynydd
Harding William J.
16
46 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Harris, John
34
35 Ann Street, Cilfynydd
Harvey, William
25
18 Danygraig Street, Pontypridd
Haynes, William
16
Tram Road
Hazel, Sidney
32
2 Bryngwyn Villas, Cilfynydd
Hearne, John
18
39 Ann Street, Cilfynydd
Herbert, Richard
48
41 Howell Street, Cilfynydd
Hooper, Henry C.
23
Treforest
Hopkins, William
21
23 Howell Street
Howe, Henry
43
44 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Howells, Lewis
-
-
Hughes, Charles
16
16 Middle Street, Trallwn
Hughes, David Dan.
19
48 Albion Terrace, Cilfynydd
Hughes, Joseph
29
56 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Hughes, Owen
20
84 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Hughes, Thomas
48
24 Howell Street
Hughes, William
-
34 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Humphreys, John
30
30 East Street
Hunt James
49
13 Upper Middle Street Father
Hunt, George
17
13 Upper Middle Street Son
Hurrell Cornelius J.
22
22 Norton Bridge Road
Hurrell, William
38
37 Middle Street
James, David Owen
25
83 Cilfynydd Road
James, Henry
37
17 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
James, John
30
15 William Street, Cilfynydd
JamesRichard
20
75 Cilfynydd Street
Jenkins, John Enos
35
24 Lewis Street
Jenkins, Rees
33
Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Jenkins, Roderick
38
1 Richmond Street, Cilfynydd
Jenkins, Thomas
42
Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Jenkins, Thomas
34
48 Ann Street, Cilfynydd
Jennings, Arthur
21
21 Police Row, Norton Bridge
Jones, Charles
26
25 Police Row, Norton Bridge
Jones, Charles A.
19
57 Cilfynydd Road
Jones, Daniel
25
15 Bodwenarth Terrace
Jones, David
42
-
Jones, Edward
60
16 East Street, Pontypridd
Jones, Ellis
40
14 Jones Street, Cilfynydd
Jones, Evan
37
78 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Jones, Hugh
22
11 Evans Row, Norton Bridge
Jones, Humphrey
39
8 Bassett Terrace, Norton Bridge
Jones, James
27
Cilfynydd Road
Jones, John
37
14 Jones Street
Jones, John
17
2 Brynderwen Villas
Jones, Lewis
24
34 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Jones, Richard
23
75 Cilfynydd Street
Jones, Robert
25
Cwm Houses
Jones, Robert
40
9 Ann Street, Cilfynydd
Jones, Roland
29
4 Cwm Houses, Cilfynydd
Jones, Thomas
-
7 Cwm Houses Cilfynydd
Jones, Thomas
32
21 Howell Street
Jones, Timothy
26
48 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Jones, William
30
13 James Street, Cilfynydd
Jones, William
26
52 Richard Street
Jones, William
18
3 Common Road
Jones, William
31
50 Cilfynydd Road
Jones, William T.
-
21 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Joyce, Frank
-
24 Danygraig Terrace
Kahoa, Patrick
20
3 Cwm Cottages, Cilfynydd
King, David
20
10 Middle Street
King, John
36
8 William Street, Cilfynydd
Knight, George
30
-
Knott, William
53
Chainworks Row, Pontypridd
Lennon, George
33
68 Taff View, Coedpenmain
Lennon, Morris
24
15 Catherine Street
Leonard, Fred.
35
8 Middle Street, Pontypridd
Lewis, Henry
34
Towyn Villas, Cilfynydd
Lewis, John
-
-
Lewis, William H.
26
4 Taff View, Coedpenmain
Llewellyn, David
39
44 Howell Street
Lloyd, John 47
-
Bodwenarth Terrace
Lloyd, Morgan
-
-
Lowe, Thomas
-
-
Lumley, John
-
-
Manders, George
32
Cilfynydd Road
McDonnell, Patrick
21
Evan's Houses, Norton Bridge
McGrath, John
23
Graig, Pontypridd
Mears, John
40
Lockingstone, Pontypridd
Morgan, David
-
William Street, Cilfynydd
Morgan, Henry
18
28 Cilfynydd Road
Morgan, John
38
30 Upper East Street
Morgan, Thomas
18
88 Cilfynydd Road
Morgan, William
24
49 William Street, Cilfynydd
Morris, David
40
15 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Morris, David
26
54 Carnestown
Morris, Evan
30
5 Evans Street,
Morris, William
22
16 Richard Street, Cilfynydd
Murphy, Thomas
24
-
Oliver, William
55
4 Ann Street, Cilfynydd
Osborne, Walter
-
-
Owen, David
22
28 Maritime Street, Pontypridd
Owen, Richard
20
6 Evans Houses, Norton Bridge
O'Leary, Thomas
17
6 Thorn Row, Aberdare Junction
Packnell, James
34
22 William Street, Cilfynydd
Parfitt, John
45
41 Tram Road, Treforest
Parkman, John
26
80 Coedpenmain Road
Parry, Jason
23
50 Howell Street
Parry, Robert
40
Merthyr Road, Pontypridd
Parry, William
20
40 Merthyr Road, Pontypridd
Pearce, John
40
Graig Berth Llwyd
Pincombe, John
24
68 Taff View, Coedpenmain
Powell, Edwin
-
-
Powell, James
60
63 William Street, Cilfynydd
Powell, Thomas
35
51 Catherine Street, Aberdare Junction
Powell, Thomas
-
-
Price, Walter
21
81 Coedpenmain Road
Price,William
29
29 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Prout, Thomas
35
7 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Provis, George
23
15 Norton Terrace
Pugh, David
27
29 Police Row, Norton Bridge
Pugh, Hugh
-
Norton Bridge
Pugh Hugh
32
47 Cilfynydd Road
Pugsley, George
20
Couch's Houses, Coedpenmain
Pugsley, John
25
Couch's Houses, Brother
Pulsford, William H.
27
44 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Quartley, John
-
Jones' Houses, Coedpenmain Road
Reele, Walter
-
65 Taff View, Coedpenmain
Rees, Edward
18
6 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Rees, John
38
19 Coedpenmain Road
Rees, John
38
32 Catherine Street
Rees, Jonathan
29
10 William Street, Cilfynydd
Rees,Thomas
33
52 Mary Street, Cilfynydd,
Reeves, Richard
23
1 Albion Terrace
Richards, William
19
54 Cilfynydd Road
Roberts, Adam
42
16 Taylor's Terrace, Coedpenmain
Roberts, Hugh
37
44 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Roberts, Richard
18
7 William Street, Cilfynydd
Roberts, Richard
32
44 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Roberts, Robert
40
50 Cilfynydd Road
Roberts, William
39
Nr. Post Office, Norton Bridge
Robinson, Thomas
40
11 Middle Street
Rogers, William
20
35 Powell's Houses, Norton Bridge
Rough, Gilbert
16
15 Thura Terrace, Navigation
Rowe, James
-
88 Coedpenmain Road, Pontypridd
Rowe, James
25
88 Coedpenmain Road Son
Sanders, Fred.
21
4 Evan's Houses
Saunders,Charles
43
53 Anne Street
Scott, John
13
4 Brynderwen Terrace
Searle, Walter
20
30 East Street, Pontypridd
Shaddock, John
23
43 Coedpenmain Road
Sheppard, Joseph
24
30 East Street
Skyrme, Benjamin
23
4 Jones Street, Cilfynydd
Smith, Peter
19
47 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Smith, Robert
23
19 Wern Crescent, Nelson
Smith, Thomas
31
8 Ann Street, Cilfynydd
Spencer, Charles
25
39 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Stevens, James
40
22 Police Row, Norton Bridge,
Stubbs, Benjamin
14
61 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Sullivan, Timothy
47
30 William Street, Cilfynydd
Taylor, Samuel
30
10 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Thomas, Albert E.
26
27 Cilfynydd Road
Thomas, Edward J.
16
81 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Thomas, John
29
8 Bodwenarth Terrace
Thomas, Joseph
17
46 Howell Street
Thomas, Owen
18
81 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Thomas, Richard
47
74 Coedpenmain Road
Thomas, Richard
20
8 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Thomas, William
28
37 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Thomas, William
30
Catherine Street, Navigation
Tickle, James
23
49 Davies Street, Coedpenmain
Tombs, Arthur
30
13 Wood Street, Cilfynydd
Toozer, James
37
16 Alpha Place, Coedpenmain,
Topp, Frank
23
19 Foundry Place, Coedpenmain
Tucker, Benjamin
20
17 East Street
Vile, Sam. Burgess
31
90 Cilfynydd Road
Ware, William
35
4 Evan's Houses
Watkins, David
-
-
Watkins, David
-
Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Watkins, George
18
25 Police Row, Norton Bridge
Webb, John
38
19 Richard Street, Cilfynydd
Webb, Walter
-
Coedpenmain Road
Weeks, Fred
22
18 Bassett Terrace
White, Thomas
-
-
Willett, Arthur G.
27
-
Williams, Edward
39
16 Upper East Street Pontypridd
Williams, Edwin
-
-
Williams, George
35
54 Coedpenmain Road
Williams, Isaacher
49
44 Cilfynydd Road
Williams, Richard
-
-
Williams, Thomas
50
61 William Street, Cilfynydd
Williams, Walter
-
2 Cwm Houses, Cilfynydd
Williams, William
23
7 William Street, Cilfynydd
Williams, William
30
78 Mary Street, Cilfynydd
Winter, George
31
6 Bassett Terrace
Winters, Thomas
-
-

The inquiry into the Disaster at Albion Colliery, Cilfynydd, near Pontypridd on the 23rd. June 1894, was conducted by J. Roskill, Esq., Barrister-at-Law and by J.T. Robson, Esq., Henry Hall Esq., and Joseph S. Martin, Esq., Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Mines and presented to the Right Honourable H.H. Asquith, Q.C., M.P., the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
One of the survivors, George Bamford said he was working with others at the double parting on Mordecai’s level in No.5 district when the explosion occurred and he gave his description to the inquiry. He said- “I heard a sound like thunder, the biggest I have ever heard. I heard two sounds without scarcely an interval. Each just the same noise. I thought it was an explosion and I stood where I was. I heard a door between us and the engine parting open and shut with a bang. The level directly after was filled with dust and our lamps went out.
There were four of us together and two inside. I think I saw a shade of flame in the dust a bluish colour. It was coming above us along the roof. I was standing up, The place was 7 feet high. We started off to walk down the Pantddu dip. We met afterdamp in the parting near the dip. The flame and dust passed over us and we came out. In the Pantddu dip the afterdamp was very strong and I recollect no more until I came to myself when Dr. Little and Henry Watkins were with me at the air bridge. I heard some one say at home that it was about 8 o’clock when I got out. I was not singed by the flame except a little on my eye lashes.”
After an exhaustive enquiry which lasted nine days before Coroners R.B. Reece of Cardiff and R.J. Rhys of Aberdare when all interested parties were represeted and evidence heard, a jury of 17 men returned the verdict that-
“The jury find that the deceased had lost their lives through an explosion of gas at the Albion Colliery on the 23rd. June 1894 which explosion was accelerated and extended by coal dust but the jury disagree as to the exact place at which the explosion had it’s origin, and we are unanimously of the opinion that shotfiring as practised in the colliery when men are at work, without sufficient precautions as to their safety and contrary to rules we are also of the opinion that the under-manager neglected his duty in not seeing that his subordinates in the night shift performed their duties in accordance with rules that the firemen were negligent in reporting gas when found, and that there is not a proper system of watering in the mine. The jury beg to make the following recommendations-
1. That shot firing in timber shall be absolutely prohibited.
2. That old workings shall be properly stowed or gobbed.
3. That a record of men in the mine shall be kept at all hours.
4. That thorough inspections shall be more frequently made by Her Majesty’s Inspectors, because we consider the present examinations by the workmen’s representatives worthless.”
he Inspectors commented on the verdict of the jury-
“It will be seen that the jury did not connect the explosion with shot-firing though their first and strongest recommendation had reference to blasting. Possibly the evidence of the mining engineers, bring in direct opposition to that rendered by ourselves and
Messrs. Gray and Sims gave rise to the uncertainty in their minds to this matter.
For the same reason. probably, they were unable to agree to the place where the explosion started.
In other respects the verdict is entirely in accord with our views.
We think the omission by the owners’ representative to arrange blasting, when he sanction the alteration of the hours on Saturdays, a most serious oversight.
With reference to the recommendations of the jury we desire to make the following observations-
1. As to shot-firing in timbers, we concur in their recommendation that tis should be absolutely prohibited. It is unnecessary to remove timbers by blasting as they can be removed in other ways, and, indeed, having recourse to explosives for this purpose is
most unusual and contrary to good mining. Until this explosion happened we had never heard that such a thing was attempted.
2. That all old workings should be properly stowed and gobbed. This is desirable for safety in longwall workings, but so long as old workings are adequately ventilated in a mine it is not necessarily by reason of old workings left open in a colliery. We are of
the opinion that the proportion of old workings left open in the colliery were not excessive moreover, that such as did exist had no influence in extending the explosion and thus increasing the loss of life.
3. That a record of the number of men in the mine shall be kept at all times. This is also a reasonable recommendation. In safety lamp collieries it can be readily carried out provided each person on taking his lamp from the lamp room on the surface
leaves in it’s place a token or tally with a number corresponding to that of his safety lamp.
4. We do not agree wit the jury that workmen’s inspections are useless on the contrary we think that, when properly carried out, as they generally are in South Wales and Monmouthshire, they cannot fail to do good.”

Death Roll

Albion Colliery 10th of November 1906

Hill, Henry
53
Overman
Hughes , Richard
39
Timberman
Jones, John
36
Ripper
Lloyd, Abraham
21
Asst. Timberman
Prosser, Thomas
41
Master Haulier
Strong, Francis
40
Asst. Timberman