Albion Colliery
Encyclopedia
Albion Colliery was a coal mine in South Wales Valleys
, located in the village of Cilfynydd
, one mile north of Pontypridd
.
s three times in just ten years:
, after the later disaster at the Universal Colliery
at Senghenydd
in 1913.
At 4 o'clock on Saturday 23 June 1894, a massive explosion on the Groves level caused by the ignition of coal dust
following an explosion of firedamp
, killed 290 men and boys. Of the 125 horses underground, only 2 survived. Despite 16 men emerging from the disaster with their lives only five of these survived.
The bodies brought to the surface were initially assessed and stored in the colliery's stable
hayloft
, that acted as a temporary morgue
. Many were so badly mutilated that identification was virtually impossible, and there was several instances of corpses being carried to the wrong houses. Another source of confusion was that nobody knew the number of men below ground when the explosion occurred.
Almost everyone in the community lost someone in the disaster, with one family in Howell Street losing 11 members: father; four sons; six lodgers.
opened in Pontypridd in August 1894. The differences of opinion between the owners and that of the inspectors and professional witnesses, led the jury to concluded that the explosion of gas was accelerated by coal dust, but failed to agree on the cause.
Resultantly, the Government appointed barrister
Mr J Roskill to scrutinise the evidence. Roskill in his September 1894 report submitted to the Home Secretary
was of the opinion that the explosion was caused by the blasting of timbers which ignited an accumulation of gas, which ignited the coal dust. Roskill concluded the risk was increased by dangerous working practices, including: blasting of timbers during shifts; inadequate watering of the mine to lay dust; new Saturday shift patterns meaning there was no interval for clearing dust between shifts. Roskill recommended prosecuting the Albion Coal Company, but eventually only fines of £10 and £2 were imposed against manager Phillip Jones and chargeman William Anstes.
line
of the Taff Vale Railway
, which enabled it to reach maximum production quickly.
In 1908 2,589 worked at the colliery, with the colliery reaching a maximum output of 325,000 tons in 1934. Following the liquidation
of the Albion Co in 1928, the assets were purchase by Powell Duffryn
, before it was nationalised post World War II
to became part of the National Coal Board
in 1947. At that time there were 991 men employed, reaching an output of 231,639 tons; this reached 620,000 tons after the Penrhiwceiber Colliery had been added to the production group.
The mine closed in September 1966.
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
, located in the village of Cilfynydd
Cilfynydd
Cilfynydd is a village in South Wales a mile from the South Wales Valleys town of Pontypridd, and 13 miles north of the capital city Cardiff.- History :...
, one mile north of Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
.
Development
The Albion Steam Coal Co. began sinking in 1884 at Ynyscaedudwg Farm. Its two shafts opened in August 1887; 19 feet in diameter, they were sunk 33 yards apart to a depth of 646 yards.Accidents
Tragedy struck the colliery with mining accidentMining accident
A mining accident is an accident that occurs during the process of mining minerals.Thousands of miners die from mining accidents each year, especially in the processes of coal mining and hard rock mining...
s three times in just ten years:
- 2 men were killed on 24 March 1886, during the sinking of the shafts
- 4 killed in November 1886, as production started
1894 disaster
Albion was the scene of the second worst disaster in the South Wales CoalfieldSouth Wales Coalfield
The South Wales Coalfield is a large region of south Wales that is rich with coal deposits, especially the South Wales Valleys.-The coalfield area:...
, after the later disaster at the Universal Colliery
Universal Colliery
Universal Colliery was a coal mine located in the town of Senghenydd in the Aber Valley, roughly four miles north-west of the town of Caerphilly...
at Senghenydd
Senghenydd
Senghenydd is a town in the Aber Valley, roughly four miles north-west of the town of Caerphilly and is within the county borough of Caerphilly, Wales. It is traditionally within the county of Glamorgan...
in 1913.
At 4 o'clock on Saturday 23 June 1894, a massive explosion on the Groves level caused by the ignition of coal dust
Coal dust
Coal dust is a fine powdered form of coal, which is created by the crushing, grinding, or pulverizing of coal. Because of the brittle nature of coal, coal dust can be created during mining, transportation, or by mechanically handling coal.-Explosions:...
following an explosion of firedamp
Firedamp
Firedamp is a flammable gas found in coal mines. It is the name given to a number of flammable gases, especially methane. It is particularly commonly found in areas where the coal is bituminous...
, killed 290 men and boys. Of the 125 horses underground, only 2 survived. Despite 16 men emerging from the disaster with their lives only five of these survived.
The bodies brought to the surface were initially assessed and stored in the colliery's stable
Stable
A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals...
hayloft
Hayloft
A hayloft is a space above a barn, stable or cow-shed, traditionally used for storage of hay or other fodder for the animals below. Haylofts were used mainly before the widespread use of hay bales, which allow simpler handling of bulk hay...
, that acted as a temporary morgue
Morgue
A morgue or mortuary is used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, or removal for autopsy or disposal by burial, cremation or otherwise...
. Many were so badly mutilated that identification was virtually impossible, and there was several instances of corpses being carried to the wrong houses. Another source of confusion was that nobody knew the number of men below ground when the explosion occurred.
Almost everyone in the community lost someone in the disaster, with one family in Howell Street losing 11 members: father; four sons; six lodgers.
1894 inquest
The colliery was reopened within two weeks of the explosion, with an inquestInquest
Inquests in England and Wales are held into sudden and unexplained deaths and also into the circumstances of discovery of a certain class of valuable artefacts known as "treasure trove"...
opened in Pontypridd in August 1894. The differences of opinion between the owners and that of the inspectors and professional witnesses, led the jury to concluded that the explosion of gas was accelerated by coal dust, but failed to agree on the cause.
Resultantly, the Government appointed barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
Mr J Roskill to scrutinise the evidence. Roskill in his September 1894 report submitted to the Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
was of the opinion that the explosion was caused by the blasting of timbers which ignited an accumulation of gas, which ignited the coal dust. Roskill concluded the risk was increased by dangerous working practices, including: blasting of timbers during shifts; inadequate watering of the mine to lay dust; new Saturday shift patterns meaning there was no interval for clearing dust between shifts. Roskill recommended prosecuting the Albion Coal Company, but eventually only fines of £10 and £2 were imposed against manager Phillip Jones and chargeman William Anstes.
Production
Albion was served throughout its entire life by the Llancaiach BranchLlancaiach Branch
The Llancaiach Branch was a railway branch line in South Wales. Financed and operated by the Taff Vale Railway, on amalgamation became part of the Great Western Railway in 1923...
line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
of the Taff Vale Railway
Taff Vale Railway
The Taff Vale Railway is a railway in Glamorgan, South Wales, and is one of the oldest in Wales. It operated as an independent company from 1836 until 1922, when it became a constituent company of the Great Western Railway...
, which enabled it to reach maximum production quickly.
In 1908 2,589 worked at the colliery, with the colliery reaching a maximum output of 325,000 tons in 1934. Following the liquidation
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
of the Albion Co in 1928, the assets were purchase by Powell Duffryn
Powell Duffryn
PD Ports is a Middlesbrough-headquartered British ports operator.Formerly known as Powell Duffryn, it dug its first coal mine in South Wales in 1840, and later expanded into various sorts of manufacturing...
, before it was nationalised post World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to became part of the National Coal Board
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
in 1947. At that time there were 991 men employed, reaching an output of 231,639 tons; this reached 620,000 tons after the Penrhiwceiber Colliery had been added to the production group.
The mine closed in September 1966.