Mining memorial near Swansea

[Sam from Kent]

When I was working for Hoover in South Wales I remember getting lost at a very rural area near Swansea and I saw a memorial to miners who had died (in an explosion?) in, if I remember right about 1912. Anyone know here this was and the history?

[inbye]

Can't be certain, but it's about the date of the Sengenydd explosion.

Approx 430 were killed, making it Britains worst mining disaster.

I think the cause was sparks from a faulty signalling bell. Gas ignited, followed by coal dust.

[shropshirebloke]

Dunno, depends what you mean by "near Swansea" - Senghenydd is about 35 miles from Swansea, and the second explosion was in 1913.

As Inbye said, it was Britain's worst ever mine disaster - 438 in the initial explosion, plus one of the rescuers.

I've got a copy of a book "Senghenydd - the Universal Pit Village" (the pit belonged to the Universal Colliery Company). To read the accounts of the disaster makes you realise what a complete bunch of *******s ruled (and rule) our country.

[John]

There were some good coal owners who did put their workers safety as a priority and their welfare at the top of their lists, but they were few and far between.
Ironically, most of the good employers were the "Landed Gentry".

Wasn't one of the South Wales explosions the one that resulted in Intrinsically safe low voltage circuits being mandated for signaling circuits??

[John]

Yep, I was right, Quote.... The concepts of Intrinsic Safety as applied to electrical apparatus or circuits dates back to the experiments carried out by Professors E V Wheeler and W M Thornton following a series of mine explosions in 1912 and 1913 culminating in the Senghenydd disaster in 1913, in which over 400 men lost their lives.

From the NCB book Colliery Electrician.

[shropshirebloke]

...and the inquiry said that over a hundred lives could have been saved if the ventilation could have been reversed - a legal requirement from 1st January 1913 (the disaster occurred over 9 months later).

At the eventual hearing the company and the manager were fined a total of £24 - 1s 11/4d each or less than 6p in today's money for each miner killed - they appealed against the fine....

While the pit was closed they did pay relief to dependents and surviving miners who were out of work - and stopped the cost from the wages of men at their other pits.

[Sam from Kent]

No it wasn't that one, I looked it up and that is near Caephilly. No the one I saw was in an isolated village nearer to Swansea, but I was lost at the time!!!

[shropshirebloke]

Sadly, you might be a bit spoilt for choice in that area.

[Sam from Kent]

I remember it was miles from anywhere and there was just a small plaque by the side of the road. I do remember it was hilly around there and I was high up but can't remember much else!!!!

[dazbt]

Feb 6, 2011 17:41:03 GMT -5 Sam from Kent said:

I remember it was miles from anywhere and there was just a small plaque by the side of the road. I do remember it was hilly around there and I was high up but can't remember much else!!!!

Slog your way through this list, something might jog your memory re the location;

pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/AH/Region.htm

[Sam from Kent]

Someone on the Welsh site suggested it might be the killan colliery accident near dunvant. Have googled Dunvant and it would appear to be in the area that I was working at the time, but I was lost!!!!! I kept saying to the office that some of these places they were sending me to must have been made up names as they had no vowels in them!

Thanks Dazbt for your list, but it did not appear to be in there

[Sam from Kent]

Someone on the Welsh site pointed me in the right direction.

Managed to find a photo on the INTERNET and I recognised it

local.upmystreet.com/picture-of-colliery-memorial-id-743066.html


Thanks for all your help

[John]

Feb 7, 2011 18:32:49 GMT -5 Sam from Kent said:

Someone on the Welsh site pointed me in the right direction.

Managed to find a photo on the INTERNET and I recognised it

local.upmystreet.com/picture-of-colliery-memorial-id-743066.html


Thanks for all your help

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