Albion Colliery
Albion Colliery was a coal mine in South Wales Valleys, located in the village of Cilfynydd, one mile north of Pontypridd.
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[edit] Development
The Albion Steam Coal Co. began sinking in 1884 at Ynyscaedudwg Farm. Its two shafts opened in August 1887;[1] 19 feet in diameter, they were sunk 33 yards apart to a depth of 646 yards.[2]
[edit] Accidents
Tragedy struck the colliery with mining accidents 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
[edit] 1894 disaster
Albion was the scene of the second worst disaster in the South Wales Coalfield, 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.[2] Despite 16 men emerging from the disaster with their lives only five of these survived.[1]
The bodies brought to the surface were initially assessed and stored in the colliery's stable hayloft, that acted as a temporary morgue.[3] 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.[3]
Almost everyone in the community lost someone in the disaster, with one family in Howell Street losing 11 members: father; four sons; six lodgers.[2]
[edit] 1894 inquest
The colliery was reopened within two weeks of the explosion, with an inquest 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.[3]
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.[3] 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.[3]
[edit] Production
Albion was served throughout its entire life by the Llancaiach Branch 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,[3] 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.[2] At that time there were 991 men employed,[2] reaching an output of 231,639 tons; this reached 620,000 tons after the Penrhiwceiber Colliery had been added to the production group.[1]
The mine closed in September 1966.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Albion Colliery". BBC Wales. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/coalhouse/sites/mines/pages/albion_colliery.shtml. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
- ^ a b c d e "Albion Colliery". Welsh Coal Mines. http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamEast/Albion.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
- ^ a b c d e f "Cilfynydd". rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk. http://webapps.rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk/heritagetrail/taff/cilfynydd/cilfynydd.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
