Senghenydd Colliery Disaster

Senghenydd Colliery Disaster

The Senghennydd Colliery Disaster, also known as the Senghenydd Explosion, occurred in Senghenydd [ [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/248424 Miners' Rows, Senghenydd] ] , near Caerphilly, Glamorgan, South Wales on 14 October 1913, killing 439 miners. It is the worst Mining accident in the United Kingdom, and one of the most serious in terms of loss of life globally since.

Background

The demand for Welsh steam coal before World War I was enormous, especially from the Royal Navy and its huge fleet of steam battleships, dreadnoughts and cruisers, and also foreign Navies allied to Britain and the British Empire. Coal output from British coal mines was at its peak in 1914, and there were a correspondingly large number of terrible accidents. The worst of these was at the Universal Colliery in Senghenydd and occurred as a result of a coal dust explosion that travelled through most of the underground workings.

Probable cause

It was probably started by a firedamp (methane) explosion, itself possibly ignited by electric sparking from equipment, such as electric bell signaling gear. The initial firedamp explosion disturbed coal dust present on the floor, raising a cloud that then ignited in its turn. The shock wave ahead of the explosion raised yet more coal dust, so that the conflagration was effectively self-fueling. Those miners not killed immediately by the fire and explosion would have died quickly from afterdamp, the noxious gases formed by combustion. These include lethal quantities of carbon monoxide, which kills very quickly by combining preferentially with haemoglobin in the blood. The victims are suffocated by lack of oxygen.

Memorial

Three memorials to the disaster are located in Senghenydd. The first is a memorial outside Nany-y-parc Primary School, which is built on the site of the old mine. At St. Cenydd Comprehensive School, lies a list of names of those who died from the explosion, and they have a truck of coal as a memorial. On Senghenydd square, inscribed upon the big clock centred in the middle of the road, are the names of the many miners who perished in the disaster. [ [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/538677 Memorial of Senghenydd mining disaster] ]

ee also

*Coal
*Coal mining
*History of coal mining
*List of United Kingdom disasters by death toll
*Mine disasters

References

*Duckham, Helen and Baron, "Great Pit Disasters: Great Britain 1700 to the present day", David & Charles (1973)

*Brown, John H., "The Valley of the Shadow: An account of Britain's worst mining disaster, the Senghennydd explosion", Alun Books (1981)

*Phillips, J. Basil, "Senghennydd: A Brave Community", The Old Bakehouse (2002)

* [http://www.yourfamilytreemag.co.uk/resources/yft/YFT41case1.pdf Wilson, Matthew, "The Senghenydd Explosion", Your Family Tree, September 2006: 28-30.]

External links

* [http://www.tridwr.demon.co.uk/abertour/snegstuff/seng17.html Virtual Tour of the Aber Valley]
* [http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item10/26091 Gathering the Jewels: The Website for Welsh Cultural History]
* [http://www.llgc.org.uk/index.php?id=senghennydddisaster Senghennydd Postcards]
* [http://www.cmhrc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ Coal Mining History Resource Centre]
* [http://www.south-wales.police.uk/fe/master.asp?n1=8&n2=253&n3=491 South Wales Police Museum]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/walesonair/database/senghenydd.shtml Wales on Air: The Senghenydd Tragedy]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/ram/making_history_20031014.ram BBC Radio 4, Making History, 7 October 2003: The Senghenydd Colliery Disaster, 1913] STREAMING AUDIO
* [http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk Welsh Coal Mines - brief histories of all Wales' pits]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Senghenydd RFC — Rugby team teamname = Senghenydd RFC fullname = Senghenydd Rugby Football Club nickname = location = Senghenydd, Wales country founded = 1898 ground = The Welfare Ground capacity = president = coach = Dany Johnson league = WRU Division Four South …   Wikipedia

  • Senghenydd — infobox UK place country = Wales welsh name = Senghenydd constituency welsh assembly = latitude= 51.6063 longitude= 3.2793 official name = Senghenydd unitary wales = Caerphilly lieutenancy wales = Gwent constituency westminster = Caerphilly post… …   Wikipedia

  • Mining accident — Mount Mulligan mine disaster in Australia 1921, these cable drums were blown 50 feet (15 m) from their foundations following a coal dust explosion A mining accident is an accident that occurs during the process of mining minerals. Thousands… …   Wikipedia

  • South Yorkshire Coalfield — The South Yorkshire Coalfield is defined by a triangle lying between Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield, though a few mines within the coalfield lie outside this area. It is part of the larger Midland coal field which stretches from Nottingham in… …   Wikipedia

  • Mining in Wales — A Welsh miner at Tower Colliery Mining in Wales provided a significant source of income to the economy of Wales throughout the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Wales was famous for its coal mining, in the Rhondda Valley, the South… …   Wikipedia

  • Oaks explosion — An engraving of the disaster The Oaks explosion occurred at the Oaks Colliery, near Stairfoot, Barnsley, South Yorkshire on 12 December 1866 killing more than 380 miners and rescuers. The disaster happened after a series of explosions caused by… …   Wikipedia

  • Westhoughton — infobox UK place official name= Westhoughton latitude= 53.5487 longitude= 2.524 population= 23,056 (2001 Census) os grid reference= SD652059 civil parish= Westhoughton metropolitan borough= Bolton metropolitan county= Greater Manchester region=… …   Wikipedia

  • 1913 in Wales — This article is about the particular significance of the year 1913 to Wales and its people. Incumbents*Prince of Wales Edward, Prince of Wales, son of King George V of the United Kingdom *Princess of Wales vacant *Archdruid of the National… …   Wikipedia

  • The Oaks explosion — was one of the very worst colliery disasters and Mining accidents in the United Kingdom. The pit exploded on 12 December 1866, ultimately killing 388 miners and their would be rescuers. The Oaks was one of the largest coal mines working the rich… …   Wikipedia

  • Michael Faraday — Born 22 September 1791(1791 09 22) Newington Butts, England …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”