Universal Colliery
Encyclopedia
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
. It is within the county borough
of Caerphilly
, traditionally within the county of Glamorgan
, Wales
.
Opened in 1891, it became a ventilation facility for the Windsor Colliery
before complete closure in 1988.
were sunk in the region, along with the 1891 opening of the Rhymney Railway
's Senghenydd extension branch
.
The Windsor Colliery was closed in November 1986.
on 24 May, 1901. Damage was sustained to both shafts, resulting in a restricted rescue attempt, and 81 of the 82 men working in the mine were killed.
On the 14 October, 1913, Senghenydd suffered from what would become the very worst mining disaster in Britain's history, when a second gas explosion
occurred, resulting in the loss of 439 lives. Nevertheless, many of the surviving miners went back to help their workmates who were either trapped or buried alive.
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 the Aber Valley, roughly four miles north-west of the town of Caerphilly
Caerphilly
Caerphilly is a town in the county borough of Caerphilly, south Wales, located at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley, with a population of approximately 31,000. It is a commuter town of Cardiff and Newport, which are located some 7.5 miles and 12 miles away, respectively...
. It is within the county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
of Caerphilly
Caerphilly (county borough)
Caerphilly is a county borough in southern Wales, straddling the ancient county boundary between Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.Its main town is Caerphilly, and also the largest...
, traditionally within the county of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
Opened in 1891, it became a ventilation facility for the Windsor Colliery
Windsor Colliery
Windsor Colliery was a coal mine in the village of Abertridwr, Caerphilly.Opened in 1895, it amalgamated with the Nantgarw Colliery in 1974, and closed in 1986. Ty'n y Parc housing estate now occupies the site.-Development:...
before complete closure in 1988.
Background
Senghenydd, along with its neighbouring town Abertridwr, make up the majority of the Aber Valley, and became urbanised in the 1890s, when the Universal (1891) and Windsor collieriesWindsor Colliery
Windsor Colliery was a coal mine in the village of Abertridwr, Caerphilly.Opened in 1895, it amalgamated with the Nantgarw Colliery in 1974, and closed in 1986. Ty'n y Parc housing estate now occupies the site.-Development:...
were sunk in the region, along with the 1891 opening of the Rhymney Railway
Rhymney Railway
The Rhymney Railway was virtually a single stretch of main line, some fifty miles in length, by which the Rhymney Valley was connected to the docks at Cardiff in the county of Glamorgan, South Wales.-History:...
's Senghenydd extension branch
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...
.
The Windsor Colliery was closed in November 1986.
Accident
Universal Colliery suffered the first of two major gas and coal dust explosionsMining 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...
on 24 May, 1901. Damage was sustained to both shafts, resulting in a restricted rescue attempt, and 81 of the 82 men working in the mine were killed.
On the 14 October, 1913, Senghenydd suffered from what would become the very worst mining disaster in Britain's history, when a second gas explosion
Senghenydd Colliery Disaster
The Senghenydd Colliery Disaster, also known as the Senghenydd Explosion, occurred in Senghenydd , near Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Wales on 14 October 1913, killing 439 miners...
occurred, resulting in the loss of 439 lives. Nevertheless, many of the surviving miners went back to help their workmates who were either trapped or buried alive.