Just to add an explosion from Pembrey Dynamite Works November 17th 1882.
On November 11th 1882 shortly after the manufacture of emplosives began at
the works, there was a minor explosion. No one was injured and the company
assurances regarding its production proceedings and safety precautions were
accepted by the Home Office. Llanelly MP Sir John James Jenkins questioned
the Home Secretary in Parliament regarding the adequacy of the safety
precautions. He further asked if the Home Secretary was aware that 300 tons
of explosives were stored in one shed which was within a short distance of
shipping in the port of Burry Port and a large Copperworks where hundred of
people were employed. The Home Secretary assured the M.P. that the licence
did not allow the storage of more than 150 tons which had to be stored in 12
separate magazines. Ironically the M.P's questions were asked on Thursday
16th November 1882...
On the next day Friday 17th at 11.45 am a violent explosion occurred at the
works, which was heard in Tenby, a distance of 18 miles across Carmarthen
Bay. As the news spread, many local people rushed down to the works, but
were refused entry by the management, who quoted the Explosives Act, which
gave almost despotic power to the manufacture against the intrusion. Even
the village constable had the utmost difficulty in gaining entry.
Seven employees were killed, three males and four females, four dying
instantly, and the others dying within a few hours. The victims, with age,
address and place of burial were:
Jane Evans, 16 years, Village, Tabernacle Chapel Burry Port
Sarah Morse, 13 years, Penstar Village, Hermon Chapel
John Jones, 14 years, Glo Caled, Pembrey Church
The remaining four who were buried in Bethel Chapel Pembrey were:
Jane Williams, 24 years, Sandy Road (later Ashburnham Road)
David Erasmus, 15 years, Village
William Ray, 14 years, Derwydd
Mary Hughes, 21 years, Village
The burial of each victim is recorded on gravestones in the various burial
grounds.
On Sunday November 19th, the bodies were taken from the works on the little
railway to the Old Harbour. From there, a solomn cortege, led by scholars
from several Sunday Schools, first went to Derwydd, then to Glo Caled, and
finally with the five remaining bodies, to the village. The funerals of all
the victims took place on the next day, Monday. Curtains were closed in
every house along the funeral route, and in addition to the family mourners
and local inhabitants trains brought sympathisers from neighbouring villages
and towns.
*****
This was the first of three such works in the same area
1881-1885, The Dynamite, Explosives or Powder Works.
1914-1918 Nobel's Munitions Works
1939-1945 Royal Ordnance Factory.
Pauline James