EXPLOSION AT PENTRE COLLIERY

On 24th February 1871 an explosion at Pentre Colliery, Ton Pentre, killed 39 men and nine horses.  

The probable cause of the explosion was "Firedamp" which is a flammable gas, usually methane, found naturally in coal mines.  

BORN THIS DAY - ALFRED LEWIS JONES

Born this day 1845 in Carmarthen

Sir Alfred Lewis Jones  At an early age his family moved to Liverpool, he commenced his career as a ships apprentice and soon owned his own shipping business. He later became one of the leading figures in the shipping firm of Elder Dempster, through whose contacts he acquired considerable territorial and financial interests in West Africa, being dubbed  the "Uncrowned King of West Africa".  He also developed the tourist trade and the banana industry of the Canary Islands and was President of the British Cotton Growing Association. He was knighted in 1901.

CHEPSTOW RAILWAY BRIDGE OPENS IN 1852

On 24th February 1852, The Times reported that Robert Stephenson had approved Isambard Kingdom Brunel's design for the railway bridge at Chepstow.

Chepstow Railway Bridge was used for the first time on 19 July 1852, which allowed the Great Western Railway to open its London to Swansea line.  It  is considered  as one of Brunel's major achievements, because the span of 300 feet needed to be self supporting, as the Monmouthshire side is low-lying sedimentary deposit subject to regular flooding and the height requirement of 84 feet above high water imposed by the Abmiralty ruled out an arched bridge.

Brunel therefore designed the bridge to be suspended by chains from two cast iron tubes, 9 feet in diameter.  The new railway line and bridge reduced the travelling time between London and Swansea from 15 hours, by rail, road and ferry, to 5 hours by rail.