On this date in 1901, the first disaster took place at the Universal Colliery, Senghenydd. Mercifully it happened at the end of the night shift on 24th May 1901, when many of the miners had already been brought to the surface. There were 82 left underground at the time of the explosion and only one of these survived, William Harris. His descendents still live in the village today. Fifty pit ponies were also killed.
Today we remember the 81. Today we remember 1901. Cofio 1901. 

For further information about the 1901 disaster, visit our 1901 disaster page, and also our page about William Harris, the sole survivor.