 In 1856 the Old Pit mine was the site of a mining disaster in which 114 men and boys were killed.The official inquest into the deaths found that inadequate ventilation had caused a build up of gas which was ignited by the use of naked flames underground, and the inquest jury brought in an indictment of manslaughter against the mine manager and four officials.However, at the ensuing trial at the Spring Assizes in Swansea in 1857, the cases against two were dismissed, the judge directed the jury to discharge one of the others and advised them to acquit the remaining two, which they did.