Ferndale like many of the towns of the Rhondda suffered through the dangerous nature of the mining industry, particularly in its early days. As well as numerous deaths through falls of rocks, dram accidents and other similar incidents it also suffered two major disasters in its early days. One in 1867 where 178 men and boys were killed, and one only two years later in 1869 when 53 miners lost their lives.
[url]http://webapps.rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk/heritagetrail/rhondda/ferndale/ferndale.htm[/url]