ABERNANT FARM COLLIERY
Amman Valley SN65591366.
This mine was worked under licence by the Ammanford Development Company Limited. This company was registered in April 1988 and dissolved in 1997. In 1994 they received a European Union grant of £100,000 towards opening a new drivage, washery and bagging plant. This was not enough to keep the mine open and it closed on the 8th of March 1996.
ALLTWEN COLLIERY
Pontardulais 581964.
The first listing that we can find for this colliery is in 1860 when it was owned by Captain Foster. In the 1865/70 period, it was owned by Alfred Sterry but then it disappears from the listings. The Alltwen (Slant) Colliery working in 1869 near Swansea worked the Three-Feet seam at a thickness of 28 inches and also worked the Six-Feet and Big Vein seams. The seams dipped 45 degrees northwards. There was an Alltwen Colliery of Glanamman cited in the Colliery Guardian in May 1930 when it had just struck a 24-inch thick seam of “excellent quality” as a house or gas coal.
Alltwen was a private licenced mine listed in 1960 as under the ownership of the Euphrates Colliery Limited and in 1969/71 by Wyndham Williams. In the year prior to this, 1959, there were 259 licenced mines in operation in the Coalfield employing 2,138 men and producing 68,655 tons of coal in the first five weeks of that year. In 1992 a level called Alltwen Hill (SN721022) down by Pontardawe was working under licence. It was owned by D. Daniels and worked the Upper Maesmelyn seam.
BLAEN GRENNIG COLLIERY
Glanamman, Amman Valley (675114)
This was a small mine that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board. It was owned in the 1940s and in the 1950s by E.J. Hopkins and W.R. Thomas when it worked the Red Vein seam employing 5 men underground and I man on the surface. In 1960/71 it was owned by the Blaengrennig Colliery Company and in the 1970s and 1980s by the Gwndwngwyn Colliery Company. In 1969 it employed five men working underground in the Red Vein and on man working at the surface of the mine. Blaengrennig No.2 level was listed as being owned in 1992 by the Gwndwngwyn Colliery Company which in turn was owned by European Enterprise (mining) Limited of Essex. C. Windos was the manager.
It consisted of a 300-yard drift going down one in six with the workings then going off to the left of the drift. The coal was brought to the surface in a journey of three trams with each tram carrying 23 hundredweights of coal. In the 1995/1996 period, it was owned by the South Wales Anthracite Mining Company of Porthcawl.
It appears to have closed in 1996.
BODYST COLLIERY
Glanamman, Amman Valley
This was a small mine that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board in the 1970s.
BWLCH COLLIERY
Ammanford, Amman Valley (649105)
This licenced mine was working from 1975 to 1980 when it was owned by the Bwlch Colliery Company of Ammanford.
CATHAN COLLIERY
Amman Valley 632097.
This was a small level worked under licence from the National Coal Board between 1955 and 1965 by W. Williams (the Cathan Colliery Company) of Ammanford. Only three men were employed in 1955 and they only worked 39 days between them but by 1960 seven men produced 1,416 tons for the year.
CWMTEG COLLIERY
Brynamman, Amman Valley 722138.
Cwmteg Colliery was opened as a slant in 1899 by the Amman Iron Company who formed the Cwmteg Anthracite Colliery Company of Swansea and employed 206 men in 1907 and 231 men underground and 49 men on the surface in 1908/9 when the manager was P.T. Jenkins, 237 men in 1911 when the manager was G.E. Garden and 167 men in 1913.
On 3/11/1910, Jonathan Jones, Age: 21: Rider: Run over by a journey on which he was riding. No one saw how the accident occurred. The road was in good order.
It abandoned the Middle and Lower Seams in July 1916. The New Cwmteg worked the Bynlloi seam between 1940 and 1943 under the ownership of L.C. Rees. The No.2 worked between 1955 and 1956 under the ownership of L.C. Rees and then between 1956 and 1963 by the Cwmteg No.2 Colliery Company of Brynamman. It abandoned the Bryn seam in 1960.
Some statistics:
- 1899: Manpower: 19.
- 1900: Manpower: 58.
- 1901: Manpower: 90.
- 1902: Manpower: 128.
- 1903: Manpower: 104.
- 1905: Manpower: 95.
- 1907: Manpower: 206.
- 1908: Manpower: 280.
- 1909: Manpower: 280.
- 1910: Manpower: 240.
- 1911: Manpower: 237.
- 1912: Manpower: 99.
- 1913: Manpower: 167.
CWM-YR-ONEN COLLIERY
Glanamman, Amman Valley (679100)
This licenced mine was opened in 1986 and listed in 1991 as being owned by the Woodarch Company Limited of Swansea. Between 1991 and 1992 it was owned by Edward Grenville Ware, and then between 1993 and 1995 by Woodarch (1991) Ltd. Finally, between 1995 and 1996 it was owned by K.A. & A.J. Austin. It worked the Upper Pinchin seam.
DAN-YR-ALT COLLIERY
Amman Valley (637112, 637113, 635110)
This was a small level that was worked under licence from the N.C.B. in 1953/5/7 by D.M. Williams, in 1960 by the Dan-yr-Allt Colliery Company Limited of Betws, and in the 1970s by Messrs. Jones & Gealey of Ammanford. It worked the Red Vein.
ERW COLLIERY
Glanamman, Amman Valley 670125.
This was a small level that was opened into the Peacock Seam c1936 and was working in 1943/5 and employed 7 men underground still in the Peacock Seam and 3 men on the surface with E.D. Llewellyn as manager.
It was worked under licence from the National Coal Board, and in 1947 it was still owned by E.D. Llewellyn who employed nine men underground and four men on the surface working the Peacock anthracite seam. In 1954 it was working the 33 inch thick Trigloin seam. It was still owned by E.D. Llewellyn in 1955/7 when it employed 13 men working the Peacock seam with Mr. Llewellyn also being the manager.
It was closed in 1959.
GARN & GARN No.2 COLLIERY
Amman Valley Garn 626095.
Garn was a small level that was worked between 1927 and 1929 by David Williams and Sons. It employed 4 men in the Ynisarwed seam.
Garn No.2 was worked under licence from the National Coal Board. It was opened in 1947 by W.R. Boxhall of Ammanford, and employed 4 men in 1950. Between 1953 and 1955 it was owned by H. Jones and P.J. Davies and employed 30 men and raised 2,290 tons of coal in 1955. In 1955/7 it was owned by E.E. Shaw, and in 1960 by G.E. Shaw. In 1961 the Venallt Colliery Company was in charge, but in 1961/72 it was owned by B. Llewellyn of Betws and managed by D. George.
GLANGRENNIG COLLIERY
Bettws, (66701260)
An anthracite slant of this name abandoned the Brynlloi seam in July 1927 when it employed four men. Also, a small level worked under licence from the National Coal Board in the 1950s and 1960s by C. Fish. In 1969 the Fish Brothers formed the Glangrenig Colliery Company which employed 6 men in that year. It was still listed in 1970 and in 1971 it abandoned the Brynlloi seam. The NUM members at this mine were part of the Glanamman Lodge.
GLANTREF
Glanamman, Amman Valley (673128)
This was a small level that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board and owned up to 1976 by Messrs. James and Jones of Garnant. In 1977/80 it was owned by the Glantref Colliery Company. It worked the Peacock seam.
GLYNCYWARCH COLLIERY
Ammanford, Amman Valley (648118)
This was a small level that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board in the 1970s by the Glyncywarch Colliery Company Limited of Ammanford. It worked between 1972 and 1985.
GLYN GLAS SOUTH
Amman Valley
This opencast site was worked by Shepherd Hill and in 1979 produced 244,786 tons of coal with a manpower of 71 men.
GODREWAIN COLLIERY
Glanamman, Amman Valley 680129.
The Godrewaun was opened into the Red Vein in 1949 by H.J. & B. Williams in 1953 it was subtitled (Tyllgwyn) and produced 820 tons of coal in 1954. The Godrewaun No.2 Level was worked under licence from the National Coal Board in 1955 by Hopkins, Benjamin and Williams and in 1957 by H. Williams and Others of Glanamman. In 1960 it was owned by Williams and Bronwen. In 1969 it was owned by B. Williams of Glanamman, in 1970/71 by G. James of Garnant and in 1972 by James and Jones. The No.2 abandoned the White Vein in 1972.
GORS COLLIERY
Brynamman, 753104.
This was a small level that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board in 1955 and 1960 by the Gors Colliery Company. In 1957 it employed 25 men and in 1969 it employed 13 men working underground in the Rhiwfawr seam and 5 men at the surface of the mine. It was then owned by the Gors Colliery Company (Rhiwfawr) Limited of Brynamman.
The No.2 abandoned the White seam in 1964 and the Black seam in 1965.
GORSLAND COLLIERY
Ammanford.
A licenced mine that operated between 1955 and 1958 under the ownership of D.J. Edwards.
GRAIGDDU COLLIERY
Glanamman, Amman Valley 669121.
This was a small level that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board in the 1950s/1970s. In the 1950s its NUM members were part of the Glanamman Lodge. Owned by E.J. & E.A. Thomas between 1951 and 1954. E. A. Thomas alone between 1954 and 1956. The Graigddu Colliery Company between 1957 and 1959 and T.C. James between 1960 and 1964. It was abandoned in 1964.
The Graigddu No.2 (670121) worked the Upper Pinchin seam between 1984 and 1990 under the Glantref Colliery Company. Four men were employed developing but the company hit financial problems and had to abandon it.
GRENIG COLLIERY
Amman Valley 683117.
This was a small level that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board in 1950/51 by E.J.R. Thomas. From 1951 to 1954 by D.G. Jones and from 1955 and 1961 by the Grenig Colliery Company Limited of Glanamman. In 1957 it employed four men working the Red Vein. It abandoned the Red Vein in 1961.
GWNDWNGWYN COLLIERY
Amman Valley 689117.
This was a small level that employed 5 men underground working the Red Vein and 1 man on the surface in 1943 when it was owned by Mrs. A. Bevan and the same manpower in 1945 when owned by J.H. Bevan and D.J. Davies of Pantyffynnon.
It was worked under licence from the National Coal Board by Mrs. A. Bevan in 1947/9, Mrs. A. Bevan and Others in 1950/3 when it still employed 6 men, H.P. Parker and Company in 1955, and the Gwndwngwyn Colliery Company in 1957/60.
In 1969/72 it was owned by the Gwndwngwyn Colliery Limited of Cardiff and employed an average of two men working underground and one man working at the surface of the mine.
It abandoned the Red Vein in 1971.
LLETHERLAN COLLIERY
Ammanford, Amman Valley (654108)
This was a small anthracite level that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board in the 1970s. In 1977 it was owned by Jones and Moses of Rhosamman and in 1979 on it was owned by Jones and Jones of Pontardawe.
LLYN-YR-ONEN COLLIERY
Ammanford, Amman Valley 648109.
This small level was worked in 1992/8 by G.L. Jones of Ammanford.
NANT FACH COLLIERY
Glanamman, Amman Valley (685092)
This licenced mine was operated by the Tresgyrch Mining Limited in the No.1 Rhondda seam during the period 1991/6.
NEW PENRHIW COLLIERY
Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, Amman Valley (728108)
This was a small level that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board in the 1970s. In 1992 it was owned by the Penllerfedwen Colliery Company Limited of Derbyshire and worked the No.2 Rhondda seam. Licenced mines totalled an annual production of 100,000 tons of coal during the 1970s.
PEACOCK COLLIERY
Brynamman, Amman Valley
The Old Peacock Level was listed in 1915 as being owned by Evan Thomas and Company of Brynamman. The Peacock level was listed as being owned by the Cwmnantmoel Colliery Company (1928) Limited of Brynamman in 1938 when it employed 8 men, in 1943/5 when it employed six men working underground in the Black seam and four men working on the surface of the mine, in 1948 when it employed 14 men and in 1950 when it employed 20 men.
It continued to work under licence from the National Coal Board by the same company in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1957 it employed 15 men underground working the Black Vein and 4 men at the surface of the mine. Peacock is the name of an anthracite coal seam.
PENDERI COLLIERY
Amman Valley 588143.
This was a small level that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board from 1958 to 1961 by the Penderi Colliery Limited.
PENLLERGAER GROUP
Pontardulais, Amman Valley
An opencast site worked in 1961 by Sir John Jackson Limited. Opencast coal production on a large scale had been in force in south Wales since 1946, it had been estimated that opencast workings could be carried out in an area of 35,000 acres in Glamorganshire alone. Up to the date of Penllergaer working 4,500 acres of land had been worked and restored and 2,000 acres were under production.
The Opencast Executive estimated that 9,300,000 tons had been produced from opencast sites by 1958 in the County of Glamorgan. In 1957,650,000 tons of anthracite and 750,000 tons of other coals had been produced from opencast sites in the South Wales Coalfield.
PWLL-Y-WATCYN COLLIERY
Amman Valley 696087.
This was a small level that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board in 1955 by J. Connell and E.G. Pryce, and in the 1960’s early 70s by the Pwllywatcyn Colliery Company Limited of Glanamman and in the mid-1970s by the same company which was then based at Neath. It abandoned the No.2 Rhondda seam in 1969.
ROYAL OAK COLLIERY
Ammanford, Amman Valley (660113)
This was a small level that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board in the 1970s.
TANYGARN COLLIERY
Ammanford, Amman Valley (631087)
This was a small anthracite level that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board in 1949 by D.J. Thomas, in 1957 by A.J. Jeffreys c/o Emrys Evans of Cwmgorse and in the 1960s and the 1970s by the Tanygarn Colliery Company Limited of Cwmgorse.
TY LLWYD COLLIERY
Glanamman, Amman Valley 6811.
It is uncertain when Tyllwyd Colliery started, but it was being worked as early as 1880 by Newman and Smith. In 1913, the owners were Messrs T. D. Jones and Co. The Colliery Guardian dated May 1930 reported that this colliery had been idle for years and was about to be re-opened in the Tyllwyd and later the Bryn seams.
It was a small anthracite level that was owned in 1932 by J.D. Rees. The next mention that I can find for it, or another level of the same name, is in 1955 when it is a mine working under licence from the National Coal Board and owned by L.J. Lewis. It was probably part of Glanamman Colliery.
WERNBWLL COLLIERY
Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, Amman Valley (718112/720113)
An anthracite slant that was worked between 1924 and 1927 by David Thomas and c1928 by the Cwmnantmoel Colliery Company Limited by 1933 it employed 21 men and in 1934 it employed 11 men working on the surface of the mine and 15 men working underground in the Red Vein. It was abandoned in 1934.
Also, a licenced mine was opened in 1957 by J.G. Bowen to the Red Vein. It was later owned by Bowen & Phillips and in 1970 it was worked by K.V. Thomas of Ammanford.
YSTRAD COLLIERY
Ammanford, Amman Valley (661131)
A small level that was worked under licence from the National Coal Board in 1957 by D.J. Griffiths of Ammanford and in the 1960s and 1970s by T.T. Lewis and Company Limited of Neath. It employed 20 men working underground and 5 men working at the surface in 1969. In 1975/80+ it was owned by Thomas and Owens and in 1988 by Tumble Anthracite Limited.
In 1992 it was owned by the Ystrad Colliery Company while in 1994/6 the No.2 level was being worked by the Thomas Brothers of Glanamman. E.S.Morris of Gloucester was the licencee in 2000. It was not listed in 2003.
Information supplied by Ray Lawrence and used here with his permission.
Return to previous page