Corrwg Rhondda Colliery

Near Blaengwynfi, Afan Valley 89142/96947

Corrwg was a very popular name in the Afan Valley although this one was locally called Tunnel. This level opened in c1881 and was worked by the Corrwg Rhondda Colliery Company of Bute Docks Cardiff in 1896 when it employed 223 men underground and 21 men on the surface, the manager was Howell John.

In 1907 it employed 405 men. It was owned by the Glenavon Garw Company Limited in 1913 when they employed 172 men at this mine and 1,308 men in 6 mines overall. In 1915 P. Hill was the manager and it employed 156 men in 1918 the manager was D. Reece and manpower had plunged to 53 men underground and 11 men on the surface. Mr. Reece was still the manager in 1919 when manpower was back up to 126 men.

It was worked for house coal it was still in operation in 1923 when it employed 76 men working underground and 16 men working at the surface of the mine. J.R. Williams was the manager. This level also mainly worked the No.2 Rhondda seam but closed when it abandoned the Wernypistyll Rider seam in April 1924.

For further details of the coal workings in this valley, a visit to the Afan Argoed Country Park is well worth a visit.

On the 16th of May 1898, John Chappel, aged 42 years and a collier died under a fall of roof. On the 16th of February 1911, Rees Evans, aged 52 years and a collier, also died under a fall of roof. William Jones, aged 38 years and a rider was run over and killed by trams on the 21st of April 1911.

Some statistics:

• 1896: Manpower: 244.
• 1899: Manpower: 234.
• 1900: Manpower: 219.
• 1901: Manpower: 260.
• 1902: Manpower: 222.
• 1903: Manpower: 303.
• 1905: Manpower: 394.
• 1907: Manpower: 405.
• 1909: Manpower: 479.
• 1910: Manpower: 359.
• 1911: Manpower: 402.
• 1912: Manpower: 178.
• 1913: Manpower: 172.
• 1915: Manpower: 156.
• 1918: Manpower: 64.
• 1919: Manpower: 126.
• 1920: Manpower: 126.
• 1923: Manpower: 92.

Information supplied by Ray Lawrence and used here with his permission.