Collena Colliery

Tonyrefail, Ely Valley (01108896)

It was only 100 yards to the east of Caerlan Colliery and was situated 1,000 yards east of Caerau and 900 yards to the south of Cilely Colliery.
This colliery makes an appearance in 1865/70 when it is owned by Mr. Pritchard.

In June 1874 this mine was put up for auction as a going concern. The prospectus stated that the plant and machinery were new and included 32 coke ovens, smith’s shop, stabling, engine houses, weighbridge and railway sidings. It continued to state that it was connected to the Ely Valley Branch of the GWR and consisted of 17o acres of mineral take. The seam to be worked were the Nos. 1,2, 3 Rhondda, Hafod and Abergorky. The lease was for 60 years.

In 1893 it was owned by the Glyn Colliery Company of Aberdare and employed R. Abraham as the manager. In 1894 it produced 23,748 tons of coal and in 1896 it employed 60 men underground and 22 men on the surface with the manager being Thomas Williams. In 1899 it employed 163 men, in 1900/1 it employed 216 men and in 1902 it employed 130 men. The main drift was stone lined and driven 250 yards dipping 30 inches to the yard. It worked the No.3 Rhondda seam at a thickness of between 31 inches to 36 inches.

From the end of the main drift levels to the east and west were driven and from these levels, narrow roads called “top holes” were driven every 22 yards. The “top holes” were six feet wide and the height of the seam. After ten yards an airway four yards wide was driven and connected to the next workings 22 yards away. When the top hole is driven another six yards the collier widens it to six yards for the next 11 yards until it is met by the next-door similar workings. This seam was abandoned from the No.3 Level in July 1903. The No.2 Rhondda seam was worked at a thickness of 57 inches which included dirt partings. It appears also to have worked the No.1 Rhondda Rider and Hafod seams and employed 134 men in 1907 and 154 men underground and 38 men on the surface in 1908 when managed by Gomer Evans. Early ventilation of the mine was by a Schiele fan of eight feet in diameter.

It closed in 1910.

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