International Colliery

Abercraf, Swansea Valley 82232/12096

This anthracite slant was working in 1888 and was located near the northern outcrop of the Coalfield, just inside the old Breconshire border, it was served by the Neath and Brecon Railway. It worked the Peacock, Brass (Bute) and Nine-Feet (Big Vein) seams.

The Two-Feet seam was abandoned in April 1926 with the Maesderi or Peacock slant abandoning both the White and Eighteen-Feet seams in September 1925. It was not only International by name, but international by nature, opened by a French company (French Anthracite Company), it was managed in 1893 by John Walters and by 1896 employing 206 men underground and 37 men on the surface with the manager being John Walters. Amongst its workers were; Portuguese, German, French, Belgians, Spanish as well as Welshmen.

In 1900 the manager was still John Walters and in 1901 the colliery was described as working the Peacock or Brass Vein by the longwall method.
Naked lights and a furnace for ventilation were in use. The main ventilation intake and coal route was by slant while the ventilation return was by a 30 feet deep shaft which was 6 feet by 6 feet.

It couldn’t have got off to a good start for in 1908 it was in the hands of the Receivers and employed 201 men underground and 53 men on the surface, the manager was J.D. Daniel. In 1913 D.T. Alexander, of Eagle Chambers, Adelaide Street, Swansea was receiver and manager for the company, which at that time employed 187 this figure grew to 320 men employed in 1915 when Josiah Thomas was the manager. In the 1917 listings the owners were listed as International Anthracite Collieries Company of Victoria Buildings, Swansea, this company being a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. In 1916/18 the manager was D.J. Davies and this slant employed 250 men in 1916 and 100 men underground and 41 men on the surface in 1918.

The International Company was replaced by Llwynllafrod Anthracite Collieries Limited around 1927 when the manager was still D.J. Davies. It employed 320 men in that year. This company was absorbed into Welsh Anthracite Collieries Limited, which by 1932 had become a subsidiary of Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Limited. In 1930 it employed 217 men working underground and 66 men working at the surface of the mine with W. James as the manager. In 1932 it employed 380 men. In 1934 International Colliery employed 66 men on the surface and 217 men underground working the Peacock seam. It was temporarily closed in 1940 and re-opened in c1943/5 when the manager was J.P. Davies. In that year it employed 55 men underground working the Peacock seam and 15 on the surface.

On Nationalisation in 1947 it was placed in the National Coal Board’s, South Western Division’s, Area No.2, and at that time employed 12 men on the surface and 51 men underground still working the Peacock seam the manager was still J.P. Davies.

International Colliery was absorbed into Abercrave Colliery not long after Nationalisation and closed on the 31st of May 1967.

Some statistics:

• 1899: Manpower: 242
• 1900: Manpower: 264
• 1901: Manpower: 263.
• 1902: Manpower: 289.
• 1903: Manpower: 276.
• 1907: Manpower: 307.
• 1908: Manpower: 264.
• 1909: Manpower: 260.
• 1910: Manpower: 373.
• 1911: Manpower: 370.
• 1912: Manpower: 351.
• 1913: Manpower: 187.
• 1915: Manpower: 320.
• 1916: Manpower: 250.
• 1918: Manpower: 141.
• 1920: Manpower: 250.
• 1922: Manpower: 250.
• 1923: Manpower: 262.
• 1924: Manpower: 284.
• 1927: Manpower: 320.
• 1928: Manpower: 386.
• 1929: Manpower: 340.
• 1930: Manpower: 285.
• 1932: Manpower: 380.
• 1933: Manpower: 435.
• 1934: Manpower: 283.
• 1937: Manpower: 384.
• 1938: Manpower: 335.
• 1943: Manpower: 70.
• 1945: Manpower: 70.
• 1947: Manpower: 63.

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