Gilwen Colliery

Ystalyfera, Swansea Valley (762100)

A drift mine was opened in 1860 by the Ystalyfera Iron Company. It was worked at the beginning of the 20th Century by the Gilwen Colliery Company of Lower Cwmtwrch, whose commercial manager was W. L. Morgan. In 1908 this slant employed 210 men underground and 35 men on the surface with the manager being J.H. Williams. In 1913 it employed 309 men and was managed by J.H. Williams. Mr. Williams was still the manager in 1915/6 when it employed 300 men.

By 1917 it was in the hands of the Globe Collieries Company of Cardiff who were not members of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. This company was absorbed into Welsh Anthracite Collieries Limited. In 1918 there were 105 men employed underground and 18 men on the surface with the manager being D.J. Phillips. In 1919 there were 200 men employed. In 1923 it produced 90,000 tons of coal while in 1927 it employed 400 men with the manager being Thomas Redshaw. Mr. Redshaw was still the manager in 1930 when it was owned by Welsh Anthracite Collieries Limited and employed 272 men working underground

and 72 men working at the surface of the mine. In 1934 Gilwen employed 72 men on the surface and 272 men underground to produce anthracite coals.  Gilwen, along with the Arch, Cwmfelin, Horseway and Mynydd Bach worked the Big, Little and Brass seams which it abandoned prior to 1882. The Old Gilwen worked the Big and Red Veins. It abandoned the Red Vein in June 1927.

Some statistics:

• 1908: Manpower: 245.
• 1909: Manpower: 245.
• 1910: Manpower: 312.
• 1911: Manpower: 276.
• 1912: Manpower: 229.
• 1913: Manpower: 309.
• 1915: Manpower: 300.
• 1916: Manpower: 300.
• 1918: Manpower: 123.
• 1919: Manpower: 200.
• 1920: Manpower: 200.
• 1922: Manpower: 300.
• 1923: Manpower: 243. Output: 90,000 tons.
• 1924: Manpower: 272.
• 1925: Manpower: 300.
• 1926: Manpower: 400.
• 1927: Manpower: 240.
• 1930: Manpower: 344.
• 1934: Manpower: 344.

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