New Dynant Colliery

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This mine was also called Closyryn (see Closyryn) and was owned at the beginning of the 20th century by the New Dynant Anthracite Collieries Limited, it was listed in 1907 as not working but in there were 17 men underground and 14 on the surface in 1908 when the manager was F.W. Davies and 260 men at this anthracite slant in 1913. The manager at that time was J.E. Gomersall. In 1916 it employed 420 men and the manager was H. Mainwaring. This company was not a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association.

In 1924 this company became part of United Anthracite Collieries Limited, which by 1935 employed 110 men on the surface and 290 men underground in the New Dynant and Closyryn mines. The colliery had its own coal preparation plant (washery). The manager was W. Price (he was manager in 1927). In May 1926 it abandoned the Stinking Vein but was still working the Triquart and Pumpquart seams. In 1943/5 it employed 18 men and worked the Braslyd seam.

On Nationalisation of the Nation’s coal mines in 1947 New Dynant Colliery was placed in the National Coal Board’s, South Western Division’s, No.1 (Swansea) Area, and at that time employed 3 men on the surface and 15 men underground working the Braslyd seam. It closed around this time. The manager was still Mr. Price.

• On the 22nd of February 1911, George Kenyon, aged 35 years and a pumpsman died when he was crushed by trams running wild, owing to the breakage of the haulage rope, while he was walking up a steep slant.
• On the 31st of March 1911, T.J. Thomas, aged 31 years and a collier, died under a fall of roof on a road while rebuilding a cog which had been withdrawn in order to set it 4 feet further inbye.
• On the 10th of December 1912 by the death of Joseph Davies aged 40 years and a stoker. He fell when pulling out hot ashes and died on the 7th of June 1915.
• On the 3rd of February 1913, William Williams, aged 30 years and a colliers assistant died under a roof fall at the coalface.

Some Statistics:

• 1901: Manpower: 21.
• 1902: Manpower: 3.
• 1903: Manpower: 2.
• 1905: Manpower: not working.
• 1908: Manpower: 31.
• 1909: Manpower: 31.
• 1910: Manpower: 112.
• 1911: Manpower: 73.
• 1912: Manpower: 259.
• 1913: Manpower: 260.
• 1915: Manpower: 380.
• 1916: Manpower: 420.
• 1920: Manpower: 560.
• 1922: Manpower: 560 with Closyryn.
• 1923: Manpower: 503. Output: 110,000 tons.
• 1924: Manpower: 330.
• 1925: Manpower: 418.
• 1927: Manpower: 335.
• 1928: Manpower: 309.
• 1930: Manpower: 400.
• 1931: Manpower: 300.
• 1933: Manpower: 300.
• 1935: Manpower: 400.
• 1937: Manpower: 303.
• 1938: Manpower: 297.
• 1940: Manpower: 262.
• 1941: Manpower: 277.
• 1943: Manpower: 18.
• 1945: Manpower: 18.
• 1947: Manpower: 18.
• 1950: Manpower: 11.

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