ABBEY MINE
Resolven, Vale of Neath (834043)

ABERCLWYD COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath (846020)

ABERDULAIS (DYLAIS) COLLIERY

ABERGWRELECH COLLIERY
Blaengwrach, Vale of Neath (894059

ABERPERGWM COLLIERY
Near Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath (national grid reference 862059)

AVON COLLIERY
Pentreclwydau, Vale of Neath 846051

BLAENGWRACH COLLIERY
Blaengwrach, Vale of Neath
Old Drift 862048, New Drift 866047, No.3 Drift 863044.

BLAENPERGWM COLLIERY
Glynneath (854074)

BLAEN-Y-CWM COLLIERY.
Resolven, Vale of Neath (846997)

BRITISH RHONDDA COLLIERY
Near Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath (902048)

BRYNCWM COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath (854034)

BWLCH TON COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath (840059)

CEFN MAWR COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath (842999)

A Cefn Mawr worked between 1865 and 1868 in the Wenallt Rider seam. This mine was opened in 1903 and was worked in 1907/11 by the New Gored Merthyr Colliery Limited and employed 120, 85, 95 and 134 men in those years respectively. The manager was Thomas Hughes. It was owned by the Cefn Mawr Collieries Limited and employed 100 men when managed by H. Griffiths in 1915/6. It was part of the Gored Merthyr Colliery complex, please see that colliery.

Some statistics:

  • 1903: Manpower: 45.
  • 1907: Manpower: 120.
  • 1908: Manpower: 85.
  • 1909: Manpower: 95.
  • 1910: Manpower: 196.
  • 1911: Manpower: 134.
  • 1915: Manpower: 100.
  • 1916: Manpower: 100.

CEFN MERTHYR COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath (966040)

CLYNE MERTHYR COLLIERY
Vale of Neath (804003)

COED BYCHAN COLLIERY

CRYDDAN COLLIERY
Vale of Neath

The only listing that I can find for this colliery is in 1923 when it was owned by the Cryddan Colliery Company of Neath and employed 6 men working underground and 2 men working at the surface of the mine. Also, see Crythan in the Neath section.

CWM COLLIERY
Vale of Neath

This was a small mine that abandoned the Wernffraith seam in January 1921.

CWMCORRIN COLLIERY
Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath

This level was listed in 1883 and 1896 as being owned by J.B. Jenkins of Neath and employed 15 men underground and 5 men on the surface in that year. The manager in 1883 was E.H. Green. It was not listed in 1878 or 1908.

CWM-RHYD-Y-GAU COLLIERY
Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath

This mine was also called Glynneath Colliery and was owned by the Glyn-Neath Collieries Limited in 1925 and employed 246 men working underground and 70 men working at the surface in 1930 when James Evans was the manager. It abandoned the Bluers or Four-Feet seam in July 1927. In 1930 it employed 316 men and in 1933 it employed 385 men.

DUNRAVEN ADARE COLLIERY.
Near Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath

This mine consisted of at least four drifts and was owned by the Dunraven Adare Collieries Limited in 1878 when it was managed by Charles Eft, and by Glyn Neath Collieries Limited in 1927.

EMPIRE COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath

Please see the entries on Cwmgwrach or Blaengwrach Collieries.

FFORCH-Y-GRAWN COLLIERY.
Vale of Neath.

This mine was opened in c1860 and owned in 1871 by the Rhondda Mountain Colliery Company. This is possibly the same colliery as the one above.

GLYNEITHINIOG COLLIERY
Blaengwrach, Vale of Neath

This was a small level that abandoned the Upper-Four-Feet seam on closure in August 1928. It employed eleven men working underground in 1927.

GLYN MERTHYR COLLIERY
Near Resolven, Vale of Neath

This was one of the numerous slants driven into the outcropping seams in this valley. The valley bottom in this area is of a very disturbed character and therefore no deep mines have been situated in this valley, all the coal has been worked from slants or levels along the hillside. The Glyn Merthyr Colliery was opened by the Glyn Merthyr Colliery Company to produce manufacturing coals. It was re-opened in 1913 by the Ynisarwed Collieries Company to the Nos. 1 & 2 Rhondda seams, and by 1916 it employed 390 men and was managed by D. Jones. This company was not a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. In 1918 this level employed 215 men underground and 17 men on the surface, the manager was D. Griffiths. G. Dawkins was the manager in 1919 when manpower had dropped to 155. This colliery worked the Ynisarwed seam at a thickness of around 28 inches, and the No.1 Rhondda seam at a thickness of 24 inches. It abandoned the No.1 Rhondda in March 1925. In 1930 it was managed by A. Davies and employed 200 men working in the Red Vein and 20 men working at the surface of the mine producing 100,000 tons of coal in conjunction with the Red Slant.

Some statistics:

  • 1913: Manpower: 225.
  • 1916: Manpower: 390.
  • 1918: Manpower: 232.
  • 1919: Manpower: 155.
  • 1920: Manpower: 63.
  • 1923: Manpower: 60.
  • 1924: Manpower: 151.
  • 1927: Manpower: 60 underground only.
  • 1928: Manpower: 28.
  • 1930: Manpower: 220.

GLYN NEATH COLLIERY
Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath

This was a drift mine that was worked in the Upper-Five-feet seam which was known as the Lower Bluers in this area. It had a thickness of coal 0.24 metres, dirt 0.5 metres, coal 0.41 metres, dirt 0.05 metres coal 0.08 metres. It also worked the Nine-Feet seam which had a thickness of 2.8 metres, the Bute seam at a thickness of 0.75 metres and the Gellideg seam at 1.2 metres. It employed 136 men in 1923 and was owned in 1923/7 by the Glyn Neath Collieries Limited and managed by Joseph Howells in 1934. It employed 420 men in 1937.

On the 31st of August 1927, M.S. George, aged 24 years and a screens worker died when he got entangled with machinery.

GLYNTEG COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath

Listed in 1932 as producing steam coals for the Ynisarwed Collieries Limited of Resolven, but is not shown on the 1935 listings.

GNAPPOG COLLIERY
Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath

This drift was part of the Rock Colliery and with the Rock employed 824 men in 1927. It was temporarily closed in 1928.

GRAIG ISHA COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath

This short life level was owned in 1893/6 by the Melincourt Brick and Tile Company of Resolven and employed six men working for both manufacturing coals and fireclay.

LADYSMITH COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath

The Ladysmith Red Vein Slant was owned by the Ynisarwed Collieries Company and employed 159 men in 1923, 250 men in 1924, 189 men in 1927 and 289 men in 1928.

LLWY(N)DCOEDWR COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath

A level that was worked by the New Gored Merthyr Collieries Limited between 1914 and 1928, this company was not a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. In 1918 it employed 24 men underground and 6 men on the surface and was managed by W.E. Jones. In 1923 it employed 176 men working underground and 26 men working at the surface of the mine. The manager was D.L. Lloyd. It was still listed in 1925 but not in 1927and was abandoned in 1928. It worked the Wenallt Rider seam at a thickness of coal 20 inches, dirt 5 inches, coal 17 inches.

Due to geological faulting along the bottom of the Neath Valley there are no deep mines in the Valley. All the coal was extracted from the Upper Coal Measures which were worked by levels such as these high up on the mountain sides.

Some statistics:

  • 1918: Manpower: 30.
  • 1923: Manpower: 183.
  • 1924: Manpower: 164.
  • 1926: Manpower: 89.
  • 1928: Manpower: 107.

LLWYN FACH COLLIERY
Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath

This drift mine was owned by the New British Rhondda Coal Company and employed ten men in 1923. It was abandoned in 1927.

LLYN COLLIERY
Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath
Please see Rhondda Mountain Colliery.

LLYNFACH COLLIERY
Blaengwrach, Vale of Neath

This was a small level that worked the No.2 Rhondda seam which it abandoned in November 1926. Also see Llwynfach.

LOWER RESOLVEN COLLIERY
Near Resolven, Vale of Neath (821010/828010)

This was a small level that was worked in 1878/1882 by Attenburgh and May the manager at that time was William Pickreell. In 1883/4 it was owned by Richard Attenborough and managed by Temple Stroud. I have no other reference to it.

LOWER YNYS AR WED COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath

This mine was opened at the beginning of the 20th century by the Ynysarwed Collieries Company Limited and was still working in 1927 along with the Ladysmith level. It probably closed in the 1920s.

MAESGWYN COLLIERY
Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath

This was a small level that worked the Six-Feet seam which it called the Eighteen-Feet seam. In this area, the seam had a total thickness of around ten feet. It was worked by the Vale of Neath Collieries Limited and listed in 1927 as employing 229 men and in 1933 it employed 265 men. I have no other operating dates for this colliery.

MAES MARCHOG COLLIERY.
Near Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath

There was a mine of this name working pre 1743, Herbert Mackworth opened the Waunmarchog in 1793 which became the Maesmarchog. This was a drift mine that was driven into the Nine-Feet seam near its outcrop. It worked this seam which it called the Big Vein.

The Royal Commission of 1842 described it as;

Messrs, Penrose and Starbuck, proprietors,

Number of persons employed:-

Adults 17

Under 18 years of age 14

Under 13 years of age 1

No.411. Mr. Richard Penrose, proprietor.

Our vein of coal, which is about nine feet thick we are now working about 30 fathoms beneath the surface. Our working is entered by level. The smallest height of the mainway of five feet six inches and is ventilated by an air pit and furnace. We have some firedamp but we have had no accidents from either that cause nor any fatal accidents from any other cause during the last two years. The child under 13 is an air door boy and the rest are employed as hauliers. Horses do our work and a girdle and chain is not required.

In 1865/9 it was still owned by Penrose and Starbuck and in 1882 by Evans & Bevan. In 1903 it employed 12 men, in 1907 it employed 247 men in 1915 it employed 320 men and in 1916 it employed 200 men with the manager in both years being either B or R. Howell. In 1934 it was managed by D.H. Walters. It was flanked to the west by Seven Sisters Colliery, to the east and north by the outcrop of the South Wales Coalfield, to the south by Aberpergwm Colliery and to the north-west by Onllwyn Colliery. Not on my listings for 1932 or 1947.

In 1979 Wimpey were operating a Maes-y-Marchog opencast site here. It produced 273,017 tonnes of coal and employed 108 men.

  • 1902: Manpower: none.
  • 1907: Manpower: 247.
  • 1909: Manpower: 260.
  • 1910: Manpower: 206.
  • 1911: Manpower: 259.
  • 1912: Manpower: 330.
  • 1915: Manpower: 320.
  • 1916: Manpower: 200.

NEATH MERTHYR COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath

This mine was managed in 1878/1882 by M. Thomas when it was owned by the Neath Merthyr Colliery Company. It abandoned the Wenallt seam in December 1892.

NEW BRITISH RHONDDA COLLIERY
Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath

This was a level that was worked under the ownership of the New British Rhondda Colliery Company Limited. This company was not a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. It was not listed in 1913 or 1935, but listed in 1917 to 1932 when it had its own washery. At this colliery, the Gorllwyn seam was 54 inches thick. The Upper-Four-Feet seam was 52 inches thick and extensively worked as the Four-Feet White. The Six-Feet seam was extensively worked and had a thickness of 88 inches. The Red Vein seam had a thickness of 36 inches and was worked as the Lower-Four-Feet seam. The Nine-Feet seam had a thickness of 8 feet and was extensively worked. The Bute seam had a thickness of 34 inches. The Gellideg seam was 43 inches thick. The No.2 Rhondda seam was extensively worked at a thickness of 28 inches. It was called the Wenallt seam at this colliery.

NEW (G) CORED MERTHYR COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath (840000)

This mine was worked by the New Gored Merthyr Collieries Limited between 1908 and 1918.

PEACOCK COLLIERY
Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath

This was an anthracite level that was worked by the Rigos Anthracite Coal Company Limited of Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff and in 1923 it employed 107 men working underground and 16 men at the surface of the mine producing 25,000 tons of coal. The manager at that time was James Evans. This company was owned by W. Higson Lewis and Miss W.M. Lewis in 1935 when it worked the Big Vein and employed 28 men on the surface and 200 men underground producing 55,000 tons of coal. The New British Rhondda Colliery Company also worked two drifts of this name. They employed 119 men in 1923, 101 men in 1924 and 231 men in 1928/30.

PENRHIW COLLIERY
Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath

A small level that worked the Wenallt seam in the 1880s under the ownership of Phillip Rees.

PREMIER MERTHYR COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath

This was a small level that worked the Wenallt seam for house coal in the 1920s under the ownership of the Premier Merthyr Colliery Company. It employed 60 men in 1922, 129 men in 1923 and 124 men in 1924. It also worked a small amount of the Glyngwilym seam which had a thickness of between 22 inches to 26 inches. It abandoned this seam in December 1926 when it employed 120 men. The inter-war years were a difficult period for the mining industry in south Wales, exports had dramatically declined, other countries had developed their own Coalfields, and oil was now challenging coal for its crown. The industry was slow in adjusting to, and seeking new markets creating severe depressions in trade in the late 1920s and early 1930s. From a position of producing over 57 million tons of coal with a manpower of 232,000 men in 1913, the Coalfield declined to an output of 7 million tons of coal and a manpower of 26,000 men in 1980. The proportion of coal exported fell from 65% in 1913 to a measly 4% in 1980. The distribution of markets in 1980 was; coke ovens 37%, electricity generation 30%, domestic 21%, export 4%, mines and miners 5% and industry 3%.

RHONDDA MOUNTAIN COLLIERY
Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath

This was a small level that was worked by the Rhondda Mountain Steam Coal Company in 1876/1882 when it was managed by W. Tom. It then disappeared until 1915 when it was owned by William Perch Limited of Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff in 1922 employed 150 men, in 1923 it employed 50 men working underground and 10 men at the surface of the mine producing 10,000 tons of coal while in 1924 it employed 110 men. In 1927 it employed 100 men working at this mine with the manager being James Evans. Mr. Evans was still the manager in 1930 when it employed 60 men it was back up to 100 men employed in 1932. The directors of this company in 1934 were; W. Higson Lewis, C.M. Marshall and H.M. Ingle dew. The company secretary was G.L. Richards. At that time it controlled two collieries (this one and Pengam) that employed 180 men and produced 35,000 tons of coal. In 1935 it employed 10 men on the surface and 50 men underground and was still managed by J. Evans. It was closed by Nationalisation in 1947.

On 10/6/1876, William Morris, aged 15 years and a collier died under a roof fall.

TAFARN-Y-BANWEN COLLIERY
Vale of Neath

This small level abandoned the Bluers or Yard seam in February 1930.

TONPLANWYDD COLLIERY
Glyn-neath, Vale of Neath

The only mention that I can find for this anthracite slant is in 1933 when it employed 74 men and was owned by Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Limited.

TROED-Y-GWYDD COLLIERY
Vale of Neath

This level was owned by the Clyne Merthyr Collieries Company. It employed 150 men in 1922, 130 men in 1924 and 112 men in 1925.

TWEEDLE COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath

There was a Tweedle or Tweddel level that worked between 1812 and 1818. This was a small level that was listed in 1924/32 as being owned by the Ynisarwed Collieries Limited. It employed 127 men in 1924 and was abandoned in 1929.

TYRA COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath

This was another small level in this area that was worked by the Cory Brothers in 1896 when it employed 12 men underground with the manager being W. Waplington. In 1908 it employed 12 men and was managed by William Jones, in 1913 it employed 159 men and was managed by W.M. Jones. It was linked to Glyncastle and Gregory’s. This company was a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. It was still listed in 1917, in 1918 it employed 24 men and in 1919 it employed 19 men with the manager still Mr. Jones. It abandoned the No.2 Rhondda seam in April 1921.

Some statistics:

  • 1896: Manpower: 12.
  • 1907: Manpower: 18.
  • 1908: Manpower: 12.
  • 1910: Manpower: 46.
  • 1912: Manpower: 226.
  • 1913: Manpower: 159.
  • 1918: Manpower: 24.
  • 1919: Manpower: 19.
  • 1920: Manpower: 36.

WENALLT COLLIERY
Aberdulais, Vale of Neath

This colliery was owned by Joshua Williams and Company in 1870 while the Graigola Merthyr Colliery Company of Swansea was working the Wenallt or Hughes seam in 1884. It abandoned that seam in April 1895 and again in June 1927. The Wenallt, Glyngwilym abandoned the Glyngwilym seam in March 1923 and the Wenallt, Welsh Farm abandoned the Wenallt seam in May 1929. It employed 50 men in 1900.

On 28/7/1887, John Prout, aged 16 years, collier, was run over by trams, and then on 11/11/1887, George Hill, collier, died under a roof fall.

WENALLT MERTHYR COLLIERY
Aberdulais, Vale of Neath

The original Wenallt Merthyr was opened to feed the Aberdulais Tin Works by W. Llewellyn and Company c1841. In 1869 it was owned by Joshua Williams and Company. In 1878 it was managed by M. Raymond.

In 1882 it was owned by the West Rhondda Coal and Coke Company. In 1884 there was two Wenallt Merthyr’s, both were owned by the Wenallt Merthyr Colliery Company, and one was located at Aberdulais and the other at Neath and was probably the Lletty Mawr. The Neath one was managed by W. David and the Aberdulais one by M. Reynolds. The Wenallt Merthyr or New Forest abandoned the Wenallt seam in September 1888, while the Wenallt Merthyr abandoned the same seam in January 1892. It had worked this seam on the pillar & stall system using naked lights. Ventilation was by the exhaust steam from a pump at the bottom of the 8 feet in diameter and 150 feet deep upcast shaft.

On 14/4/1881, John Davies, aged 27 years, collier, died under a roof fall. As did, John Harris, aged 44 years, collier on the 23/8/1886.

YNYSBIWLOG COLLIERY
Resolven, Vale of Neath

This mine was working an unnamed seam in 1875, it was working the No.1 Rhondda seam in 1913 and was shown in 1917 as being owned by the Ynisarwed Collieries Limited. It was not shown in 1921. This company was not a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. There was an Ynyspyllog Colliery listed in the Neath area in 1860 when it was owned by J. Morgan & Company.

 

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

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