Clydach Colliery

Near Blaenavon

This mine was situated on the north-eastern outcrop of the South Wales Coalfield just inside the old Breconshire border. It was owned in 1878 by the Lewis and Morgan Partnership and managed by W. Morris, in 1913 it was owned by the Waen Nantyglo Colliery Company who at that time employed 30 men at the New Clydach Level. The Waen Nantyglo Colliery Company was owned by Evan Williams and became the dominant coal company in the area of the northeast outcrop. Based in Cardiff it was established in 1875 and incorporated in 1911. It did not join the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association and by 1917 controlled seven levels employing 803 men. It continued to work at the New Clydach level until at least 1932, but it is not recorded as part of its holdings in 1935.

This mine was situated on the north-eastern outcrop of the South Wales Coalfield just inside the old Breconshire border. It was owned in 1878 by the Lewis and Morgan Partnership and managed by W. Morris, in 1913it was owned by the Waen Nantyglo Colliery Company who at that time employed 30 men at the New Clydach Level. The Waen Nantyglo Colliery Company was owned by Evan Williams and became the dominant coal company in the area of the northeast outcrop. Based in Cardiff it was established in 1875 and incorporated in 1911. It did not join the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association and by 1917 controlled seven levels employing 803 men.

It continued to work at the New Clydach level until at least 1932, but it was not recorded as part of its holdings in 1935.

NEW CLYDACH COLLIERY
Blaenavon, Afan Lwyd Valley

This was a small mine on the north-east outcrop of the Coalfield that was linked to the Gelli, Gutter and Pinchy levels. The Bydelog or Black Vein seam was; top coal 27 inches, clod 3 inches, bottom coal 21 inches, while the Meadow Vein was; top coal 38 inches, clod 18 inches, coal 36 inches, clod 24 inches, coal 7 feet 11 inches. In 1888 it was worked by the New Clydach Colliery Company and consisted of a pit and level that was working the Yard, Elled and Bydelog seams with T.F. Thomas as the manager. It was worked by T. & E. Williams in 1899/1902 when it was producing both house and steam coals.

In 1899 the New Clydach by Waenavon employed 74 men working underground and 11 men at the surface of the mine, while the New Clydach at Llanelly was sub-titled West Llanmarch level and employed 6 men working underground and 2 men at the surface. Both were managed by Sylvanus Jones. In 1907 it employed 135 men working underground and 19 men at the surface and in 1908 it employed 116 men and was managed by William Thomas.

In 1913 it was owned by the Waen Nantyglo Colliery Company Limited and managed by William Thomas. It employed 30 men in that year. In 1918 it employed 165 men underground and 22 men on the surface. In 1923 it was managed by W.H. Jones and employed 210 men working underground and 26 men working at the surface of the mine in 1924 it employed 346 men. It abandoned the Yard Seam in October 1885, the Bydelog Seam in February 1888, the Big Vein in May 1891 and the Meadow Vein in November 1924 when it probably closed.

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