BLAENDUAR COLLIERY
Blaenavon, Afan Lwyd Valley

The earliest mention that I can find for this (or another) colliery of that name is in 1901 when it employed one man. The next listing that I have on it is in 1937/8 when it was owned by the Jones Brothers of Abergavenny and employed 2 men underground and 1 man on the surface. In 1943/5 it employed 21 men working the Yard and Meadow Veins.

On Nationalisation in 1947 the Blaenduar No.2 Licensed mine was owned by the Jones Brothers who worked it for gas, house and steam coals from the Yard seam. At that time it employed 25 men underground and 3 men on the surface. In 1948 it employed 30 men. It was owned by Mrs. E.A. Jones in 1949 and employed 29 men. In the 1950s it was owned by R.I. Jones of Pontypool and employed 20 men underground still working the Yard seam and fireclay with three men working on the surface of the mine. In 1969/70 it was owned by J.W.C. Jones and T. Tarrant of Ebbw Vale employed 20 men working underground in the Yard, Meadow Vein and Old Coal seams and 3 men working at the surface of the mine. In 1971 P.J. Rubins had replaced Mr. Tarrant as a partner. It is not listed after this date.

It abandoned the Yard Seam in 1970 and the Meadow Vein in 1971.

GARN No.2 LEVEL
Blaenafon

A small level worked under license from the National Coal Board in 1955 when it was owned by E.E. Shaw, and in 1960 when it was owned by G.E. Shaw. Not shown to be working in the 1970s.

JOHNSON COLLIERY
Blaenavon, Afan Lwyd Valley (249078)

In 1992 this small mine was worked by Griffin and Son (Pwlldu) Limited in the Big Vein. In the 1994/6 period, it was owned by the Ffynonau Duon Colliery Company.

WAEN PWLL DWR COLLIERY
Waenavon, Afan Lwyd Valley (20991125)

This was a small level that employed 2 men in 1927/8 when owned by George Jones and 2 men underground and 1 man on the surface in 1938 and five men underground working the Soap Vein and one man on the surface in 1945. It was worked under license from the National Coal Board in 1948/50 by E.J. Matthews and employed 3 and 6 men respectively. In 1955/7 it was owned by S.J. Matthews of Llanelly Hill. It worked the Eighteen Inch seam at a section of 0.45 metres and in 1957 the Soap Vein with 6 men working underground and 1 man at the surface of the mine.

WINSTONE COLLIERY
Forgeside, Blaenavon, Afan Lwyd Valley (245082)

This was a small mine that worked under license from the National Coal Board between 1981 and 1999. It consisted of two levels and an airshaft and replaced the Big Arch mine. In 1992 it was working the Big Vein seam under the ownership of the Tranch Elled Colliery Company and on closure by the Graig Wen Mining Co.

 

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

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