This page is a work in progress and will be updated as time permits.

When the coal industry was nationalised in 1947, there were 250 collieries in Wales; now there are none. The last five pits to close were  Carway Fawr (1992), Point of Ayr (1996), Betws (2003), Tower (2008) & Aberpergwm (2011)

1984 Strike
1984 Strike at Celynen South Colliery
NCB Report on the Anthracite Coalfield 1949
Outbursts in the Anthracite Coalfield
The Trade Unions
The Ocean Coal Company
The Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company Limited
Water Balance Winding

Pre Nationalisation Collieries

Cribbwr Fawr & Cribbwr Main Collieries near Bridgend
Cwnaman Colliery, Aberaman
Fochriw Colliery, Fochriw, near Rhymney
Fforchneol Colliery, also Fforchneol  Graig, Fforchwen, Bedwlwyn & Trewen Collieries, Cwmaman
Morfa Colliery, Port Talbot
Raglan Colliery, Heol Laethog & Vale Collieries Heol-y-Cyw, Bridgend

Collieries after Nationalisation in 1947

Dates in brackets indicate the date that the colliery merged with another
Colliery Location Opened Closed (merged)
Aberaman Aberdare 1843 November 1962
Aberaman Clay Level Aberdare 1885 May 1949
Aberbaiden Maesteg 1905 January 1959
Aberbeeg South Blaenavon 1925 December 1965
Abercarn Abercarn 1855 1955 [Pumping Station]
Abercrave Crynant 1855 March 1967
Abercynon Abercynon 1889 (March) (1975) Merged with Lady Windsor
Abergelli Gorseinon 1930 (1947) Merged with Clydach Merthyr
Abergorki Porth 1918 August 1967
Abernant Pontardawe 1953 February 1988
Aberpergwm Glyneath 1947 January 2011
Abertillery New Mine Blaenavon (1950s) October 1985 Merger of Rose Heyworth & Cwmtillery
Albion Abercynon 1884 September 1966
Ammanford Ammanford 1891 September 1976
Avon Ogmore Vale 1877 September 1969
Bargoed Tredegar 1904 November 1949
Bargoed, North & South Tredegar 1897 June 1977
Bedlinog Abercannaid 1875 December 1948 [Pumping Station – NCB]
Bedlinog Cross Measures Drift Abercannaid 1930 March 1956 Formerly Nantyffin Drift
Bedwas Navigation Abercarn 1909 August 1985
Betws New Mine Ammanford 1974 July 2003
Beynon Tredegar 1922 April 1973 Became part of the Blaenavon Group
Big Pit Blaenavon 1890 (December) (1960) Became part of the Blaenavon Group
Blaenant Level Crynant 1976 May 1990
Blaenavon Blaenavon 1960 April 1980
Blaenclydach Ogmore Vale 1863 June 1947
Blaendare Slope Blaenavon 1860 1978
Blaengwrach Glyneath 1960 July 1983
Blaenhirwaun Llanelli 1908 August 1962
Blaenserchan Blaenavon 1888 (August) (1985) Became part of the Blaenavon Group
Blaentillery Blaenavon 1967 1967
Braichycymmer Ogmore Vale 1947 1960
Britannia Abercynon 1910 December 1983
Britannic Merthyr Ogmore Vale 1895 January 1960
Broad Oak Gorseinon 1869 May 1948
Bryn Navigation Maesteg 1904 June 1963
Brynhenllis Crynant 1885 August 1955
Brynlliw Gorseinon 1903 (1977) Merged with Morlais
Brynteg Crynant 1875 November 1954
Bwllfa Dare Aberdare 1854 (February) (1957) Absorbed into Mardy
Caerau Maesteg 1889 August 1977
Cambrian Ogmore Vale 1872 September 1966
Carway Llanelli 1855 July 1960
Carway Fawr Llanelli 1986 November 1992
Castle  Abercannaid 1866 1950 [Pumping Station – NCB]
Cefn Coed Crynant 1920 April 1968
Cefn Drim Ammanford 1910 June 1978
Celynen North Abercarn 1913 (March) (1985) Merged with Oakdale
Celynen South Abercarn 1873 November 1985
Cilely Porth 1875 October 1950
Coedcae Ogmore Vale 1962 September 1973
Coedely Porth 1910 (June) (1977) Merged with Cwm
Coegnant Maesteg 1882 November 1981
Coronation Level Glyneath 1940 1947
Crumlin Abercarn 1908 September 1967
Crynant Crynant 1871 March 1956
Cwm Porth 1909 November 1986
Cwm Carn Pit Abercarn 1876 November 1968
Cwmcynon Porth 1889 January 1949
Cwmglo Abercannaid 1924 December 1949
Cwmgorse Pontardawe 1905 May 1964
Cwmgwili Ammanford 1960 November 1996
Cwmgwrach Glyneath 1910 September 1963
Cwmllynfell Pontardawe 1905 January 1959
Cwmneol Aberdare 1855 January 1948
Cwmtillery Blaenavon 1850 (November) (1960) Merged  to form Abertillery New Mine
Cwmtillery Red Ash Blaenavon 1890 1950
Cynheidre, Nos 1 & 2 Llanelli 1954 January 1989
Cynheidre, Nos 3 & 4 Llanelli 1962 January 1989
Cynon Maesteg 1935 1948
Dare Ogmore Vale 1870 (1955) Merged with Park
Daren Pontardawe 1935 October 1964
Deakin’s Slope Blaenavon 1885 January 1957
Deakin’s Red Ash Level Blaenavon 1947 September 1956
Deep Duffryn Abercannaid 1850 September 1979
Deep Navigation Abercynon 1873 March 1991
Dillwyn Crynant 1895 April 1966
Duffryn Rhondda Maesteg 1903 November 1966
Eastern Ogmore Vale 1885 1939
Elliot Tredegar 1883 April 1967
Felinfran Pontardawe 1935 December 1965
Ferndale, No.1 Porth 1857 August
Ferndale, No.5 Porth 1885 August 1959
Fernhill, Nos 1 & 2 Glyneath 1895 (March) (1966) Merged with Tower
Fernhill, Nos 3 & 4 Glyneath 1915 (March) (1966) Merged with Tower
Ffaldau Ogmore Vale 1877 (March) (1975) Merged to form Garw-Ffaldau
Ffaldydre Glyneath 1915 September 1963
Fforchaman Aberdare 1850 September 1965
Garn Slope Blaenavon 1930 1966
Garngoch, No.1 Gorseinon 1870 April 1952
Garngoch, No.3 Gorseinon 1906 February 1966
Garth Merthyr Crynant 1937 October 1959
Garth Tonmawr Maesteg 1947 June 1964
Garw Ogmore Vale 1883 (March) (1975) Merged to form Garw-Ffaldau
Garw-Ffaldau Ogmore Vale 1975 December 1985
Gelli Porth 1870 January 1962
Gelliciedrim Pontardawe 1891 Novermber  1957
Glanamman Pontardawe 1890 January 1948
Gleison Crynant 1913 July 1947
Glen Rhondda, No.1 Ogmore Vale 1899 September 1966
Glen Rhondda, No.2 Level Ogmore Vale 1930 1955
Glengarw Ogmore Vale 1910 November 1959
Glenhafod Maesteg 1920 November 1958
Glyn Pits Blaenavon 1843 October 1949
Glyntillery (new) Abercarn 1954 December 1975
Glyntillery (old) Blaenavon 1914 (September) (1959)
Glyncastle Glyneath 1896 April 1965
Glyncorrwg Glyneath 1905 May 1970
Glynhebog Llanelli 1885 October 1949
Glynogwr Slant Ogmore Vale 1910 September 1949
Graig Fawr Abercarn 1924 October 1961
Graig Merthyr Ammanford 1868 June 1978
Great Mountain, Nos 1 & 2 Llanelli 1887 May 1962
Groesfaen Tredegar 1902 November 1968
Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, General Pontardawe 1886 October 1962
Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, East Pit Pontardawe 1910 October 1962
Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, Maerdy Pit Pontardawe 1886 January 1948
Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, Steer Pit Pontardawe 1924 January 1959
Gwenallt Blaenavon 1900 1947
Hafod Porth 1850 1983
Hafodyrynys Abercarn 1878 August 1959
Hafodyrynys New Mine Abercarn 1955 December 1975
Hendy Merthyr Pontardawe 1930 November 1960
International Crynant 1895 March (1947) Absorbed by Abercrave
International Ogmore Vale 1885 November 1967
Islwyn Tredegar 1888 December 1948
Kay’s Slope Blaenavon 1878 (1953) Merged with Garn Slope
Lady Lewis Porth 1904 1960 [Ventilation only]
Lady Windsor Porth 1884 (March) (1975) Merged with Abercynon
Lady Windsor-Abercynon Porth 1884 February 1988
Lewis Merthyr Porth 1850 (December) (1960) Merged with Tymawr
Lindsay Ammanford 1962 (June) (1968) Merged with Cwmgwili
Llanmarch Blaenavon 1908 June 1947
Llanbradach Abercynon 1890 December 1961
Llandebie Ammanford 1904 December 1958
Llanerch Blaenavon 1858 September 1947
Llanharan Porth 1922 August 1962
Llanhilleth Blaenavon 1860 March 1969
Llanover Tredegar 1910 May 1929  Bought by Markham & Oakdale Collieries
Llwynypia, No.4 Porth 1925 1965 [Pumping Station]
Lucy Thomas, No.4 Pit Abercannaid 1940 March 1955
Lucy Thomas, No.5 Pit Abercannaid 1945 March 1955
Maesteg Deep Maesteg 1880 1950
Maindy Ogmore Vale 1864 April 1948
Mardy, Nos 3 & 4 Aberdare 1893 June 1986
Marine Tredegar 1887 March 1989
Maritime Porth 1889 June 1961
Markham Tredegar 1910 September 1985
McLaren Tredegar 1897 (July) (1958) Merged with Ogilvie
McLaren Merthyr Tredegar 1897 1970
Merthyr Vale Abercannaid 1869 August 1989
Milfraen Blaenavon 1865 1950 [Pumping Station]
Morlais Gorseinon 1894 (June) (1977) Merged with Brynlliw
Mount Ammanford 1930 January 1959
Mountain Gorseinon 1903 November 1969
Mountain Level Crynant 1890 March 1956
Mynydd Maen Blaenavon 1912 October 1954
Mynydd Newydd Gorseinon 1843 June 1955
Nantewlaeth Maesteg 1915 November 1948
Nantgarw Abercynon 1947 (March) (1975) Merged with Windsor
Nantrodyn Ogmore Vale 1930 August 1937
National Porth 1881 November 1968
Naval Porth 1885 October 1958
Nebo Porth 1924 July 1953
New Cross Hands Ammanford 1899 May 1962
New Cwmgorse Pontardawe 1905 May 1964
New Drifts Aberdare 1920 1950 [Pumping]
New Dynant Llanelli 1901 1952
New Lodge Llanelli 1855 November 1949
New Rockwood Abercynon 1937 May 1963
Newlands Maesteg 1918 March 1968
Nine Mile Point Abercarn 1902 July 1964
Normandy Level Pontardawe 1944 (1863) 1951 (1978) (Part of Clydach Merthyr Colliery)
North Rhondda Glyneath 1910 July 1960
North Rhondda No.2 Glyneath 1875 May 1947
Oakdale Abercarn 1907 August 1989
Oaklands Maesteg 1947 August 1953
No.10 Slope Blaenavon 1885 January 1957
Ogilvie Tredegar 1919 March 1975
Onllwyn, No.1 Glyneath 1918 April 1964
Onllwyn, No.3 Glyneath 1918 February 1962
Onllwyn, Trigloyn Glyneath 1935 1950
Pantyffynnon Ammanford 1858 January 1969
Park Ogmore Vale 1864 February 1966
Penallta Abercynon 1905 November 1991
Pengam Abercynon 1905 June 1956
Penllwyngwent Ogmore Vale 1905 February 1969
Penrhiwceiber Porth 1872 October 1985
Pentre Maesteg 1908 January 1959
Pentreclwydau Glyneath 1955 May 1967
Pentremawr Llanelli 1893 (March) (1974)
Pidwellt Abercannaid 1930 December 1953
Pochin Tredegar 1876 July 1964
Pwll Llanelli 1860 January 1953
Pwllbach Crynant 1925 January 1966
Rhas Glyneath 1910 November 1953
Rhigos, No.1 Glyneath 1940 February 1965
Rhigos, No.7 Glyneath 1955 February 1965
Rhiw Colbren No.2 Blaenavon 1935 April 1950
Rhiw Colbren No.5 Blaenavon 1938 October 1947
Risca Abercarn 1875 July 1966
Rock Abercarn 1855 June 1957
Rock Glyneath 1905 October (1961) Merged with Aberpergwm
Rock Vein Pit Abercarn 1920 (1954) Merged with Nine Mile Point
Rose Heyworth Blaenavon 1872 (December) (1960) Merged  to form Abertillery New Mine
Saron Ammanford 1930 September 1956
Seven Sisters Crynant 1872 May 1963
Six Bells 1898 (1970s) Merged with Marine
South Wales Blaenavon 1850 (December) (1960)
St John’s Maesteg 1908 November 1985
Taff Merthyr Abercannaid 1922 October 1992
Talyclyn Ammanford 1870 February 1952
Tareni, No.1 Crynant 1902 July 1947
Tareni, No.2 Crynant 1902 February 1949
Tir Herbert Aberdare 1914 December 1958
Tirbach Crynant 1899 September 1940 Used as a Training Centre until 1961
Tirpentwys Blaenavon 1878 (September (1959) Merged with Hafodyrynys New Mine
Tower Glyneath 1941 January 2008
Trane Porth 1915 (1952)
Treforgan Crynant 1963 1985
Trelewis Drift Abercannaid 1954 August 1989
Trimsaran Llanelli 1925 April 1954
Ty Trist Tredegar 1834 January 1959
Tydraw Ogmore Vale 1865 January 1959
Tylorstown [Ferndale], No.9 Porth 1905 October 1960
Tylwydyn Pontardawe 1937 September 1949
Tymawr Porth 1890 June 1983
Tytalwyn Drift Maesteg 1910 January 1949
Varteg Crynant 1925 November 1964
Vivian Blaenavon 1889 (July) (1958) Merged with Six Bells
Waterloo Abercarn 1908 March 1970
Waun Llwyd Tredegar 1874 (December) (1963) Merged with Marine
Werfa Dare Abercannaid 1860 August 1949
Wernfawr West Gorseinon 1940 May 1949
Wernos Ammanford 1905 November 1965
Wernos Pontardawe 1905 November 1965
Werntarw Ogmore Vale 1918 August 1964
West Blaina, Red Ash Tredegar 1890 April 1948
Western Ogmore Vale 1872 (April) (1964) Merged with Wyndham
Windsor Abercynon 1896 (March) (1975) Merged with Nantgarw
Wyllie Abercarn 1924 March 1968
Wyndham Ogmore Vale 1865 January 1984
Yniscedwyn Crynant 1890 March 1968
Ynishir Porth 1849 1960
Ynysarwed Crynant 1904 December 1955
Ystalyfera Crynant 1910 August 1957
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