Britannia Colliery

Britannia Colliery
Copyright © Chris Allen and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Sinking of the shafts was started in 1910 by the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Co. Ltd, with coal production starting in 1912. The shafts were 21 feet (6.4m) in diameter; No1 shaft (downcast) was 615 yards (562m) deep and No 2 (upcast) 714 yards (652m). By 1918 there were 1,520 men employed, but this number was nearly halved by the time the colliery was nationalised in 1947.

Britannia Colliery was the first all electric pit in the country. 1600hp Ilinger motor/generator sets installed by Siemens, drove a 32 ton flywheel, which enabled two 1600hp motors per winder to be used on the shafts.

The colliery became part of the National Coal Board in 1947 and coal production continued for another 36 years until its final closure in 1983.