Aberdare, Cynon Valley (971029)
This was a series of levels that included the Windber Drift, New Drift, Graig, Bwlch and Lleustan Llwynon drifts that were opened from c1905 by D.R. Llewellyn and Sons Limited to produce house, coking and steam coals and employed 25 men in that year. It was worked in conjunction with this level were the Windber Bwlch (1911 to 1925), James Rees and James Williams Levels, all were sunk around 1910 – 1914 and closed in the 1920s.
This company was a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. This mine employed 69 men underground and 8 men at the surface in 1907 and 58 men underground and 8 on the surface in 1908 when managed by D.R. Llewellyn, 73 men in 1913, 164 men in 1915, 335 men in 1918 when managed by D.J. Davies and 300 men producing 80,000 tons of coal in 1920. It employed 221 men in 1923. In 1927it employed 240 men with G. Barling the manager, in 1930 it employed 220 men, in 1931/2 it employed 200 men, in 1933 it employed 247 men and in 1935 there were 34 men working at the surface of the mine and 186 men working underground. It was then still managed by G.B. Barling.
In 1934 D.R. Llewellyn and Sons Limited was based at the Bwllfa Colliery with the following as its directors; Sir David R. Llewellyn, W.M. Llewellyn, H.H. Merrett, Sir John F. Beale, T.J. Callaghan , J.H. Jolly and D.J. Davies. The company secretary was Daniel Morgan. In that year it controlled four collieries, employing 925 men that produced 156,843 tons of coal.
It worked the Gorllwyn seam and was closed before 1940.
Some statistics:
- 1907: Manpower: 77.
- 1908: Manpower: 66.
- 1909: Manpower: 150.
- 1910: Manpower: 146.
- 1912: Manpower: 137, New Drift: 62, Bwlch: 46, Graig: 30, Lleustan Llwynon: 18.
- 1913: Manpower: 73.
- 1915: Manpower: 164.
- 1918: Manpower: 335.
- 1920: Manpower: 300.
- 1922: Manpower: 325.
- 1923: Manpower: 221.
- 1924: Manpower: 216.
- 1927: Manpower: 240.
- 1928: Manpower: 202.
- 1929: Manpower: 260.
- 1930: Manpower: 220.
- 1933: Manpower: 247.
- 1934: Manpower: 161.
- 1935: Manpower: 220.
