Blaentillery Colliery

Near Blaenavon, Afan Lwyd Valley (22700820)

There was a small level of this name that worked the Mynyddislwyn seam from 1899 to 1914. In 1901/2/3 the Blaentillery employed one man to produce coal for its own consumption. In 1905 it employed 14 men and in 1910/12 it employed 2 men. In January of 1967, the NCB expended £500,000 opening a new drift a thousand feet above sea level and 1,100 yards from Big Pit’s baths using 250 men from Big Pit. It was planned to open two 100-yard-long coalfaces to work an estimated 1.3 million tons of coal in an area of 495 acres. However, the mine was a failure.

The owners of a licensed mine of this name in 1988 were the Blaentillery Mining Ltd., of West Yorkshire. By 1987/96 the No.2 level was owned by the Ffynonau Duon Colliery Company. Around 2002 it was owned by the Blaentillery Mining Limited and in March 2003 it qualified for a grant of £49,400 from the final payments of the Coal Operating Aid Scheme. However, this company was wound up in February 2005.

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