Crynant, Dulais Valley (816076)

This mine was situated half way between Crynant and Seven Sisters and was one mile to the south of Seven Sisters Colliery. It was opened in 1872 when it was one of six mines in the Dulais Valley owned by Evans & Bevan. Between 1877 and 1881 it was not on the list of mines. In 1884 it was managed by Thomas Jenkins and was only worked for clay and coal for the local brickworks. in 1893 it was listed as ‘standing’. In 1902 it was being opened out and by 1903 work had begun on the Lower Drift with the Upper Drift started in 1913.

The original drift worked the Red Vein extensively towards the south-west and was stopped in 1946. The next slant worked for a distance over 3,500 yards until it hit a 270 yard deep geological fault, traversing this fault they found another one 300 yards away that dropped 118 yards. The coal between the two faults was the last worked at this colliery. The main haulage engine on the surface had a 400 hp motor that was capable of hauling 40 full trams 3,000 yards and up the drift. This company was a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. Around 1917 a 6 feet in diameter Waddle type ventilating fan was installed. It worked the anthracite classed Red Vein seam and employed 138 men underground and 16 men on the surface in 1908 when managed by J. Gorbett.

In 1910 a mechanised face was installed at this colliery but failed to produce the expected coal output and the coalface was abandoned. This mine employed 221 men in 1911, 275 men in 1913 when it was still managed by John Gorbett, 220 men in 1916 and 241 men underground and 30 men on the surface in 1918 when managed by J. Gorbett, and 243 men in 1919. In 1923 it employed 338 men working underground and 38 men working at the surface. In 1927 it employed 550 men with the manager still being John Gorbett, manpower continued to rise to 406 in 1930. In 1935 it employed 57 men on the surface and 342 men underground in 1935 when a John Gorbett is still shown as manager. Notices were issued on the 13th of May 1938 and the pit closed until the 1st of July 1938.

On the Thursday morning of the 16th of February 1939 seven nightshift workers refused to come up the pit in a dispute over wages. They finally came up at 12.30 on the following Saturday and were subsequently fined at the local magistrates court collectively £39.92 for breach of contract. In 1943/5 the No.1 employed 62 men and the No.2 employed 297 men with 78 men working at the surface of the mine. Both slants were working the Red Vein. 1943/5 M.R. Morgan is manager.

On Nationalisation in 1947 Brynteg came under the control of the NCB’s South Western Division’s, Area No.1, and at that time the No.1 employed 88 men, the No.2, 254 men, with 87 men employed on the surface. The manager was A. Evans. In 1949 M.R. Morgan was the manager and it employed 310 men working underground and 75 men working at the surface producing 70,000 tons of coal. The NCB soon found that the No.1 (Swansea) Area was too large and formed the No.9 (Neath) Area with Brynteg transferring to the new area for a short period before its closure on the 30th of October 1954 on the grounds that it was uneconomic.

This colliery then consisted of the Old and New Slopes driven into the outcrop of the Red Vein and a pit sunk 156 feet to the same seam. The Red Vein (the Gorllwyn?) seam was extensively worked at a thickness of 32”. It was semi anthracite in type and fairly sulphurly.

There was deep resentment from the NUM following closure when two small mines were given licenses to work the Red Vein in the old Brynteg area.

Just some of those killed at this mine:

  • 13/04/1910, B. Mathias, Age: 46: Roadman: Knocked down and run over by journey.
  • 24/02/1911, Edward Stuckey, Age: 28: Collier: While forcibly stemming the first portion of clay on a charge of gelignite in a shot-hole by means of a copper stemmer the charge exploded. He was injured on the thighs, not very seriously, but tetanus supervened, and he died on the 12th March,
  • 2/10/1924, David Mark, Age: 19: Collier: Found by fireman on afternoon round of inspection under a stone from roof – fractured skull and broken neck.
  • 21/10/1925, Charles Harries, Age: 17: Assistant collier: Powder exploded by coming in contact with naked light – burns to hands and chest. Died 17th. Feb 1926.
  • 12/04/1927, C. McQuillan, Age: 17: Colliers assistant: While making coal free from face it discharged a sprag that held a piece of overhanging clod that fell and caught them – died 14th. 1 killed 1 injured.
  • 7/06/1929, James Davis, Age: 40: Haulier: Slipped fell under horse drawn loaded tram.

Some Statistics:

  • 1903: Manpower: 14.
  • 1905: Manpower: 118.
  • 1907: Manpower: 127.
  • 1909: Manpower: 154.
  • 1910: Manpower: 246.
  • 1911: Manpower: 221.
  • 1912: Manpower: 315
  • 1913: Manpower: 275.
  • 1916: Manpower: 220.
  • 1918: Manpower: 271.
  • 1919: Manpower: 243.
  • 1920: Manpower: 323.
  • 1922: Manpower: 323.
  • 1923: Manpower: 376.
  • 1924: Manpower: 370.
  • 1925: Manpower: 409.
  • 1926: Manpower: 497.
  • 1927: Manpower: 437.
  • 1928: Manpower: 406.
  • 1929: Manpower: 422.
  • 1930: Manpower: 406.
  • 1933: Manpower: 462.
  • 1935: Manpower: 399.
  • 1937: Manpower: 547.
  • 1938: Manpower: 541.
  • 1940: Manpower: 510.
  • 1941: Manpower: 511.
  • 1944: Manpower: 487.
  • 1945: Manpower: 437.
  • 1947: Manpower: 449.
  • 1948: Manpower: 422. Output: 70,000 tons.
  • 1949: Manpower: 310. Output: 70,000 tons.
  • 1950: Manpower: 358.
  • 1953: Manpower: 299. Output: 39,800 tons.

 

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

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