Ystradgynlais, Swansea Valley

Served by the Neath and Brecon Railway, this anthracite slant was worked in the early decades of the 20th century by the Gurnos Anthracite Colliery Company. It consisted of two slants, driven down 1 in 3, to the Big Vein which was between 78 inches to 90 inches thick. This small company was based at Ystradgynlais, and was not a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. In 1908 it was managed by D.
Davies and employed 183 men underground and 30 men on the surface.

On the 17th of December 1909 at 4.45 am two miners were killed and 3 injured in an explosion. Those that died were John Moloney aged 24 years and William Belton aged 24 years.

In 1913 it employed 46 men at this slant with the manager being A. Lloyd. Probably due to the war manpower shot up to 300 men in 1915/6. The manager was still A. Lloyd. In 1918 it employed 186 men underground and 31 men on the surface with the manager being D. Jeffreys. He was still the manager in 1919 when this colliery employed 250 men.

It was one of the first companies to come under the control of Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Limited (1923) Ltd. It abandoned the Four-Feet seam in November 1922 and the Peacock or Brass seam in August 1928 but was still working the Big Vein. Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries greatly developed this colliery until it employed 177 men in 1927 and 250 men in 1930/4. The manager at that time was J.S. Evans.

The colliery closed prior to 1947.

Some statistics:

  • 1902: Manpower: 41.
  • 1905: Manpower: 115.
  • 1907: Manpower: 144.
  • 1908: Manpower: 183.
  • 1909: Manpower: 213.
  • 1910: Manpower: 220.
  • 1911: Manpower: 148.
  • 1912: Manpower: 286.
  • 1915: Manpower: 300.
  • 1916: Manpower: 300.
  • 1918: Manpower: 217.
  • 1919: Manpower: 250.
  • 1920: Manpower: 250.
  • 1922: Manpower: 250.
  • 1924: Manpower: 250.
  • 1925: Manpower: 250.
  • 1926: Manpower: 177.
  • 1927: Manpower: 177.
  • 1930: Manpower: 250.
  • 1934: Manpower: 250.

 

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

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