Caerbryn Colliery

Penygroes (downcast 994139, upcast 5941136. Dyffryn 591137. No.2; 595136. N0.3; 595136)

A Cottage Hall Level worked the Upper Coal Measures in the period 1857 to 1868 under the ownership of Pendry & Williams. In 1845 a Caerbryn Colliery is listed for the area, while in 1857/72 it was owned by Perry Williams, (the 1865 list of mines gives the owners as Pendry and Williams while the 1869 list shows Perry Williams, the 1865 one is the correct one). In 1873 the owner is the Caerbryn Coal Company although it is not on my lists for 1874 to 1881. In the 1882/91 period, it was owned by David Jones and Company of Llandebie and managed by David Davies. It worked the Rock, Green, Stanllyd and Pumpquart seams. George Simpson had a brief tenure in 8192 but he abandoned it in that year. In 1893/7 it is owned by the French Anthracite Company of Swansea and in 1896 it employed 232 men underground and 71 men on the surface. The manager in 1893 was F.H. Bell and in 1896 it was Matthew Thompson. They closed this mine in 1897 only for David Jones to work it once more between 1898 and 1899.

In 1900 it was owned by the Caerbryn Colliery Company of Cardiff and employed Daniel J. Rees as the manager. Then came W.A. Blindell in 1902 to 1904, then the Caerbryn Colliery Company in 1905, the executors of Thomas |Jones in 1906/07 and then the Caerbryn and Empire Collieries Limited in 1908/9 when the No.1 employed 258 men underground and 81 men on the surface and the No.2 employed 5 men opening it up, both were managed by G. Rees. In 1911 it employed 372 men and in 1913 it employed 428 men, in 1915 it employed 450 men, in 1916 it employed 480 men, in 1919 it employed 500 men. It was managed during this time by Gwilym Rees. By 1917 it was in the hands of the Caerbryn Anthracite Colliery Limited. In 1923 it was still owned by the Caerbryn Anthracite Colliery Company and was managed by H. Morgan. It was working the No.2 Rhondda seam and employed 158 men working underground and 49 men on the surface in the No.2 Slant and 66 men working underground and 13 men working at the surface of the No.3 Slant. About 1925 it was absorbed into United Anthracite Collieries Limited, who in turn was absorbed into Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Limited in 1926.

In 1927 only the No.1 Slant is listed, employing 188 men. In 1928 it employed 156 men working underground and 54 men working at the surface of the mine. H. Morgan was still the manager. It was abandoned in February of that year.

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