Glynhebog Colliery

Pontyberem, (51800245)

There was a ‘Glyhebock Colliery working in this area in 1884/5 which was owned by the Glyhebock Colliery Company and managed by John Harry (according to HMI’s list of mines 1884). This mine was worked by the Pontyberem Collieries Company of London as Glynhebog slant which was part of Pontyberem Colliery in 1886/7 when it worked the Pumpquart seam. The manager was Thomas Seymour. By 1896 it employed 51 men underground and 23 men on the surface. The manager was Thomas Seymour who was still there in 1899 when it employed 92 men, and in 1900 when it employed 65 men working underground and 26 men working at the surface. In 1901 it employed 97 men and in 1902 it employed 116 men. It was owned in 1913 by the Glynhebog Anthracite Colliery Company when it employed 335 men in the anthracite seams and was managed by H. Hewlett.

On the 15th of June 1914, Robert Henry Young, aged 43 years and a fireman in making his examination of a district before the entrance of the day shift, was suffocated and found face downwards in a large accumulation of gas between two topholes. The gas had to be cleared before the body could be recovered.

In 1915 it was owned by the Ammanford Colliery Company with R.W. Tallis as the manager and it employed 335 men. This company was a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association, and by now was being called Glynhebog. In 1918 it employed 289 men underground and 108 men on the surface and was managed by D. Mainwaring. The Ammanford Colliery Company became part of United Anthracite Collieries Limited in 1924, which in turn became part of Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Limited in 1926.

On the 2nd of March 1926, Richard Wigley, aged 40 years and a collier, was riding up on the spake facing downwards and got to his feet to turn face up – head struck against collar – fractured his neck and died.

In 1930 it was managed by D. Mandry and employed 450 men working underground and 150 men working at the surface of the mine. In 1934 Glynhebog employed 150 men on the surface and 450 men underground and was managed by D. Mandry, but by the time of Nationalisation in 1947, it had been merged into Pontyberem Colliery. One of the nearest ports to the Gwendraeth Valley, the western limit of the anthracite and of the main South Wales Coalfield was Burry Port. The dock and railway were owned by the Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway Company in 1913 stated;

Most Admirably Situated For The Shipment Of Anthracite And Other Coal Two Hydraulic Coal Shipping Appliances – Vessels Up To 1,800 tons Burthen Can Be Dealt With. Docks lighted with Powerful Electric Arc Lamps For Night Working. Three Steam Cranes For Loading And Dispatching. Good Centre for Import of Pit wood, Ores, and General Goods. High Water OS Tides 22 feet, N. Tides 14 feet Dock Gates 45 feet wide”

This mine extensively worked the Pumpquart seam at a thickness of between 36 to 39 inches, it also had limited workings in the Trichquart and Gwendraeth seams. In the 10 West District it worked the Pumpquart and Trichquart seams together at a thickness of 61 inches. Please also see Pontyberem Colliery.