481096/480097

This was an anthracite slant that may have been working as early as the 1820s and was working in 1865 when the Pont Henry Colliery Company Limited of Lion Street, Brecon was formed. In 1934 the Chairman of this company was Robert Gibb with the directors being; George Tudor and Major H.P. Herdman; this was its only mine. This company was a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. This mine consisted of three slants: the Glynhir, Gwendraeth and Stepney. The main slant was driven down in the Gwendraeth seam at a dip of 7.5 inches per yard. In 1894 a 9 feet in diameter Waddle type ventilating fan was installed at this colliery. In 1896 it employed 160 men underground and 32 men on the surface with the manager being W. Wilkins.

In 1905 it was working the Gwendraeth and Braslyd seams and the manager was J.F. Bell and in 1907 the manager was T.H. Hughes and it worked the Gwendraeth and Braslyd seams. Pont Henry Colliery employed 358 men in 1913/16, 504 men in 1918 when managed by George Roblings, and 103 men on the surface of the mine and 450 men in 1919. In 1927 it employed 620 men with G. Robbings still the manager. D.L. Morris was the manager in 1930. It employed 449 men working underground producing 200,000 tons of coal from the Gwendraeth, Gras, Pumpquart, Braslyd and Green seams in 1935 when the manager was H.N. Forbes.

It had its own coal preparation plant (washery). It closed in 1936.

On the 20th of April 1936, the following advert appeared in The Times:

SALES BY TENDER

FOR SALE BY TENDER

THE PONTHENRY COLLIERY COMPANY, Limited. PONTHENRY, near LLANELLY, CARMARTHENSHIRE.

TENDERS are invited for the PURCHASE of the ANTHRACITE COLLIERY of the above colliery as a going concern.

Particulars of the leases, plants, &c., and liberty to inspect may be obtained at the offices of L.D. Williams (the Receiver on behalf of the Debenture Holder). Of 519, Salisbury House, Finsbury Circus, London, EC”, and at the offices of his Solicitors, Collins, Woods and Vaughn Jones, of 1 Worcester Place, Swansea, to either of whom tenders may be submitted.

The highest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted.

This colliery was prone to “outbursts” with ten miners dying through this occurrence between 1920 and 1928 in four separate outbursts. The outburst on the 3rd of September 1924 killed; Samuel Pascoe, Timothy Jones, Isaac James, William David and Peter Williams.

The outburst on the 10th of July 1928 killed two miners, seriously injured three and injured another twenty. Those that died were David John Lewis aged 45 years and Richard John Williams aged 18 years.

The colliery extensively worked the Gwendraeth (Yard) seam at a section of between 34 to 36 inches, the Pumpquart seam was worked at a thickness of 39 inches, the Braslyd had a section of coal 7 inches, dirt 3 inches, coal 22 inches, there was limited workings in the Gras Uchaf seam at a thickness of between 27 to 32 inches with this seam being highly disturbed as was the Big Vein which limited workings were carried out in a thickness of ten feet. Attempts to work the 36 inch thick Stanllyd seam failed. The Green Vein Slant worked that seam at a thickness of 30 inches.

Some of those who died at this mine;

  • 23/10/1896, John Morris, Age: 18: Collier: Fatally injured while riding up slant contrary to rules.
  • 20/9/1899 D. Emmanuel aged 13 was run over and killed by trams.
  • 6/06/1911, William Harries, Age: 30, Evan Rees, Age: 23: Colliers: Crushed by a tram running wild down a steep slant into several men who were waiting to be drawn up the slant. A small fall on the road caused the tram to become detached from the descending journey. Four other men were injured. 2 killed.
  • 9/12/1911, Arthur Mart, Age: 18: Collier: While walking up the slant he was killed by two runaway trams which had been pushed over the brow. There was a safety catch at the mouth of the slant, but it was not in working order.
  • 22/10/1914, Sydney Goodall, Age: 19: Assistant collier: He was engaged with his comrade in filling roof rippings into a tram, standing one on each side. Owing to the tram getting heavier on his side than the other, and the rails not being set level, the tram tipped over and crushed him against the side of the road
  • 8/04/1925, William Evans, Age: 46: Labourer: Collapsed and died due to strain.

Some Statistics:

  • 1896: Manpower: 192.
  • 1899: Manpower: 200
  • 1900: Manpower: 212
  • 1901: Manpower: 225
  • 1902: Manpower: 239
  • 1903: Manpower: 205
  • 1905: Manpower: 251
  • 1907: Manpower: 295
  • 1909: Manpower: 374
  • 1910: Manpower: 359
  • 1911: Manpower: 265
  • 1912: Manpower: 493
  • 1913: Manpower: 358.
  • 1916: Manpower: 358.
  • 1919: Manpower: 553.
  • 1922: Manpower: 550
  • 1923: Manpower: 646.
  • 1924: Manpower: 735
  • 1925: Manpower: 620
  • 1927: Manpower: 833.
  • 1928: Manpower: Glynhir/Stepney slants: 771
  • 1930: Manpower: 760. Output: 200,000 tons.
  • 1931: Manpower: 620.
  • 1933: Manpower: 498
  • 1935: Manpower: 449. Output: 200,000 tons.

Information supplied by Ray Lawrence and used here with permission.

The plans below have been prepared by Lee Reynolds and used here with his permission.

Composite plan of all seams

Big Vein

Braslyd Seam

Felen Seam

Gras Seam

Gwendraeth Seam

Pumpquart Seam

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