Argoed Colliery

ARGOED COLLIERY

Pontrhydyfen, Afan Valley 82556/94279

This mine was opened in the 1890s and worked by Llewellyn Howell and Company in the No.3 Rhondda seam for house coal. This slant employed 50 men underground and 9 men on the surface in 1896 when managed by Watkin Morris, 96 men in 1909 when managed by Gwilym Lewis, Lewis was still the manager in 1911 when it employed 85 men. It employed 125 men in 1913, and 250 men in 1916/22. It is still shown under the ownership of this company in 1917 and 1921. Llewellyn Howell and Company did not join the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. In 1923/7 it was owned by Herbert Hudson Limited of Port Talbot and employed 250 men with G. Llewellyn as the manager.

On the 4th of April 1925, W Thomas, age: 60 and a Collier, was killed by a fall of stone while clearing a place ready for shotfiring. Then on the 27th of February 1926, H. Williams, Age: 57 and a Haulier died from blood poisoning as a result of an alleged scratch on his finger. On the 6th of July 1927, William Thomas, Age: 30 and a collier also died under a fall of stone. It was closed when it abandoned the White Seam in July 1927.

Some statistics:

• 1896: Manpower: 59.
• 1899: Manpower: 67.
• 1900: Manpower: 63.
• 1901: Manpower: 73.
• 1902: Manpower: 73.
• 1903: Manpower: 91.
• 1905: Manpower: 96.
• 1907: Manpower: 100.
• 1908/9: Manpower: 96.
• 1910: Manpower: 99.
• 1911: Manpower: 85.
• 1912: Manpower: 112.
• 1913: Manpower: 125.
• 1916/27: Manpower: 250.
• 1923: Manpower: 165.
• 1924: Manpower: 195.
• 1927: Manpower: 134.

In 1953 an Argoed Level was worked under license from the NCB by Evan T Williams of Argoed Farm, Cynonville, Port Talbot. It abandoned the Field, No.2 Rhondda and Wernpistell Rider seams in 1952.

• 1950: Manpower: 7.

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