Brynwith Colliery

Bryncethin, Bridgend.

This mine was opened by Hedley’s Collieries Limited around 1875 to work the Nos. 2 and 3 Rhondda seams, it was later worked together with the Raglan No.4 Drift (1931). It employed 323 men underground and 44 men on the surface in 1908 when managed by H.V.Thornley but only 19 men in 1909.

On the 6th of December 1910, James Brain, aged 24, and a collier, was killed when three posts discharged and the roof fell in on him, another man was injured. On the 21st of July 1913, Charles Harding, aged 43, and a labourer was killed when the roof of the road he was working in
collapsed on top of him.

It employed 91 men in 1913 when it was still managed by H.V. Thornley, but only 15 men in 1916 when managed by P. Jones. By 1916 it was in the hands of the Raglan Colliery Company. They employed M. Rees as manager in 1918 and employed 156 men underground and 49 men on the surface. Manpower increased to 500 in 1920 with V.O. Jones as the manager. In 1922 manpower had dropped to 300 men with the same manager who was still there in 1933.

In 1934 Raglan Collieries Limited was based at Bush House, North Block, Aldwych, London, with the directors being; Sir W.J. Firth, Charles Phillips and Cyril Watts. The commercial manager was G.B. Jones. Brynwith was its only mine at that time. This company greatly expanded the mine until in 1935 it employed 90 men on the surface and 550 men underground producing 180,000 of coal classed as gas and manufacturing coals. It was managed at that time by V.O. Jones. In 1937 it employed 490 men.

The Raglan Colliery Company was originally not associated with the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association and actively encouraged the formation of the ‘scab’ South Wales Miners Industrial Union. However, the South Wales Miners Federation fought back and following prolonged disputes the Company was forced to sign the Conciliation Agreement.

• Some Statistics: Manpower:
• 1905: 64.
• 1907: 323.
• 1908: 367.
• 1909: 367.
• 1910: 388.
• 1911: 456.
• 1912: 261.
• 1913: 91.
• 1918: 215.
• 1920: 500.
• 1922: 300.
• 1923: 507.
• 1924: 699.
• 1925: 550.
• 1926: 730.
• 1927: 636.
• 1928: 762.
• 1930: 640. Output: 180,000 tons.
• 1931: 500.
• 1932: 520.
• 1933: 550.
• 1934: 566.
• 1937: 490.
• 1940/2: 490.

This information has been provided by Ray Lawrence, from books he has written, which contain much more information, including many photographs, maps and plans. Please contact him at welshminingbooks@gmail.com for availability.