Glyncymmer Colliery

Near Cymmer, Afan Valley (85679593)

This mine was locally called ‘Goodie’ and produced house, steam and manufacturing coals from the “take” to the south of Cymmer. In 1896 it was owned by Robert Gibb of Glyncorrwg and employed 52 men underground and 9 men on the surface. The manager was John Thomas. In 1908 David Daniel was manager and it employed 165 men underground and 22 men on the surface.

It was still managed by David Daniel and employed 170 men in 1913 when owned by the Glenavon Garw Collieries Limited who were members of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. This company was owned by R. McEwen and W.F. Gibb of Port Talbot. In 1915/6 it employed 185 men and in 1918 it employed 104 men 77 underground and 36 men on the surface with David Daniel still as manager.

In 1921 Glyncymmer Colliery came under the control of Gibbs’ Navigation Coal Company, and in 1923 it employed 129 men working underground and 29 men working at the surface of the mine.

In 1924/9 there were 185 men employed. Mr. Daniel was still the manager. It worked the Red, Six-Feet and Nine-Feet seams which were abandoned in August 1912. This level also worked the No.2 Rhondda seam which in this area had split into the Field Vein which had a thickness of coal, 16 inches, dirt 15 inches, coal 10 inches, dirt 18 inches, and the Wenallt seam which had a thickness of between 30 inches to 36 inches.

It finally abandoned the Wernpistyll Rider in June 1928.

On the 17th of August 1910, David Davies, aged 26 years and a collier, died under a roof fall at this colliery. On the 4th of March 1926, George T. Baitup, aged 51 years and a collier died under a roof fall.

Some statistics:

• 1896: Manpower: 61.
• 1899: Manpower: 123.
• 1900: Manpower: 137.
• 1901: Manpower: 130.
• 1902: Manpower: 130.
• 1903: Manpower: 145.
• 1905: Manpower: 172.
• 1907: Manpower: 193.
• 1908: Manpower: 187.
• 1909: Manpower: 151.
• 1910: Manpower: 151.
• 1911: Manpower: 134.
• 1912: Manpower: 178.
• 1913: Manpower: 170.
• 1915: Manpower: 185.
• 1916: Manpower: 185.
• 1918: Manpower: 140.
• 1920: Manpower: 185.
• 1922: Manpower: 185.
• 1923: Manpower: 158.
• 1924: Manpower: 164.
• 1927: Manpower: 133.
• 1930: Manpower: 158.

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