Maesteg Deep Colliery

Maesteg, Llynfi Valley

This mine was initially called Moffat’s (after the chairman of the company) then Cwrt-y-Mwnws and finally Maesteg Deep. It was served by the Great Western and Port Talbot Railways and produced both house and steam coals. It was sunk in the 1860s by the Llynfi, Tondu and Ogmore Vale Coal and Iron Company and purchased by North Navigation Collieries Limited in 1899. Along with St. John’s Colliery, it worked the southern part of North’s mineral take which stretched from Maesteg to Cymmer to the north.

In 1826 William Jones started the Maesteg Ironworks Company, this company failed and the Cambrian Iron Company was formed. In 1839 this company was changed to the Llynfi Iron and Coal Company. In 1863, John Brogden, and his son, James, obtained a lease to mine coal under Tychwyth and Cae Cwarel, and in 1874 at Blaen Cwmdu and Floes. In 1872 the Llynfi, Tondu and Ogmore Coal and Iron Company was formed with a capital of £500,000 to operate the old Llynvi Company and other acquisitions, Alexander Brogden, the brother of James was the Chairman, and another brother, Henry, the Managing Director. The depression in trade of the time, coupled with the new steel-making process forced this company into receivership in 1880. A new company also collapsed, and in 1888 a group of businessmen under the leadership of Colonel North bought the company for £350,000 and called the new concern, North Navigation Collieries (1899) Limited. This company concentrated on coal mining, purchased further mineral leases in the Llynfi and Ogmore Valleys, and eventually controlled 10,000 acres. Lord Rhondda gained controlling interest in the company in 1916. In 1929 it came under the control of Welsh Associated Collieries Limited, and in 1935 it became part of Powell Duffryn Associated Collieries Limited.

The main drift at Maesteg Deep was driven down for 677 yards at a gradient of 6.5 inches to the yard. At this drift, the Two-Feet-Nine seam was intercepted after 800 yards. A steam engine 100 yards from the mouth would haul the men, coal and materials up/down the drift. It was managed by William Snowdon in 1878, William Tamblyn in 1893 and David Davies in 1896 when it employed 133 men underground and 23 men on the surface. It was managed by David Evans in 1913 and by J. Gibbon in 1916.

On the 31st of October 1914 both Isaac Thomas aged 16 years and Arthur Anderson aged 15 years colliers assistants were killed by trams.

In 1915 the colliery employed 614 men and in 1918 it employed 433 men underground and 91 men on the surface the manager was David Davies. In 1927 the manager was David Davies Junior. In 1919 it claimed that the Two-Feet-Nine seam at this mine and at St. John’s was the “best house coal on the market”. The colliery also sold washed nuts to electrical works and to ships bunkers, foundry coke to engineering firms, government arsenals, dockyards, and other works. It sold its small coal to steamers. In July 1928 the colliery was temporarily closed due to the coal trade slump. Before this, the men had been on day-to-day contracts.

In 1935 Maesteg Deep Colliery employed 35 men on the surface and 136 men underground, but closed not long after, only being retained for pumping purposes by the National Coal Board after 1947, finally closing in 1950.

Some Statistics:

• 1896: Manpower: 156.
• 1899: Manpower: 336.
• 1900: Manpower: 392.
• 1901: Manpower: 509. Output: 78,254 tons.
• 1902: Manpower: 488.
• 1903: Manpower: 470.
• 1905: Manpower: 515.
• 1907: Manpower: 604.
• 1909: Manpower: 597.
• 1910: Manpower: 671.
• 1911: Manpower: 662.
• 1912: Manpower: 667.
• 1913: Manpower: 614.
• 1916: Manpower: 614.
• 1918: Manpower: 524.
• 1919: Manpower: 500.
• 1920: Output: 63,080 tons.
• 1923: Manpower: 259.
• 1924: Manpower: 277.
• 1925: Manpower: 300.
• 1927: Manpower: 276.
• 1928: Manpower: 250.
• 1930: Manpower: 171.
• 1935: Manpower: 171.

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