Nantewlaith Colliery

Cymmer, Afan Valley (86349776)

This mine consisted of a level and two pits and was opened by Gibbs’ Navigation Collieries Limited. In 1915 it was listed as “sinking”. In 1918 it employed 137 men underground and 68 men on the surface with the manager being P. Hill. The manager in 1923 was R. Morgan and in 1927 it was E.J. Green. By 1925 this colliery was owned by the Glenavon Garw Collieries Limited, who in that year employed 65 men working on the surface and 644 men working underground. It had its own coal preparation plant (washery) and was managed by V.H. Evans.

The Glenavon Garw Company was incorporated in 1907 and owned by R. McEwen and W.F. Gibb of Post Office Chambers, Port Talbot. This company was a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association and in 1935 employed 3,340 men producing 850,000 tons of coal from six collieries. The directors were then; R. Gibb, R. McEwan, C.L. Clay, E.R. Moxey and T. Gibb with W.F. Gibb as the secretary.

In 1940 a 10 feet in diameter Waddle type fan was installed at this colliery. In 1943/5 this colliery employed 367 men underground working the No.2 Rhondda, New and Six-Feet seams and 131 men at the surface of the mine and was managed by A.G. Williams.

On Nationalisation in 1947, Nantewlaith Colliery was placed in the National Coal Board’s, South Western Division’s, No.2 Area, and at that time employed 127 men on the surface and 409 men working underground in the No.2 Rhondda, New and Six-Feet seams for house and steam coals. The manager was still Mr. A.G. Williams who was still there on closure. Nantewlaith Colliery was closed in November 1948.

Generally, this colliery’s coals were classed as type 201A dry steam coal, low volatile, usually non-caking and used for steam raising in boilers for ships, locomotives, power stations etc.

Some Statistics:

• 1918: Manpower: 137.
• 1920: Manpower: 350.
• 1922: Manpower: 350.
• 1923: Manpower: 480.
• 1925: Manpower: 650.
• 1927: Manpower: 514.
• 1930: Manpower: 509.
• 1932: Manpower: 650.
• 1933: Manpower: 639.
• 1935: Manpower: 709.
• 1937: Manpower: 580.
• 1938: Manpower: 684.
• 1940: Manpower: 750.
• 1941: Manpower: 780.
• 1942: Manpower: 540.
• 1943/5: Manpower: 367.
• 1947: Manpower: 536.
• 1948: Manpower: 525. Output: 120,000 tons.

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