BOUNDARY LEVEL
Pontardawe, Swansea Valley
A 19th-century drift mine opened up near the Llwyndu Brick Works. This was a small level that worked the Graigola Five-Feet seam at a thickness of 70 inches and was abandoned in July 1891.
BRYNBRYCH COLLIERY
Pontardawe, Swansea Valley
This small level was worked by John Rees and employed 9 men in 1901 and 7 men in both 1902 and 1905.
BRYNCOCH COLLIERY
Pontardawe, Tawe Valley
This was a small level that employed 4 men underground and one man working at the surface in 1908. This level worked the “Little Bryncoch” seam for steam and manufacturing coals in 1934 when it was owned by the Bryncoch Colliery Company. This company was based at Altwen, Pontardawe with the directors being; W. Hopkins, E. Lloyd, T.J. Richards and Walter Hopkins. This was the only mine it worked. The outcrop seams along the Tawe (Swansea) Valley were ideally suited for patent fuel manufacture, an advert of 1913 for the Crown Preserved Coal Company stated:
“Manufacturers and Shippers of Crown Patent Fuel. The Company makes two sizes of Blocks, the size of large blocks being about 10 by 8 by 6.5 inches weighing about 24.5lb each, and the size of small blocks about 8.25 x 6.75 x 5.5 inches, weighing about 12.5lb each. Used by British and Foreign Admiralties, State and Colonial Railways, Specially adapted for tropical climates and stores for any length of time without deterioration. Supplied to Arctic and Antarctic Expeditions”
CEFN CELFI COLLIERY
Pontardawe, Swansea Valley (737027)
The first listing that I can find for this colliery is in 1917 when it was listed under the ownership of the Cefn Celfi Colliery Company Limited which did not join the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. The directors of the company were R. Thomas, H. Gibbon and E.J. Davies. By 1918 it employed 11 men underground and 4 men on the surface. It was still working under the same owners in 1921/1927 and abandoned the Lower Wernffraith seam in March 1927. In 1923 it employed 25 men working underground and 7 men working at the surface, the manager was D.C. Jones. In 1927 the manager was Edward Evans and it employed 20 men. In 1932 it employed 20 men with the manager still being Edward Evans.
Some statistics:
- 1912: Manpower: 9.
- 1918: Manpower: 15.
- 1920: Manpower: 20.
- 1922: Manpower: 20.
- 1923: Manpower: 32.
- 1924: Manpower: 25.
- 1927: Manpower: 20.
- 1932: Manpower: 20.
CLYDACH COLLIERY
Clydach, Swansea Valley
This was one of the many levels that worked the Graigola seam in the Clydach-on-Tawe area. This one was owned by S. and J. Hill in 1932.
CWMCEIROS COLLIERY
Near Pontardawe, Swansea Valley
Another of the numerous short-life levels that worked in the Swansea Valley, the mineral take for this mine was to the north-east of Pontardawe. It was not listed in 1917 but shown in 1921 as being owned by the Cwmceiros Collieries Limited. In 1923 it employed 35 men. In 1927 it was owned by the Duffryn Tawe Collieries Limited and employed 20 men while in 1928 it employed 14 men. In 1932 it is listed as under the ownership of the Cwmnantllwyd Colliery Company although there is no mention of a Cwmnantllwyd Colliery. By 1935 there was no Cwmceiros Colliery, but there was a Cwmnantllwyd Colliery, I can only assume that Cwmceiros is the same level as Cwmnantllwyd. Cwmceiros Colliery was worked for both house and manufacturing coals and was served by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway’s Midland and Swansea Vale Section.
CWMCLYDACH GRAIGOLA COLLIERY
Near Clydach, Swansea Valley (681011)
This mine was owned by S. & J. Hill Limited, which was controlled by William Hill of Swansea and managed by Samuel Hill, in 1884 and at the beginning of the 20th Century. This Company was not a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. Cwmclydach Colliery produced manufacturing coals, employing 82 men in 1909/11 and 97 men in the peak years of 1913/16 when it was managed by Samuel Hill. It was still listed in 1917, and in 1918 employed 57 men underground and 23 on the surface, the manager was then William Rees he was still there in 1927 when this colliery employed 97 men and again in 1930 when it employed 62 men working underground in the Graigola seam and 20 men working at the surface of the mine producing 30,000 tons of coal. It abandoned the Graig and Five-Feet seams in 1932.
Some statistics:
- 1899: Manpower: 65.
- 1900: Manpower: 66.
- 1901: Manpower: 67.
- 1902: Manpower: 64.
- 1903: Manpower: 79.
- 1905: Manpower: 70.
- 1907: Manpower: 77.
- 1909: Manpower: 82.
- 1910: Manpower: 84.
- 1911: Manpower: 82.
- 1912: Manpower: 69.
- 1913: Manpower: 97.
- 1916: Manpower: 97.
- 1918: Manpower: 80.
- 1920: Manpower: 97.
- 1922: Manpower: 97.
- 1923: Manpower: 72. Output: 30,000 tons.
- 1924: Manpower: 90.
- 1927: Manpower: 66.
- 1929: Manpower: 97.
- 1930: Manpower: 82.
CWMDU COLLIERY
Pontardawe, Swansea Valley
This small level was owned by the Pontardawe Collieries Company Limited and employed eight men in 1903.
CWMNANT LLEUCH COLLIERY
Near Pontardawe, Swansea Valley
This was a small level that was operated by the Pontardawe Colliery Company Limited at the beginning of the 20th century.
CWMNANTLLWYD COLLIERY
Near Pontardawe, (73880493)
This was a small mine that was opened in c1865 by the Primrose Coal Company. In 1881 it was ventilated by a Schiele-type fan, in 1884 it was managed by D. Davies and in 1896/7 it was owned by the South Wales Primrose Coal Company. It employed 17 men underground and 2 men on the surface in 1896 when managed by John G. Evans. In 1907 it employed 61 men and in 1909 it employed 81 men with Thomas Lewis the manager. In 1911 the No.2 Drift was owned by David B Hawkins of Pontardawe and employed 12 men. It employed 15 men in 1913 when it was called the Old Cwmnantllwyd and was managed by Lewis G. Evans. In 1915 it was in the hands of the Duffryn Tawe Collieries Ltd. and employed 15 men with the manager being Lewoid G. Evans. This company did not join the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. It was still owned by them in 1921, but by 1935 it was owned by the Cwm Nant Llwyd Colliery Company which employed 3 men on the surface and 12 men underground producing 4,000 tons of house coal annually from the Wernfraith seam. In 1940 it employed 19 men and produced 5,000 tons of coal.
The Cwm Nant Llwyd Colliery Company was located at Gellynedd, Pontardawe with the directors being; William John Lewis, William John Hopkins and W. Jenkins. It abandoned the Wernffraith (Primrose)seam, which had a section of coal 3 feet 9 inches, dirt 3 feet 9 inches, coal 3 inches and was 53 feet deep in 1924 and the Pretoria Seam in 1928. It consisted of a main drift and shaft plus at least two other air pits. Also see Cwmceiros Colliery.
Some statistics:
- 1896: Manpower: 19.
- 1899: Manpower: 22.
- 1900: Manpower: 35.
- 1901: Manpower: 46.
- 1902: Manpower: 66.
- 1903: Manpower: 72.
- 1907: Manpower: 61.
- 1909: Manpower: 81.
- 1910: Manpower: 7.
- 1911: Manpower: 12.
- 1912: Manpower: 16.
- 1913: Manpower: 15.
- 1915: Manpower: 15.
- 1933: Manpower: 15.
- 1935: Manpower: 15.
- 1937: Manpower: 20.
- 1940: Manpower: 19.
GELLIFRO COLLIERY
Pontardawe, Swansea Valley
This anthracite slant was owned by Daniel Lewis’Gellifro Anthracite Colliery Company and employed 23 men in 1923. No men were listed in 1924 and in 1938 it was listed as idle.
GELLI NEDD COLLIERY
Near Pontardawe, Swansea Valley
This mine was situated about 200 yards south of the Waun-y-Coed Level and made an appearance in 1893 when it was owned by the executors of David Davies of Pontardawe and employed seven men working underground. In 1896 it was owned by the Gellinedd Colliery Company of Pontardawe and employed 10 men underground and 7 men on the surface. It employed 10 men in 1899, 12 men in 1900, no men in 1901 and 9 men in 1910. It is shown on the 1911 map of the Coalfield when it was still owned by the Gellinedd Colliery Company. It was probably a level in the Graigola seam.
GLAIS COLLIERY
Glais near Swansea
This was a 19th-century mine that worked the Graigola seam at a depth of 88 yards.
GLYNDYLE GRAIGOLA COLLIERY
Pontardawe, Swansea Valley (737047)
This was a small level that was also called Five Boys and produced manufacturing and steam coals from the Graigola seam under the ownership of the Glyndyle Graigola Colliery Company of 2, Bowens Terrace, Trebanos, Pontardawe. The Glyndyle was opened in 1925 and worked until 1927. The No.2 or Glyndyle Graigola was opened in 1930 and closed in 1935. In 1933 it employed 13 men and in 1934 it employed six men underground and four men at the surface of the mine with the manager being H. Griffiths. It abandoned the Graigola seam in 1936.
GOITRE COLLIERY
Clydach, Swansea Valley
This mine was also called Old or Hen Goitre and abandoned the Hughes seam in November 1925. It was owned by the Graigola Merthyr Company it employed 70 men in 1910 and 56 men in 1911.
GRAIG CWM COLLIERY
Near Clydach, Swansea Valley
This was a level that was worked for manufacturing and steam coals in the 1858/60’s by J. Strick, in 1870 by the Graig-y-Cwm Company and listed in 1901 as employing 58 men and employing 74 men in 1902. It was shown in 1908 as being owned by the Clydach Graigola Merthyr Company and employing 405 men underground and 93 men on the surface. It was managed by Ioan Davies. In 1913 and 1921 it is shown as being under the ownership of the Graigola Merthyr Company of Cambrian Place, Swansea. It employed 26 men in 1909, 28 men in 1911, 65 men in 1913 and 52 men in 1915/6 when still managed by Ioan Davies but had closed by the 1930s.
Some statistics:
- 1901: Manpower: 58.
- 1902: Manpower: 74.
- 1903: Manpower: 59.
- 1905: Manpower: 45.
- 1909: Manpower: 26.
- 1910: Manpower: 28.
- 1911: Manpower: 28.
- 1912: Manpower: 48.
- 1913: Manpower: 65.
- 1915: Manpower: 52.
- 1916: Manpower: 52.
GRAIGOLA COLLIERY
Pontardawe, Swansea Valley
A Graigola was listed as early as 1791 when Richard Parsons leased land between the rivers Tawe and Neath and opened levels called Ynys Simon or Graig Olau.In 1830 John Parsons was joined in ownership by J.T. Price and the mine was expanded. In 1837 it was one of only three coals from south Wales to be on the navy list. In 1842 it employed 65 men while in 1843 it produced 45,000 tons of coal. 1858/70 when owned by Benson and Smith. In 1909 it was owned by the Graigola Colliery Company and employed 87 men with David J Jones as the manager. This small level was owned by the Llwyndu Colliery Company in 1915/23 and employed 66 men working underground and 7 men on the surface with the manager being H. Griffiths in 1923.
GRAIGOLA BOUNDARY COLLIERY
Pontardawe, Swansea Valley
This was a level that worked the Graigola seam in the period around 1882 and 1895 when it was owned by W. Gilbertson and Company. It was managed by D. Walters in 1884.
GREENWAY COLLIERY
Clydach, Swansea Valley
This was a small level that abandoned the Greenway seam before 1874.
GWNDWN COLLIERY
Near Clydach, Swansea Valley (681011
This was a small level that was also called Gwndwn Cadi. It was owned in 1878 by S. Hill.
GWYN’S COLLIERY
Pontardawe, (74500720)
This was a small level that was worked for manufacturing and steam coals. It was opened in 1902 when it employed 19 men, then for some reason opening was discontinued during at least 1903/5. It employed 37 men in 1910 when owned by the South Wales Primrose Coal Company and employed 18 men in 1912, and 37 men in 1913 when the manager was J. Standidge. In 1927/8 it employed 7 men. It was transferred to the Tareni Colliery Company in 1928 and disappeared from the listings.
LOWER GRAIGOLA COLLIERY
Clydach, Swansea Valley
This mine makes an appearance on my listings in 1917 when it was owned by the Lower Graigola Colliery Company of Pontardawe which was not a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. I can find no other listing for it except that in 1915 it employed 51 men and in 1916 it employed 66 men, in 1918 it employed 52 men and in 1919 it employed 59 men. In 1920 it employed 45 men. During this period it was managed by J.L. Evans. In 1923 it employed 32 men. It was linked to the Cwmdu and Maesmelyn slants and worked the Four-Feet, Five-Feet and Twenty Inch (1866) seams. The Lower Graigola, Old Cwmdu, and Middle abandoned the Graigola seam in April 1926.
Some statistics:
- 1912: Manpower: 30.
- 1915: Manpower: 51.
- 1916: Manpower: 66.
- 1918: Manpower: 52.
- 1919: Manpower: 59.
- 1920: Manpower: 45.
- 1922: Manpower: 45.
- 1923: Manpower: 32.
- 1924: Manpower: 16.
- 1925: Manpower: 32.
- 1926: Manpower: 12.
MOODY’S GRAIGOLA COLLIERY
Clydach, Swansea Valley
This mine consisted of the No.1 level and the No. 2 & 3 slants and employed 29 men underground and 8 men on the surface in 1896 when managed by Mark Littlewood. It employed 168 men in 1913 producing manufacturing and steam coals. The manager at that time was M. Williams. In 1915 it employed 190 men with the manager being D.C. Jones. In 1918 the No.1 employed 101 men, the No.2 employed 59 men and the No.3 employed 62 men, all were managed by D.C. Jones. In 1919 it employed 265 men with the manager still D.C. Jones. In 1923 it employed 450 men and produced 100,000 tons of coal. The No.2 was abandoned on the 31st of December 1924.
In 1927 it only employed 28 men when owned by Richard Thomas. It was worked at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th Century by the Moody Brothers and Company Limited of Clydach who were not members of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. It abandoned the Upper Maesmelyn Seam in March 1925 and the Graigola Seam in March 1929.
Some statistics:
- 1896: Manpower: 37.
- 1899: Manpower: 79.
- 1900 Manpower: 81.
- 1901: Manpower: 83.
- 1902: Manpower: 69.
- 1903: Manpower: 78.
- 1905: Manpower: 75.
- 1907: Manpower: No.1: 110. No.2: 27.
- 1909: Manpower: 141.
- 1910: Manpower: 153.
- 1913: Manpower: 168.
- 1915: Manpower: 190.
- 1918: Manpower: No.1: 101. No.2: 59. No.3: 62.
- 1919: Manpower: 265.
- 1922: Manpower: 265.
- 1923: Manpower: No.1: 58. No.2: 51. No.3: 209.
- 1924: Manpower: 290.
- 1925: Manpower: 265.
- 1927: Manpower: 28.
- 1928: Manpower: 9.
- 1930: Manpower: 200.
- 1932: Manpower: 250.
- 1933: Manpower: 207.
- 1934: Manpower: 191.
NANT-Y-CAPEL COLLIERY
Clydach, Swansea Valley
A level that worked the Graigola seam for steam coals under the ownership of the Hendy Merthyr Colliery Company Limited of Clydach and was opened in c1932. The Hendy Merthyr Colliery Company Limited was incorporated in 1932 with Richard and Elizabeth Thomas as its directors. In that year it employed 20 men. In 1934 it controlled two collieries, this one and Hendy Merthyr, and produced 115,000 tons of coal. In 1935 it employed 5 men on the surface and 21 men underground and was managed by E. Alexander. It abandoned the Six-Feet seam in 1937 when it employed 15 men and was not worked by the National Coal Board.
NEW PRIMROSE COLLIERY
Pontardawe, (73940240)
This mine was worked for steam and house coal by the South Wales Primrose Coal Company as early as the 1880s and as late as the 1920s. It struck the Dirty seam at a depth of 214 feet 4 inches and a thickness of 36 inches, the Primrose Upper seam was 2 feet 8 inches thick and at a depth of 270 feet. The Primrose Lower seam was 1 foot 8 inches thick and at a depth of 277 feet 8 inches. The Graigola seam was 66 inches thick and at a depth of 1,022 feet.
Some statistics:
- 1899: Manpower: 334.
- 1900: Manpower: 290.
- 1901: Manpower: 236.
- 1902: Manpower: 204.
- 1905: Manpower: 81.
- 1907: Manpower: 75.
NEW WERNDDU COLLIERY
Clydach, Swansea Valley
This colliery employed 36 men in 1905, 103 men in 1912, 582 men in 1922 and was closed in October 1922. Please see the listing on Wernddu Colliery.
OLD PRIMROSE COLLIERY
Pontardawe, Swansea Valley (736024)
Please see the listing on Primrose Colliery.
PENBRYN COLLIERY
Clydach, (681036)
This was a small level that was worked under license from the National Coal Board in 1953/5 by J.G. James and B. Hughes, and in 1960 by the Penbryn Colliery Company Limited. It worked the Graigola seam. And abandoned the Six-Feet seam in 1967. There was also a Penbryn located in the Llanelli area around 1860/5 when it was owned by Loder & Arthur and in 1882 by the Penbryn Colliery Company and managed by Lewis Owen.
PONTARDAWE COLLIERY
Pontardawe, Swansea Valley
This was a small mine that was owned by the Pontardawe Collieries Company and employed 10 men in 1900, 12 men in 1901 and 10 men in 1902.
PRIMROSE OLD AND NEW COLLIERIES
Pontardawe, Swansea Valley (Old 736024/New 735026)
These are two different pits that worked in the 19th/20th century. They worked the Graigola Six-Feet seam at a thickness of 66 inches and an approximate depth of 220 yards. The (Old) Primrose was owned by Messrs. Morgan & Lewis in 1858 and by G. Lewis and Company in 1860/5. In 1869 it was owned by Sir Ralph Howard, in 1882/4 by the Primrose Coal Company, when it was managed by D. Davies, and in 1886 by the Tawe Collieries Limited. It employed 29 men underground and 10 men on the surface in 1918 when then owned by the Tawe Vale Company of Swansea.
This mine was located near Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley and was owned by the Tawe Collieries Limited, it became known as Old Primrose Colliery when the new Primrose Colliery was sunk.
On Wednesday 14 October 1858, around 200 men were working underground at this mine when at 08.30 it appears that an explosion occurred, the fourteen men that died were either suffocated or overcome by fumes. Seven horses also died.
Those who died were:
- John Davies aged 19 years, single.
- David Evans aged 38 wife and 5 children.
- Hopkin Evans aged 15, single.
- Isaac Evans aged 12.
- John Gibbs 36, wife and one child brother of:
- Griffiths Gibbs aged 19, single.
- Morgan Gibbs.
- Thomas Griffiths aged 18, single.
- David Hogging 32, wife and one child.
- Griffith James aged 19, single.
- William Lewis aged 60.
- John Llewellyn Rees aged 25, single.
- William Thomas aged 18.
- Henry Williams aged 16 years.
Both Griffith Gibbs and William Lewis died in an attempt to rescue the others.
In 1866 it was estimated that this mine had a total thickness of 56 feet of coal in seams over two feet thick. In 1893 it was owned by the Primrose Coal Company of Pontardawe and in 1896 the New Primrose was owned by the SouthWales Primrose Coal Company and employed 307 men producing steam and manufacturing coals. It was later purchased by the Main Colliery Company and used for pumping water to protect the neighbouring mines in the first decade of the 20th Century. The Old Primrose abandoned the Graigola seam in March 1907 and the Wernffraith seam in March 1910.
REES’ COLLIERY
Pontardawe, Swansea Valley
This was a small mine that was worked in the early decades of the 20thCentury by the South Wales Primrose Coal Company. In 1899 it employed 28 men and in 1900 it employed 26 men.
TIR EDMUND COLLIERY
Clydach, Swansea Valley
This mine was also called Bryndewy or Bryn Dewi or Wernddu and worked the Graigola and Four-Feet seams. It abandoned the Four-Feet seam in December 1895 when it was owned by the Main Colliery Company. Ventilation was by a furnace at the bottom of the 120-foot-deep upcast shaft. It was 5 feet square and produced 11,300 cubic feet of air per minute. It was owned by the Main Colliery Company it produced 40,683 tons of coal in 1889 and 56,465 tons of coal in 1894. Before closure in 1895, it was producing 200 tons a day but the quality of the coal was poor.
TYNYFRON COLLIERY
Glais, Swansea Valley
This was a small level that was owned by the Tynyfron Colliery Company Limited in 1913/16 when it employed 14 men. It was not listed in 1917.
Some statistics:
- 1910: Manpower: 14.
- 1911: Manpower: 16.
- 1912: Manpower: 14.
- 1916: Manpower: 14.
TYN-Y-PANT COLLIERY
Ystradgynlais, Swansea Valley
This small anthracite slant abandoned the Brass seam in 1904. In 1899 it employed 5 men and in 1900 it was owned by Tweedy & Company of Swansea and employed 20 men working underground and 3 men at the surface with Abiather Lloyd as the manager. Please also see Tynpant Colliery.
TYNYWAIN COLLIERY
Clydach, Swansea Valley
This mine was owned by the Swansea Vale Spelter Company of Llansamlet in 1918 when it employed 20 men working underground and 22 men working on the surface. In 1927 it was the National Smelting Company and this mine employed 44 men with J.H. Hearse the manager. I can find no other reference to it except that a Tyn-y-Wain at Clydach was abandoned in January 1946.
UPPER GRAIGOLA COLLIERY
Clydach, Swansea Valley
The Old Colliery was worked in 1884 by Cory, Yeo and Company and managed by William Jordan. The New Colliery was worked into the 1930’s. In 1908/1913/1918 this mine was owned by Bevan and Bowen who were not members of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. In 1908 it employed 26 men and Evan Lewis was the manager. In 1918 it employed 21 men underground and men on the surface with the manager being H. Griffiths. Mr. Griffiths was still there in 1919 when it employed 31 men. In 1925/7 it was owned by the Llwyndu Colliery Company and employed 120 men with the manager being W.J. Bevan.
Some statistics:
- 1899: Manpower: 16.
- 1900/02: Manpower: 19.
- 1903: Manpower: 23.
- 1908: Manpower: 26.
- 1910: Manpower: 26.
- 1918: Manpower: 25.
- 1919: Manpower: 31.
- 1922: Manpower: 70.
- 1925: Manpower: 120.
- 1927: Manpower: 120.
WESTERN MERTHYR COLLIERY
Clydach, Swansea Valley
This slant was listed in 1878 as being owned by the Western Merthyr Colliery Company. At that time it was managed by William P. George. In 1896 there was a West Merthyr which was owned by the West Merthyr Steam Coal Company of Pontardulais and employed 15 men underground and 6 men on the surface opening the mine. In 1902 it was owned by the Pontardulais Collieries Company and employed 55 men. It worked the Graigola seam which had a section of coal 16 inches, dirt 8 inches, and coal 32 inches.
YNYSFECHAN COLLIERY
Pontardawe, Swansea Valley
I have no record of this mine before 1907 but according to the History of Pontardawe by J.E. Morgan, it was opened in 1838 by Parsons and Company to feed the Ystalyfera Iron Works and was linked to the Primrose level. This mine was worked in 1907/20 by Lloyd and Company of Pontardawe and employed 30 men underground and 7 men at the surface in 1907, it employed 24 men in 1910, 20 men in 1911, 31 men in 1912 and it employed 28 men producing house and manufacturing coals in 1913/5. This company was not a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. It employed 28 men in 1916/20 and was still listed under the ownership of Lloyd & Co., in 1917, but in 1921/1927 it was in the hands of the Tawe Vale Collieries Limited and employed 61 men in 1923 and 165 men in 1927 when managed by R. Howells. It worked the mineral lease to the south of Pontardawe and abandoned the Hughes seam in December 1927.
Information supplied by Ray Lawrence and used here with his permission.
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