Cwmciwc Colliery

Near Llanharan (98208430)

Situated near the southern outcrop and bounded by a thrust bed to the north where the seams are unworkable Cwmciwc, would have encountered some of the most difficult geological conditions in the South Wales Coalfield. The seams can be badly broken and sometimes vertical towards the north. The seams below the Six-Feet seam are in general unworkable. It was opened in 1904 by Davies and Company who employed 19 men in 1907, but the 20 men underground and 4 men on the surface in 1908, were employed by the Gas Coal Colliery Co.Ltd., of St. Mary Street, Cardiff. Who also employed 25 men in 1909 when managed by E.H. Thomas.

On the 20th of January 1911, James Birtwistle, aged 31 years and a collier, died under a fall of the roof at his working place. While shifting rubbish in the gob of a wide heading he threw a large stone which knocked out a post, causing a large fall of the roof.

In 1911 it was still owned by Andrews & Masters’ Gas Coal Company and employed 58 men. It was worked in 1914/21 by the Meiros Collieries Limited and it employed 200 men and was managed by S.R. or T.H. Hopkins. E. McIntyre was the manager in 1918 when this mine employed 65 men underground and 18 men on the surface. It abandoned the No.3 Rhondda seam in March 1921. It continued to be listed in 1923 – 1932 but with no men employed. In 1935 the only colliery worked by the Meiros Collieries Company was Wern Tarw. The Meiros Company was a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association.

Some statistics:

• 1905: Manpower: 11.
• 1907: Manpower: 19.
• 1908: Manpower: 24.
• 1909: Manpower: 25.
• 1910: Manpower: 97.
• 1911: Manpower: 58.
• 1912: Manpower: 258.
• 1913: Manpower: 200.
• 1916: Manpower: 200.
• 1918: Manpower: 83.
• 1920: Manpower: 150.
• 1922: Manpower: 150

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