Llanerch Colliery

Llanerch Colliery – Cwm-nant-ddu.
Llanerch Colliery originally known as Cwm-nant-ddu was sunk in about the mid 1840’s.

Its early history is a bit confusing and unclear at present though it seems industry in the area started between 1825-1830. The iron works commenced in the 1830’s with an approximate workforce of 3,000 hands under the name of the British Iron Works. On many reports it was stated as being owned by The Varteg Iron Company and later the Pontnewynydd Iron Company. It languished until the Ebbw Vale Company purchased the works in 1852. Though again a few reports stated that the Pontnewynydd Iron Company still owned the collieries as late as 1857?

Mr Thomas Brown Esq.
Mr Thomas Brown Esq original owner of the Cwmtillery Collieries and director of the Ebbw Vale Steel Iron & Coal Company was named as being a major force in the works reorganisation.

The Colliery.
The Cwm-nant-ddu Colliery isn’t on the 1840 tithe map though first appeared in the late 1840’s. In a report from the Ebbw Vale Company in 1869 it was described that the colliery consisted of a downcast shaft situated on the mountain and the upcast shaft was one mile away in the valley to the south east. It seems to have been leased by the Pontnewynydd Iron Company until 1857 when it was taken over by the Ebbw Vale Co. In the following year it seems that another shaft was sunk at the colliery.

In the late 1840s Mr William Cook, no age given. Death caused by suffocation from fire-damp gas. A short while later it was announced that his wife sadly passed away at the age of 25, she left three orphan children.

On Saturday 16th of April 1850, Mr Jacob Stock was severely burned caused by an explosion.

On Tuesday 22nd of January 1856, a small explosion occurred at the Cwm-nant-ddu Colliery, Mr Edmund Bevan aged 20 was caught in the blast though survived, he went home and took to his bed and sadly passed away on the 14th of February. It was said Mr Bevan had been severely injured in a fist fight the week before and that the effects of the blows from his assailant had contributed to his death, but the jury found that he had died from the exposure to the explosion.

The Varteg Iron Company.
In November 1856 Mr John Cole aged 36 died at the colliery. Death was caused by a roof fall at the Cwm-nant-ddu Colliery. The report stated that the colliery at this time was leased by the Varteg Iron Company.

In April 1857 an explosion killed Mr Benjamin Heritage aged 35. The following inquest was held at the Pentwyn Tavern, Abersychan. Mr Charles Manley Ashwin was the (Deputy Coroner). The jury were as follows – Mr Charles T. Edwards (Foreman); Mr John Henshaw; Mr George D. Wells; Mr Joseph Ellis; Mr Robert Jones; Mr Francis Drowne; Mr William Walker; Mr David Morgan; Mr Joseph Wood; Mr James Jefferies; Mr Edwin Marty and Mr Edwin Maskell: The inquiry was attended by Mr Herbert Mackworth Esq of Clifton and Mr Robert Smith, manager of the coal department.

The Pontnewynydd Iron Company.
At this inquiry in 1857 it was stated that the Cwm-nant-ddu Colliery was the property of the Pontnewynydd Iron Company, who had leased the colliery and the underground workings covered 200 acres in extent. A witness Mr Israel Parker a Collier gave evidence as to the differences of the means of ventilation in the Cwm-nant-ddu Colliery compared to the other collieries he had worked in, e.g., Cwmtillery and Abercarne.

On Thursday 30th of April 1857, one of the injured men from the explosion Mr George Holbrook sadly passed away from his injuries. Mr Holbrook was 64 years of age.

On Wednesday 26th of August 1857, Mr James Jarrett, aged 22 died at the colliery. Death caused by a roof fall.

In July 1857 Mr George Tapp died at the colliery. Death caused from being crushed by a dram on the surface of the Cwm-nant-ddu Colliery.

On Monday 30th of November 1857, a boy named James Tapp aged 12 was killed underground at Cwm-nant-ddu Colliery. Death caused by being crushed by a dram, his father was killed 4 months previous at the same colliery in the same manner.

On Wednesday 18th of February 1858, Mr Daniel Williams aged 52 died at the colliery. Death caused by a roof fall at the Cwm-nant-ddu Colliery.

On Monday 28th of February 1859, Mr Robert Tanner, a fireman was badly burnt about his arms whilst examining the underground workings of Cwm-nant-ddu Colliery.

In May 1861 Mr David Price was accidentally killed at the Cwm-nant-ddu Colliery, he was being brought back up the shaft after descending to attend to the horses when upon reaching the bank the engine didn’t stop and pulled the bond over the headgear, Mr Price either jumped out or fell to his death.

On Saturday 24th of October 1863, Master David Vater aged 12, an underground worker, jumped on the buffers of a train on the surface of the colliery and got crushed, he had to have his leg amputated but later died of his severe injuries.

On Friday 30th of October 1863, Master Lemuel Thomas of Pontnewynydd who was employed by Mr Jeremiah was going to the Lime Kilns at the Cwm-nant-yddu Colliery when the ground gave away and he fell through into the fiery mass below, he was severely burnt but survived and was under the care of Surgeon Mr O. Thomas Esq.

In April 1864 Mr John Stockholme or Stockham took iron rails from the pit to the surface in the bond, at the top of the bank the wagon toppled and Mr Stockholme fell down the shaft.

In August 1868 Mr Charles Jones of Cwm-nant-ddu, was reported being killed by a fall of roof in one of the pits owned by the Ebbw Vale Company at Cwm-nant-ddu.

On Tuesday 25th of May 1869, an explosion occurred at the colliery. Hananiah Williams aged 31; Thomas Williams aged 27; John Jones (John Coach) aged 53; Evan Rees aged 15; David Rees aged 30; William Cook Jnr aged 24 and Alfred Davies aged 29:

It was stated that Mr Evan Jones was the contractor, between 300 and 400 men worked there

In September 1869 Mr Jonas Gullock aged 23 passed away from the effects of an accident the previous April 20th, 1869, when he was crushed under the bond at Cwm-nant-ddu Colliery.

On Thursday 24th of March 1870, Mr William Samuel Smith aged 36 died at the colliery. Death caused by a fall of roof.

In April 1870 Mr Joseph Price died at the colliery. Death caused by a roof fall.

The Spooky Noises below Ground.
In 1870-1871 it was reported that the Cwm-nant-ddu colliers had for some time heard terrifying sub-subterranean noises and there were reports of extra-ordinary sights seen below ground, regarded by many as being supernatural forces. These sighting and noises became a very serious cause for concern to the Ebbw Vale Company as the men were too scared to venture into the coal mine and the company was losing hundreds of pounds in consequence of the men refusing to work.

The company tried to calm the men and explained that the noises were of a natural origin with the settling of the strata etc or possibly be a person frightening the workers, though it didn’t seem to ease the workers’ fright. Mr Joseph Green (Agent) and Mr Evan Jones the (Contractor) was given the authority to seek out the truth behind the noises and in April 1871 they claimed to have caught the perpetrator, a Mr John Carvey, a haulier employed by Mr Evan Jones. The courthouse was full of people anxious to find out if it was him behind the sightings and noises.

In a suspicious ending to this case Mr Carvey admitted to slamming a door on one occasion and issued an apology, the company blamed him and reassured the workforce that the sightings, noises and apparitions were over, Mr Greenway on behalf of the Ebbw Vale Company and Mr Evan Jones, Mr Carvey’s employer pressed the court to release the defendant and not to press charges. The bench said that Carvey – by slamming doors and acting like he did, endangered the lives of many of his fellow workers and should be dealt with though they allowed the case to be withdrawn.

On Saturday 16th November 1872 Mr Thomas Price died at the colliery. Death caused by a roof fall.

On Wednesday 25th February 1880 a slight explosion had occurred at the Cwm-nant-ddu Colliery with which two men named Mr Edward Harvey and Charles Lloyd were burnt.

Messrs Partridge, Jones & Co.
On the 1st of January 1887 Messrs Partridge, Jones & Co took over the Cwm-nant-ddu Colliery on lease from the Ebbw Vale Steel Iron and Coal Company and it became known as the Llanerch Colliery. The coal seam which was being worked was the Meadow Vein Seam. It was 7′ feet 6″ inches thick and it had been worked in the area since 1825.

The 1890 Explosion.
On Thursday 6th of February 1890, a catastrophic explosion occurred at the colliery killing 176 men and boys. Early reports stated 250 men had descended the colliery on the Thursday morning, the Firemen had inspected the workings and at eight o’clock reported all was safe. Though at ten minutes to nine a terrible report was heard and an indescribable commotion followed. Women, children and relatives rushed up the mountain to the pit-head. The force of the explosion had displaced some of the timbers of the headgear which fell down the shaft making descent impossible. Over the next hour the scenes at the top were reported as being heart rendering with such out-pouring of grief, one elderly lady whose husband was bedridden stood on the bank had three sons working below ground waited to hear news of their fate.

Exploring parties were formed under the direction of Mr Morgan, the manager and Mr Edward Jones J.P. one of the colliery proprietors, the shaft was partly cleared and means of communication was made through the other shaft. Ambulances were obtained from the neighbouring collieries and Dr’s Mulligan, Hayes, Verity and Woods were in attendance. The exploring parties descended the pit and started to bring out some survivors, stated as being very few. Mr John Beard was the first of the dead to be brought out, followed by many others who were so badly injured in the blast they could not be recognised except by their clothing.
The engine at pit-bottom was lifted from its masonry foundations and up-ended, though miraculously Mr William Davies a haulier was battling for life after being overcome by after-damp in the aftereffects of the explosion. His arrival at the pit bank was welcomed but he said his father and brothers were further in the workings.

At midnight it was reported that 75 men and boys had been recovered alive and 49 dead had been brought up. Of the 250 who had descended that morning many were married and a few were young lads, one or two were reported as being hardly 13 years old and the painful scene at the pithead was unbearable as these juveniles were brought up. So bad were the bodies of many of the dead shattered in the blast, that they were put into sacks to be brought up the pit. It was stated that the explorers who’s daring and bravery deserves all praise. The engine house shaft was turned into a mortuary, the men who survived but badly burnt were sent home carried on stretchers across the mountain or put on special trucks provided by the railway company and relief gangs came to help the retrieval.

The work continued all day Friday and over 150 bodies were recovered and by the evening that number had risen to 168 men and boys being brought to the surface. At this point in time the management could not rule out there being many more fatalities as there was not an accurate account of the number of men and boys working in the pit. It was said that many were employed by the company and some were sub-contracted and the latter did not appear on the workforce registers or in the lamp room. Also, the pit was using locked lamps in parts of the workings and naked lights in others so there was no reliable list to check numbers or name tags of lamps taken. It was feared that no man appears to have survived who was working in Cook’s Slope, where the explosion originated and the final body count was 176 men and boys.

Below ground Mr Lougher, an engineer who was directing the explorers said how difficult it was for his teams to cope with the terrible sights of the mutilated bodies, many bodies shattered by the splintered wooden props and bodies being blown distances of between 40 and 150 yards which indicated the strength of the explosion. He also said how they witnessed the most painful sights of gassed fathers and sons clasped in the last embrace, and little boys lay as if asleep.

The Victims of the Explosion.
Mr John Beard age 63   No19 River Row, Abersychan.
Mr John Downes age 32   No19 Union Street, Abersychan.
Mr William Tudgay age 32   Golynos Talywain.
Mr William Davies age 45   Brickyard Row, British.
Mr George Rudge age 27   No46 Commercial Road, Talywain.
Mr David Howells age 18   No1 Dent’s Houses, Abersychan.
Mr James Adams age 36   Nightingale Village, Pontnewynydd.
Mr William Rogers age 31   No94 Snatchwood Road.
Mr John Thorne age 24   No21 Commercial Road.
Mr William Williams age 34   No34 Club Row, Tranch, Pontypool.
Mr William (Blarney) Williams age 34   Stoney Road, Garnfiffaith.
Mr Mark Parfitt age 21   No2 Exeter Place, Abersychan.
Mr Henry Hillier age 31   No5 Pear Tree, Snatchwood.
Mr James Thomas age 39   No5 Blue Boar, Talywain.
Mr John Carey age 31   No22 Swan Square, Abersychan.
Mr Leonard Silcox age 32   No14 Old Road, Abersychan.
Mr Thomas Filer age 28   No9 Pisgah Road, Talywain.
Mr Watkin Rogers age 36   No94 Snatchwood Road.
Mr James James age 60   No2 Bluett Road, Talywain.
Mr John Cook age 37   No51 Elizabeth Row, British.
Mr William Pleaty age 35   No126 High Street, Abersychan.
Mr David Rous age 19   No17 Lewis Street, Abersychan.
Mr Frederick Parfitt age 41   No34 High Street, Abersychan.
Mr George Parfitt age 13   No34 High Street, Abersychan.
Mr William John Bayliss age 21   No6 Swan Square, Abersychan.
Mr Alfred Thomas age 21   No54 Snatchwood Road.
Mr James Greasley age 23   Railway Parade, Pontnewynydd.
Mr Thomas James age 20   No1 Bluett Road, Talywain.
Mr William Williams age 16   No4 Pisgah Road, Talywain.
Mr Joseph Thomas age 20   Golynos, Talywain.
Mr Edward Jones age 34   No21 Union Street, Abersychan.
Mr Elias Lewis age 13   8 Houses, Pentwyn Tips.
Mr Lewis Lewis age 25   No96 High Street, Abersychan.
Mr Lewis Bridges age 29   No42 Snatchwood Road.
Mr William Morris age 15   8 Houses, Pentwyn Tips.
Mr Thomas Williams age 63   No27 Snatchwood Road.
Mr William Harpur age 28   No7 Club Row, Abersychan.
Mr Thomas Williams age 34   No125 High Street, Abersychan.
Mr Thomas Morgan age 41   No5 Coedcae, Pontypool.
Mr George James age 53   No29 Rookery, Garndiffaith.
Mr John White age 38   Canal Bank, Pontnewynydd.
Mr William Hayes age 19   No24 High Street, Abersychan.
Mr William Regan age 14   No24 High Street, Abersychan.
Mr James Cook age 31   No91 Snatchwood Road.
Mr Frederick Martin age 20   No3 Top Rank, Pentwyn Tips.
Mr Thomas (Rougher) Lewis age 36   No14 Lewis Street, Abersychan.
Mr Lewis Rogers age 29   No15 Union Street, Abersychan.
Mr William (Boy) Jones age 17   Manor Road, Abersychan.
Mr John Regan age 16   No24 High Street, Abersychan.
Mr William Finn age 17   Tranch, Pontypool.
Mr Joseph Tudgay age 22   Golynos, Talywain.
Mr James Tudgay age 46   Golynos, Talywain.
Mr Spencer Brimble age 17   No16 Cross Street, Garndiffaith.
Mr Oliver Brimble age 15   No16 Cross Street, Garndiffaith.
Mr Daniel Davies age 24   No67 Club Row, Snatchwood.
Mr Azariah Jeremiah age 57   No9 Pisgah Road, Talywain.
Mr Samuel James age 19   Manor Road, Abersychan.
Mr Thomas Rock age 21   Pentrepoid, near Pontnewynydd.
Mr John Samuel age 22   No7 High Street, Abersychan.
Mr William Allsopp age 54   No33 Snatchwood Road.
Mr George Rossiter age 31   Morton Street, Pontypool.
Mr Thomas Morgan age 27   George Street, Pontnewynydd.
Mr William Bailey age 15   Pentrepoid, near Pontnewynydd.
Mr Thomas Horam age 18   No10 Mallor Street, Abersychan.
Mr Albert Powell age 14   Freehold, Pontnewynydd.
Mr Edgar Robinson age 14   Butlers Row, Pentwyn Tips.
Mr Thomas Walby age 28   Plasycoed Road, Gwniffrwdwr.
Mr James Meadows age 81   No34 Snatchwood Road.
Mr Albert Bryant age 34   No4 Lewis Street, Abersychan.
Mr William Davies age 14   Brickyard Row, The British.
Mr John Lewis age 17   Frwd Road, Abersychan.
Mr Thomas Morgan age 24   No13 Coed Cae, Pontypool.
Mr Edward Jones age 60   No27 Waterloo Road, Talywain.
Mr Thomas Pritchard age 12   No64 Club Row, Snatchwood.
Mr John Wilcox age 54   No11 Top Rank, Pentwyn.
Mr Samuel Wilcox age 21   No11 Top Rank, Pentwyn.
Mr Charles Wilcox age 17   No11 Top Rank, Pentwyn.
Mr Oliver Langley age 41   No14 Valentines Row, Abersychan.
Mr Thomas Lacey age 19   Round Stables, Pentwyn.
Mr Albert Jones age 14   No22 Swan Square, Abersychan.
Mr Alfred Shaw age 13   The Huts, The British, Abersychan.
Mr John G. Jones age 64   Brickyard Cottages, Cwmffrwdwr.
Mr Joseph Rees age 13   George Street, Pontnewynydd.
Mr David Rees age 25   No13 George Street, Pontnewynydd.
Mr Edward Jones age 53   Rose Cottages, The British.
Mr John Jones age 11   No36 Snatchwood.
Mr William Jones age 14   No36 Snatchwood.
Mr John Howells age 17   York Row, The British.
Mr Edwin Matthews age 42   No71 Club Row, Snatchwood.
Mr John Morgan age 17   No71 Club Row, Snatchwood.
Mr James Pritchard age 13   No64 Club Row, Snatchwood.
Mr Joseph Howells age 35   No39 George Street, Pontypool.
Mr Rosser Pritchard age 37   No64 Club Row, Snatchwood.
Mr Robert Furber age 18   Big Edge Hill Row, The British.
Mr Henry Howells age 15   No50 George Street, Pontypool.
Mr James Jones age 51   Greenfell Cottage, Garndiffaith.
Mr James Bright age 14   No24 Albert Road, Talywain.
Mr Samuel Francis Bright age 12   No24 Albert Road, Talywain.
Mr Dan Ivory age 21   No9 Top Row, Pentwyn.
Mr Robert Ivory age 26   No9 Top Row, Pentwyn.
Mr David Brimble age 12   No16 Cross Street, Garndiffaith.
Mr John Jones age 20   Manor Road, Abersychan.
Mr Thomas Phillips age 24   Waterworks Road, Cwmffrwdwr.
Mr James Lewis age 31   No81 Snatchwood Road.
Mr Henry Morgan age 49   No13 Coedcae, Pontypool.
Mr William John Morgan age 21   No13 Coedcae, Pontypool.
Mr George Davies age 37   No94 Snatchwood Road.
Mr John Gauntlet age 55   No70 Club Row, Snatchwood.
Mr Benjamin Meadows age 53   No21 Snatchwood Road.
Mr Charles Thomas age 26   No18 Snatchwood Road.
Mr George Ashman age 19   Pentwyn Farm, Abersychan.
Mr William George age 34   No4 Gas House Square, Abersychan.
Mr Joseph George age 13   No4 Gas House Square, Abersychan.
Mr Sidney Shaw age 37   The Huts, The British, Abersychan.
Mr David Yater age 61   George Street, Pontnewynydd.
Mr Phillip Powell age 29   No15 Swan Square, Abersychan.
Mr James James age 13   No12 Pisgah Road, Talywain.
Mr Edmund Price age 15   No15 Albert Road, Talywain.
Mr John Edwards age 20   Farm Cottage, The British.
Mr James Webb age 22   No18 Old Road, Abersychan.
Mr John Hoskins age 39   No8 River Row, Abersychan.
Mr Albert Weaver age 18   No71 Club Row, Snatchwood.
Mr John Williams age 16   No58 George Street, Pontnewynydd.
Mr Joseph Bevan age 37   Pentwyn Tip, Abersychan.
Mr Arthur Bingham age 15   Club Row, Tranch.
Mr Josh Carpenter age 15   No69 Club Row, Snatchwood.
Mr Fred Bridges age 17   No82 Snatchwood Road.
Mr James Llewellyn age 36   Greenland Farm, Cwmnantddu.
Mr Thomas Lewis age 41   Gypsy Lane, Cwmnantddu.
Mr Thomas Lewis age 15   Gypsy Lane, Cwmnantddu.
Mr Richard Gough age 60   No2 Lewis Street, Abersychan.
Mr Davis Hughes age 14   No5 Swan Square, Abersychan.
Mr William Bridges age 19   No82 Snatchwood Road.
Mr Mark Bridges age 55   No82 Snatchwood Road.
Mr Richard Skye age 28   No13 George Street, Pontnewynydd.
Mr Thomas Ashman age 21   Pentwyn Farm, Abersychan.
Mr William Ashman age 17   Pentwyn Farm, Abersychan.
Mr William (Boy) Williams age 12   Pentwyn Farm, Abersychan.
Mr Robert Edwards age 16   No10 High Street, Abersychan.
Mr Samuel Greasley age 37   Railway Parade, Pontnewynydd.
Mr Matthew Smith age 29   Tranch, Pontypool.
Mr Alfred Langley age 15   Railway Parade, Pontypool.
Mr Edward Charles Davies age 14   No67 Club Row, Snatchwood.
Mr John James age 44   George Street, Pontnewynydd.
Mr Francis Trollops age 40   No13 Swan Square, Abersychan.
Mr David (Boy) Jones age 14   No5 Union Street, Abersychan.
Mr Jeremiah Sullivan age 14   No6 Foundry Road, Abersychan.
Mr Nephi Loveridge age 27   No1 Dent’s House, Abersychan.
Mr John Webber age 19   No118 High Street, Abersychan.
Mr Joseph Lewis age 24   No6 Union Street, Abersychan.
Mr Ebenezer Phelps age 22   Royal Oak Row, Twynyfrwd.
Mr William Thomas age 18   No54 Snatchwood Road.
Mr Charles Shaw age 14   No24 Union Street, Abersychan.
Mr Daniel Webb age 21   No1 Bluett Road, Talywain.
Mr Gabriel Carpenter age 47   No69 Club Row, Snatchwood.
Mr George Trollop age 29   No2 Dent’s House, Abersychan.
Mr John Davies age 34   Stoney Road, Garndiffaith.
Mr Joseph Howells age 12   No1 Dent’s Houses, Abersychan.
Mr Thomas Greasley age 19   Railway Parade, Pontnewynydd.
Mr William Williams age 15   Manor Road, Abersychan.
Mr William Williams age 35   Pentwyn Farm, Abersychan.
Mr Charles Gwilliam age 14   No3 Blue Boar, Talywain.
Mr James Driscoll age 52   Golynos, Talywain.
Mr Samuel Jones age 48   No21 Pisgah Square, Talywain.
Mr Joseph Pritchard age 19   Golynos, Talywain.
Mr Edward Davies age 54   No67 Club Row, Snatchwood.
Mr William Cullis age 24   Old Bailey, Tranch, Pontpool.
Mr John Price age 13   No12 Foundry Road, Abersychan.
Mr Thomas James age 14   Manor Road, Abersychan.
Mr William Dobbs age 24   No6 Gas House Square, Abersychan.
Mr John Godwin age 13   Noah Board School, Cwmffrwdwr.
Mr John Evans age 12   Upper George Street, Pontypool.
Mr William H. Williams age 18   No10 Pear Street, Snatchwood.
Mr William Hoods age 13   No24 Railway Parade, Pontypool.
Mr William Reed age 32   No4 Union Street, Abersychan.
Mr Henry Hoare age 17   Club Row, Tranch.

After the recovery it was reported that the village was rendered a place of mourning by the dreadful calamity. In one case a row of 10 houses in Abersychan there were 13 dead. One woman was left with 10 small children. A miner called Greasley lost his 3 sons and would have been killed himself but was too ill to work on that fateful day. These cases were typical of many and the whole village was a huge mortuary.

A large number of the funerals took place on the Sunday, both at Abersychan and Pontypool. Many thousands of miners and sympathisers from the Rhondda Valley’s and district poured into Pontypool. Though the bulk of the dead were buried on the Monday, they were laid to rest at the Trevethin Church, the Baptist and Congregational Grounds. So sad were the scenes that an elderly gentleman overcome with grief fell to his knees and sadly passed away at the graveyard. The remaining funerals took place on the Tuesday and Wednesday and throughout the week Pontypool and Abersychan was at a standstill.

A massage of sympathy was received from the Queen, a proposal made to raise a Mansion House fund in London for the relief of the surviving sufferers and the Mayor of Newport opened a fund heading the list with a £50 subscription. Messrs Partridge Jones and Co the proprietors of the colliery gave £250 and Mr J. C. Hanbury of Pontypool Park contributed a sum of £250.

The Inquest.
The inquest was opened on Saturday 8th of February by Mr J. B. Walford, solicitor of Abergavenny, the (Deputy Coroner). The inquest was resumed at the Town Hall, Pontypool on Tuesday 25th of February by Mr J. E. Ward, Solicitor of Newport. The inquiry was continued on the 26th 27th and 28th February and then adjourned until 3rd March and then continued on the Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th March 1890.

At the time of the inquest the colliery was described as having two shafts, an upcast elliptical 16′ feet by 11′ feet and a downcast circular 12′ feet in diameter sunk in about 1858 to a depth of 250 yards deep.

The Relief Fund.
Half of the victims were married men who had large families, it was estimated there were 230 orphans. It was stated that from the funds of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Relief Fund the relatives of the single men would receive £20; Relatives of the married men would receive a sum of £5, and widows 5s. per week during widowhood and 2s. 6d. per week for each child until it reaches the age of 13 years old. It was estimated the cost to the Provident Society would total £27,000.

The colliery re-opened just a short while later and production got back underway.

In May 1890 Mr Abiethar Stewart, no age reported died at the colliery. Death caused by being crushed by coal trucks on the surface of the colliery. Mr Stewart died of severe internal injuries the next day.

In July 1890 Mr Fred Rees, aged 25 died at the colliery. Death caused from a roof fall. Mr Rees was killed on the eve of his wedding.

The Memorial Window at Trevethin Church.
On Monday 3rd November 1890 a Memorial Service and unveiling of the Memorial Window at Trevethin Church. The window, designed by Mr Christian architect to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and made by Messrs Heaton, Butler and Bayne of London. The text on the window had the following inscription – “To the glory of God, and in affectionate memory of the 181 colliers, five of whom lost their lives in the Glyn Pits on the 23rd of January 1890 and the 176 who perished at the Llanerch Colliery on the 6th of February 1890″ was erected by the Pontypool Fire Brigade under the command of Captain Gus Bevan and unveiled by Mr J. C. Hanbury of Pontypool Park.

In January 1891 Mr William Stephens, aged 70 died at the colliery. Death caused from being crushed by a dram. Mr Stephens died from his injuries 3 days later.

In September 1891, such a short while after the terrible explosion the manager Mr Joseph Morgan ordered a search of the underground workers and found four men with matches and pipes in their possession. Each were charged with committing a breach of rule 91 of the Mines Act and subsequently ordered to pay 20s. each or 14 days in prison. A few days later a collier returned a locked lamp to the lamp room belonging to his son who had been working with him and the superintendent found it had been opened and interfered with. The young boy was fined 10s. and cautioned.

Mr John Powell.
In April 1893 Mr John Powell, late manager of the Waunllwyd Colliery, Ebbw Vale, took on the duties of manager at Llanerch Colliery.

Mr David Rees.
In 1896 Mr David Rees was the manager and Mr Richard Ashman was the under-manager.

On Monday 8th February 1904 Alderman Brace, son of Mr W. Brace and brother to Mr J. Brace was killed in an accident at the Llanerch Colliery. No details issued.

Mr Joseph Morgan.
In January 1908 Mr Joseph Morgan was back as the manager of both Llanerch and Blaensychan Collieries. Mr Hedley Clarke was the under-manager. The combined collieries had a workforce of 1,963.

Mr W. Llewellyn.
In 1918 the manager of both collieries, Llanerch and Blaensychan was Mr W. Llewellyn and Mr George Jayne was the under-manager with a combined workforce of over 2,000 miners.

Mr F. Wilcox.
In 1938 the manager of both collieries was Mr F. Wilcox with Mr Jas Davies and Mr F. Godwin being the under-managers of the Llanerch and Blaensychan respectively.

Mr P. S. H. Jones.
After WWII the workforce had dropped to just 257 miners at Llanerch Colliery with Mr P. S. H. Jones as manager and Mr A. E. Box and Mr W. Rogers as under-managers of the Llanerch and Blaensychan respectively.

The Closure of the Explosion Fund.
In July 1956 the Colliery Explosion Fund was officially closed with the purchase of an annuity for Mrs Dinah Lewis, the sole survivor of the recipients of the fund.

(More information to come).