Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting
Arrail Level.
This coal level was situated on the western side of the valley (as seen circled on the map) between Aberbeeg and Six Bells.
Messrs Latch and Cope.
In 1863 the partnership of Messrs Latch and Cope leased a portion of land in the Six Bells valley from Messrs Capel Hanbury Leigh and opened the Arrail Colliery. On early documentation it was spelt Arall Colliery.
Mr Joseph Latch.
Mr Joseph Latch was born in Newport in 1793. He became a customs officer under King William IV and was the Mayor of Newport on two occasions, in 1835-36 and in 1845-46. He later became a colliery proprietor.
Mr William Cope.
Mr William Cope was a ship company owner from Cardiff (more information to come).
The Colliery Details.
In July 1880 the colliery was for sale at auction, it was described as the Arall Colliery, Six Bells and being close to the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company’s railway at Aberbeeg. The colliery was held under lease from the late Capel Hanbury Leigh and was capable of an output of 100 tons per day. The land was four acres at a rental of 30s. per acre for which two five-room cottages, stable for nine horses, over loft, smiths’ shop, weighing machine and office. The plant consisted of 5,000 yards of tram-plates, sixty coal trams, 100 5-ton coal wagons and smiths’ tools. The dead-rent of £300 per year merging in a royalty of 8d. per ton of 2,520lbs.
Messrs James and Emanuel.
In 1884 the Arral Level and Llandavel Level was taken over by Messrs James and Emanuel with the manager being Mr T. F. Salt, Mr Salt was later owner of the Rhiw Colbren Levels at Abertillery.
On the 1896 list they are still combined and worked under the same ownership and management, though on the 1908 list, Arrail Level is not listed, with the site of the level was slowly being consumed by the Six Bells Colliery waste tip.
The Later Years.
The Arrail Level, cottages, smiths’ works and offices has long been buried below the waste tip from the Six Bells Colliery that Jones’ Bus Depot was and now Squire Cars is built upon. This waste tip was built up over the early years when the Six Bells was in production though when the site reached its limit the J. Lancaster Company erected an aerial flight up to the top of the Arael Mountain with which to convey the later waste up out of the valley.