History of the Gwent Collieries

Graig Fawr Colliery. The Graig Fawr Colliery was located on the western side of the Cwm Valley (as seen circled on the map) just south of Llandaval Village. The Graig Fawr Colliery was not marked on the 1880 maps and only appeared on the 1901 ordnance survey maps, so must have been sunk between those years. On the 1880 maps …

New Penyvan Level. In the late 1880’s the new Penyvan Level was established, it was on the same side of the mountain just south of the Graig Fawr Colliery near Llandafal Village, Cwm. The tramway from this new Penyvan Level came down into the Graig Fawr Colliery and was connected by a surface tramway to the old Penyvan Colliery towards …

Penyvan Colliery. One of the earliest known collieries in the district, it was situated on the mountain slightly north west of the Aberbeeg Colliery with its tramway coming down towards the River Ebbw Fawr (as seen on the map). The Penyvan Coal Company. In the early 1800’s the Penyvan Coal Company had established the colliery and installed the tramway to …

Nantyglo Collieries. A portion of Messrs J. & C. Bailey land map showing their Nantyglo Ironworks in the 1870s, The map features some of the collieries (circled clockwise bottom to top) – No6 Stable Pit in the grounds of the round houses; No4 Vydylog Pit; The Force-Forge? Pit; Winches Pit; The Old Winches Pit; The Wain Pit; Milfrain Pit; No2 …

J. & C. Bailey land map mid 1800s. A small portion of a J. & C. Bailey land map mid 1800s showing land leases and just a few of the many collieries. The map features the collieries circled left to right – Glyn Milwr Pit; The Feeder Black Pin Pit; Blaina Red Vein Pit; No8 Flue Pit; J & C …

The North Blaina Collieries. Ffosmaen Colliery. (Information to come) Peggy’s Pit Coalbrookvale Nantyglo. There isn’t a great deal known about this colliery, though it was a deep mine with quite a few men employed there. It was situated close to the Ffosmaen Colliery and on the image can be seen both collieries and an airshaft (top right of the image). …

Coalbrookvale. The name of Coalbrookvale was an English derivation of Nant-y-glo, stream of coal, Coal Brook in the vale of. Mr George Brewer. The Coalbrookvale Iron Works were set up in the 1820’s by Mr George Brewer. Later his son Mr Thomas Llewellyn Brewer took control. Coalbrookvale Colliery. The Coalbrookvale Deep Pit was sunk sometime after 1840, (the colliery was …

Blaina Nantyglo Collieries. Just a few of the collieries in the area. Ffosmaen Colliery, the Old Sun Pit, Trostre Pits and the Coalbrookvale Colliery. The name Trostre is spelt in many different ways on maps over the years.

The Sun Pits – North Blaina Colliery – Stones Pit. There was an old disused shaft on the site prior to 1880 more than probably opened and owned by Messrs Bailey Bros and the mothballed. Sometime later the Messrs Stone Brothers, Mr John & William Stone took over and renamed it the “New Sun Pit” It was mentioned in reports …

The Stones Colliery. (Information on another page). The Upper Deep Colliery. Opened in about 1855, the Upper Deep Colliery was located in the Cwmcelyn area and may have been opened by Messrs Levick & Simpson. In 1864 a coal cutter was invented by Levick and Jones of Cwmcelyn and exhibited in the Paris Exhibition. Mr James Brown and his brother …