History of the Gwent Collieries

North Griffin Colliery – Bailey’s Pit, Blaina. The Griffin Colliery was locally known as Bailey’s Pit and was along with all the deep mines in the area originally a water balance pit. The colliery was situated just north of Inkerman Row, West Side, Blaina. The colliery is shown on the section of the Messrs J. & C. Bailey brothers sales …

Cwm Nant-y-Groes Coal Level. Situated up in the Cwmnant-y Groes area of Six Bells, the colliery is featured on the 1843 map of the coalfield as being in production and had a tramway to the main tram road at Six Bells. Messrs T. P. & D. Price. The coal level was opened by Messrs T. P. & D. Price. Mr …

Cwm Farm Level. There were a few coal levels in the Cwm Farm area though I haven’t got any pin-point exact locations only maps with very few details. The featured photograph shows (circled) the areas of the three known levels on the map. The area was owned by the Cwm Estate, hence the names, Cwm Farm, Cwm Cottage Road, Cwm …

The Cwm Farm Levels. The 1880 map shows the same area as the photograph detailing approximately the locations of the three coal level entrances.

Six Bells Balance Pit. This water balance pit (circled on the map) was situated between the River Ebbw and the railway lines opposite where Six Bells Colliery would later sited. I cannot find details of the colliery but will keep searching. The image shows the Balance Pit (far right) after it closed. (Information to come).

Gilfach Level. This coal level was more than probably originally worked for the Gilfach Farm personal use. The colliery was later featured on the 1843 map of the coalfield as being in production and has a tramway to the main railway in Six Bells. In 1908 it was listed as being owned by Mr E. Davies of Gilfach Farm, Six …

Hafod Van Level. This coal level was situated close to the railway on where Browns Corner is today. It was one of the oldest levels in Six Bells and was supposedly owned by Mr Thomas Phillips Price in 1869, as with the Durban Level, I don’t know if it was Messrs T. P. Price as in Thomas Protheroe Price? (More …

Craig-yr-Aral Level. This coal level was situated close to the top end where Arrail Street is today, it may have been connected with the nearby Pant-yr-Aral Farm. The farm was demolished when the houses on Arrail Street was constructed. The Pant-yr-Aral Farm was located where numbers 4, 6 and 8 Upper Arrail Street is today. In 1849 it was reported …

Arael Farm Level. This small-scale coal level was situated on the top of the Arael Mountain slightly north of the Arael Farm (as seen circled on the map above). In 1908 it was listed as being owned by the farmer Mr Edward Nicholas & Son and employed just one man. Mr Edward Nicholas was a farmer from Ynysduu who had …

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 …