History of the Gwent Collieries

The Cwmtillery Colliery. The Cwmtillery Colliery, image taken from West Bank about 1911.   Points of interest – The colliery and grounds in the center of the image with the company cottages either side of the valley once owned by the South Wales Colliery Company and constructed for the large workforce. On the left is the colliery feeder, flight buckets …

Cwmtillery Colliery with the Coke Ovens. During the latter part of the 19th century tramping vagrants would walk the valley’s looking for some sort of employment, a few of them would be too aged, ill and unable to work in heavy industry, often they would be eligible for relief and receive about 8d. per day for food, though many would …

Cwmtillery Colliery – Without the Coke Ovens. (Information to come).

Cwmtillery Colliers Hall. On Friday 31st of July 1874, the construction of the Colliers Hall at Cwmtillery commenced. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs Rose Heyworth, wife of Mr Lawrence Heyworth, the director of the South Wales Colliery Company. Within the foundations she placed a sealed bottle containing new current coins and a parchment with an inscription of the …

Six Bells Colliery – Old Waste Tip. The Six Bells Colliery site was built close to the waste tips from the Durban Level which was situated up on the mountain just below where the television transmitter is today. The Durban Level owned by T. P. Price was tipping their waste on the grounds opposite the old Six Bells Inn where …

Six Bells Colliery Aerial Ropeway – Lower Section and Colliery Washery. The map shows the lower section of the aerial ropeway and filling station situated between the river and sidings. The route of the aerial ropeway can be seen going between the Arael School and houses on Aberbeeg Road at Warm Turn. In December 1924 great concern of falling buckets …

Six Bells Colliery Aerial Ropeway – Mid Section. The map shows the mid-section of the aerial ropeway. The ropeway is seen emerging from the bottom right to the top left. Arael Farm (bottom left) can be seen. The John Lancaster Company is documented as the tenants of the farm and Arael Farm Coal Level in the 1910-1920’s, the company must …

Six Bells Colliery Aerial Ropeway – Upper Section and New Waste Tip. The map shows the upper section of the colliery aerial ropeway and waste tip on the Arael Mountain at Cefn Bach. The ropeway is seen emerging from the bottom right up to the summit and spread along the area via tramlines laid down on the site. Just north …

Cwmtillery Colliery Aerial Ropeway – Original Tip. The old photograph shows the original aerial ropeway and tip spreading up the mountain from the Cwmtillery Colliery.   Points of interest – The large flat tip seen (behind the chimney) was from the Llanerch Padern Coal Level which can be seen (far right). Originally there were tramlines leading from the level to …

Cwmtillery Colliery Aerial Ropeway – Mid Section. The map shows the mid-section of the old route. The standards on the old route were later dismantled when the ropeway was turned, the new waste tip was started in the late 1920’s. The waste was tipped at various places en route resulting in the valley being covered in waste from the collieries …