History of the Gwent Collieries

The New Colliery – Aberbeeg. Monmouthshire, post-war 1918, the Messrs J. Lancaster & Company with the Ebbw Vale Company planned to sink a new colliery in the Cwm Valley at Aberbeeg. Arrangements were made with the Great Western Railway Company to install railway sidings with a bridge over the river (as seen left) branching off the main line from Aberbeeg …

Nantyglo Iron and Coal Works History. I understand a lot of books, other articles and web pages have been written on the exploits of the Bailey Brothers and the alleged tyranny of Mr Crawshay Bailey, though this is just a brief non-judgemental timeline with a few previously unknown, details on Crawshay and Joseph Bailey and their life and times at …

Colliery Doctors – Arael Griffin Colliery Six Bells. Dr T. Muir. In the 1890’s the Arael Griffin Colliery Doctor was Dr T. Muir, Doctor Muir was the surgeon to the Arael Griffin and the Powell’s Tillery Collieries. He was the brother of the Cwmtillery Doctor Dr D. C. Muir. Dr Abernethy and Dr W. G. Sargent. In 1895 Dr Abernethy, …

Colliery Doctors – Cwmtillery & Rose Heyworth Collieries. Dr Edmund Thomas Hale. The earliest medical doctor I can find documented as being resident at Cwmtillery is in 1866 when there was a report of a Mr Edmund Thomas Hale, a surgeon to the Abertillery Collieries. In 1864 the South Wales Colliery Co purchased the collieries from Mr John Russell, so …

The Clyn Mawr Cottages Blaenau Gwent Rows 1880. An 1880 map of the Clyn Mawr Cottages designed by Mr Lawrence Heyworth of the South Wales Colliery Company.   Points of interest – The map features (top to bottom) Ty-Dan-y-Wal House. The Rising Sun Inn. The Cock n Chick School (built at the same time as the Clyn Mawr Cottages on …

Clyn-Mawr Cottages – Blaenau Gwent Rows. In 1873 Capt. Lawrence Heyworth, the chairman of the South Wales Colliery Company purchased land from the Nantyglo & Blaina Coal Company. The land was situated close to the Glo-Byllau Farm on Old Blaina Road between Blaina and Abertillery. His intention was to open a colliery which he could have control and a vested …

Six Bells Miners Institute. In 1902 the Arrael Griffin Colliery, Six Bells, owned by the Lancaster Co, had a miner’s institute built at a cost of £3,000.  Mr Charles T. Part J.P., St Albans, Hertfordshire, one of the directors of the firm of Messrs John Lancaster & Co having performed the opening ceremony. It was intended that Mr Part would …

Marwood Parish Church Devon. On Tuesday 17th of February 1903, Capt. Lawrence Heyworth passed away at Pulestre Court, Bournmouth. Soon after, his wife Mrs Rosina Heyworth retired to their estate at Marwood in Devon. The Dedication. In 1910 Mrs Heyworth had a stained-glass window installed at the Marwood Parish Church in dedication to her late husband. This is a transcript …

Cwmtylery Work and Win Committee 1878. (Back row) Mr D. Smith; M. Wallace; Mrs Rees; (Unknown); Mr W. Townsend and Mr Rhys Jones. (Second row) Mr George Stafford; Mr J. Thompson; Mr A. Watkins; Mr Thomas Wright; Mr L. Lewis; Mr Joe Rogers and Mr H. Lloyd. (Sitting) Mr W. Sutcliffe;  Mr J. Brown (Fireman); Mr Sam Taylor (Manager in …

Rose Heyworth Colliery Tender for the Sinking of the Shaft 1874. Soon after the sidings and out-buildings were laid out, tenders for the sinking of the colliery were invited and issued on Saturday 14th of March 1874 (as seen in the clipping from the Western Mail left). I have no details as to who sunk the colliery though Mr Joseph …