Nantgarw Colliery
Encyclopedia
Nantgarw Colliery was a coal mine located in the village on Nantgarw
, Mid Glamorgan
located just north of Cardiff
.
Opened in 1910, it closed in 1986. The site is now redeveloped as the industrial estate Parc Nantgarw.
Thomas Taylor of Pontypridd
began the development of Nantgarw colliery in May 1910, near the base of the Caerphilly Syncline seam. The sinking of the twin shafts in 1911 reached the coal seam at a depth of more than 850 yards in 1915, placing them 2000 ft below sea level and making Nantgarw the deepest pit to be sunk in the South Wales Coalfield
up to that time.
via the Coryton Line
, the mine was sold to the Taff Rhondda Navigation Steam Coal Co in 1924. The 850 men were redeployed in 1927 after geographical difficulties were encountered and the pit abandoned. Bought by Powell Duffryn
Steam Coal Co Ltd, following further development attempts it was put into "care and maintenance."
Powell Duffryn designed a development scheme in 1937, but work was suspended when World War II
broke out in 1939. A later project to re-open the colliery was approved by the Ministry of Fuel and Power in 1946, and after nationalisation in 1947, the National Coal Board
invested £5 million on modern surface constructions and modern mining methods. The NCB designed a model colliery, with all old working demolished and new surface buildings designed with state-of-the-art facilities, with appliances installed to reduce smoke and fumes. The coke ovens and by-product plant were opened in 1951, with coal production started the following year, and by 1954, 200 men worked the surface and 820 men underground. New landings were made in both shafts at 280yds and 380yds, in order to work the mine by a system known as "Horizon Mining" employed in an effort to mine coal despite the sites geological problems. All the sites waste was dumped into the shafts to a level 60 ft below these new landings, placed underground to keep the surface clear of unsightly spoil heaps. The main heading was driven south, with the workings cutting though the No.1 Rhondda, Bute, Brass and Hard seams due to the 36 degree dip to the north.
Industrial relations were never good at times at Nantgarw, being part of the reasoning behind the 1927 closure, while in 1958 there were 65 stoppages, go-slows and walk-outs. Having survived the mass pit closures of the 1960s, the geographical problems meant the closure of the mine working in 1974, and the unit merged with Windsor Colliery
, Abertridwr, Caerphilly from 1975. By 1979, the combined Nantgarw/Windsor Colliery employed around 650 men, producing over 4,000 tons of coal per week, making a profit of over £0.5 million.
spreading to South Wales. Although profitable post the strike, both sites of the whole unit closed as part of the NCB regional review on 6 November, 1986.
Nantgarw
Nantgarw is a village in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, near Cardiff.From an electoral and administrative perspective Nantgarw falls within the ward of Taffs Well, a village some 2.5 miles south, but historically fell within the boundaries of Caerphilly, which is a major town...
, Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan is a preserved county of Wales. From 1974 until 1996, it was also an administrative county, with a county council.Mid Glamorgan was formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972...
located just north of Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
.
Opened in 1910, it closed in 1986. The site is now redeveloped as the industrial estate Parc Nantgarw.
Development
Craig Yr Allt Colliery was situated south of Nantgarw village. However, whenever the Taff River flooded, water frequently entered its workings, and it was abandoned in 1878.Thomas Taylor of Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
began the development of Nantgarw colliery in May 1910, near the base of the Caerphilly Syncline seam. The sinking of the twin shafts in 1911 reached the coal seam at a depth of more than 850 yards in 1915, placing them 2000 ft below sea level and making Nantgarw the deepest pit to be sunk in the South Wales Coalfield
South Wales Coalfield
The South Wales Coalfield is a large region of south Wales that is rich with coal deposits, especially the South Wales Valleys.-The coalfield area:...
up to that time.
Production
Connected to the Rhymney RailwayRhymney Railway
The Rhymney Railway was virtually a single stretch of main line, some fifty miles in length, by which the Rhymney Valley was connected to the docks at Cardiff in the county of Glamorgan, South Wales.-History:...
via the Coryton Line
Coryton Line
The Coryton Line is a commuter railway line in Cardiff from the city centre to Heath, Birchgrove, Rhiwbina, Whitchurch and Coryton.The line is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales as part of the Valley Lines network. ATW replaced the previous franchise, Wales & Borders Trains in December...
, the mine was sold to the Taff Rhondda Navigation Steam Coal Co in 1924. The 850 men were redeployed in 1927 after geographical difficulties were encountered and the pit abandoned. Bought by Powell Duffryn
Powell Duffryn
PD Ports is a Middlesbrough-headquartered British ports operator.Formerly known as Powell Duffryn, it dug its first coal mine in South Wales in 1840, and later expanded into various sorts of manufacturing...
Steam Coal Co Ltd, following further development attempts it was put into "care and maintenance."
Powell Duffryn designed a development scheme in 1937, but work was suspended when World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out in 1939. A later project to re-open the colliery was approved by the Ministry of Fuel and Power in 1946, and after nationalisation in 1947, the National Coal Board
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
invested £5 million on modern surface constructions and modern mining methods. The NCB designed a model colliery, with all old working demolished and new surface buildings designed with state-of-the-art facilities, with appliances installed to reduce smoke and fumes. The coke ovens and by-product plant were opened in 1951, with coal production started the following year, and by 1954, 200 men worked the surface and 820 men underground. New landings were made in both shafts at 280yds and 380yds, in order to work the mine by a system known as "Horizon Mining" employed in an effort to mine coal despite the sites geological problems. All the sites waste was dumped into the shafts to a level 60 ft below these new landings, placed underground to keep the surface clear of unsightly spoil heaps. The main heading was driven south, with the workings cutting though the No.1 Rhondda, Bute, Brass and Hard seams due to the 36 degree dip to the north.
Industrial relations were never good at times at Nantgarw, being part of the reasoning behind the 1927 closure, while in 1958 there were 65 stoppages, go-slows and walk-outs. Having survived the mass pit closures of the 1960s, the geographical problems meant the closure of the mine working in 1974, and the unit merged with Windsor Colliery
Windsor Colliery
Windsor Colliery was a coal mine in the village of Abertridwr, Caerphilly.Opened in 1895, it amalgamated with the Nantgarw Colliery in 1974, and closed in 1986. Ty'n y Parc housing estate now occupies the site.-Development:...
, Abertridwr, Caerphilly from 1975. By 1979, the combined Nantgarw/Windsor Colliery employed around 650 men, producing over 4,000 tons of coal per week, making a profit of over £0.5 million.
Closure
The unit lost £7 million in 1981, employing: 142 on development; 131 on the coalface; 197 below the ground; 101 on the surface. In 1982 output declined steeply as a major coal seam at Windsor became unworkable, while in 1984 an overtime ban led directly to the 1984/5 UK miners strikeUK miners' strike (1984–1985)
The UK miners' strike was a major industrial action affecting the British coal industry. It was a defining moment in British industrial relations, and its defeat significantly weakened the British trades union movement...
spreading to South Wales. Although profitable post the strike, both sites of the whole unit closed as part of the NCB regional review on 6 November, 1986.