South Wales collieries

[Big Jumby 74]

Not the obvious subject of pits in the valley's as one might think of/remember, but I am interested in understanding the area West of Bridgend, and the Pyle area in particular. From a 1970's Rail Atlas, and a similar vintage OS map, the only 'Colliery' I can identify was Mill Pit Colliery, rail connected near Kenfig Hill. Does anyone know if there were other pits in that area (rail connected or not), and I'm talking of turn of 19th/20th century, so a hundred plus years ago. Grateful for any leads. TIA.

 

[Snow1964]

West of Bridgend were loads of pits
eg in Carmarthenshire, these existed

Achddu
Acorn
Amman
Ammanford
Betws Drift
Blaenhirwaun
Box Llanelli
Brynamman
Caerbryn
Cae-Pontbren
Carnarvon
Carway
Carway Fawr
Castle Llanelli
Cawdor
Clos-yr-yn
Crosshands
Crown
Cwm Capel
Cwmgwili
Cwmmawr
Cynheidre
Dyffryn Amman
Emlyn
Erw Llanelli
Garnant
Genwen
Gelliceidrim
Glanamman
Glanmwrwg
Glynea
Glynhebog
Gors & Bryngwyn
Great Mountain
Gwendraeth
Gwendraeth (WatneyPit)
Gwscwm
Llandybie
Llwyn
Morlais
New Dynant
New Lodge
New Pool
Old Castle
Pant Hywel
Pantyfynnon
Park & Blaina
Pentremawr
Plasbach
Ponthenry
Pontyberem
Porthdafen
Raven
Rhos
Rhos-Amman
St.David's-Penprys
St.George's
Talyclyn
Tir-y-Dail
Trimsaran
Tyllwyd
Saron
Wernos
Ynysamman

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

National Library of Scotland map database is your friend - here is the OS 6in map of the area published in 1921.

Kenfig Hill

A lot of the pits seemed to have succumbed already - shown as disused.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Thanks both. Some excellent leads indeed.

 

[Gloster]

There is also .welshcoalmines.co.uk . How complete it is, I know not.

There is also a map on the Northern Mines Research site (.nmrs.org.uk ) under Information. It is a mine (ouch) of useful information.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Many thanks Gloster. I knew of the Durham area mining museum web site and another (Midlands area) but think both are more about their respective areas, so cheers for the heads up.

PS: just had a quick look at both your suggestions, and yes, your pun is spot on!

 

[Anonymous10]

There were approx 5 pits around Saundersfoot.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

There were approx 5 pits around Saundersfoot.

Thanks for taking the time to respond, but that is a tad too far West I'm afraid. The chap I'm looking in to lived in the Pyle/Kenfig Hill area, being a 'collier' in 1911, and with the aid of info supplied above, I think I have narrowed the number and names of pits that once existed (in his time) within reasonable commuting distance from his home, which is more than I had before posting my question, so thank you all. Much appreciated.

 

[Clarence Yard]

One of the lines of enquiry you might consider is finding out who owned the house at the time he lived in it. A lot of miners lived in “company houses” so that could possibly narrow your search even further.

 

[alex17595]

I have a copy of this book. It contains maps of most of the pits in South Wales and the CD is a really comprehensive record of the pits with opening, closing dates, disasters and information on the companies operating in the South Wales coalfield.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Thank you both for your (the last two) inputs. Think I may be needing more book shelf space..