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Ynyscedwyn Pit, c.1908.
Hendreladus Colliery, Ynyscedwyn.
Situated about a mile east of the village of Ynyscedwyn this steeply inclined anthracite drift mine was developed as part of the Ynyscedwyn Iron Co. around 1840.
George Crane acquired the company in the early 1840's. As well as the Iron
works Crane also owned 5 collieries, which supplied the fuel and in some cases
also the ore for his furnaces, the rest of the ore was also mined locally.
Because of the pioneering work of David Thomas Ynyscedwyn Iron works became the
first iron-works to produce iron using anthracite coal.
After the death of George Crane in 1846 his son Patrick Crane ran the company,
but after only a few years it was in financial difficulties and the bankers
Marryett and Pryce took over the running of the company. The ironworks closed in
1869 and the Welsh Tin Plate Company later used the site.
On the 24th of August 1892 a disaster occurred at Hendreladus Colliery. Nine men boarded man-riding carriages (known locally as "bridles") at the mouth of the drift at the start of their night shift. The bridles were connected to a haulage engine via a steel rope, which wound on the main drum of this engine. The scotch, which held the bridles on the slope was kicked away by one the riders, who then quickly jumped aboard. But unknown to him the haulage engine was unattended and the clutch, which connected to the drum, was not engaged, so the bridles careered out of control down the steep incline and crashing violently at the bottom. Six of the riders were killed and the other three received terrible injuries.
The dead were;
Edward Anthony 35 of Glantawe Road. William Jones 40 of Pelican Steet. William Lewis 17 of Aberdylais, Neath. Thomas Phillips 40 of Pelican Street. Rees Pippin 27 of Cwmgeidd. Thomas Sims 60 of College Row.
Later the Ynyscedwyn colliery absorbed the Hendreladus.
From the Inspector of Mines 1896, Ynsycedwyn employed 225. At this time the owners were Ystradgynlais Colliery Co.
Later the South Wales Anthracite Colliery Co Ltd., took over its running and in 1908 the workforce numbered 619.
By 1918 Yniscedwyn Anthracite Co. were in charge employing 386.
From another list 1923, the Gurnos Anthracite Collieries Co. Ltd. were the owners, employing 528 at Ynyscedwyn Slant, producing from the Big and Peacock seams.
In 1938 and 1945 there were 642 and 504 men employed respectively, and Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Ltd. were in charge.
It was closed by the National Coal Board in 1967/8.