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Ffynonau Duon No.3, 2005.
Ffynnonau Duon Levels
No 1 (SO100 040). This location is opposite the ruins of the old school at Penybanc and was a reworking of the original level opened by the Dowlais Iron Company during the 1840's.
Bernard Llewellyn advises that the initial reworking commenced during 1910/20 but the following information is also available.
In 1931 an application was made by Gwilym Llewellyn to mine from the Brithdir seam (household and manufacturing coal) and an output of about 100 tons per month was recorded. During August/September 1936 only 77 tons were produced from a quota of 180 tons since not enough coal was available. This led to the opening of old workings to find more coal. Again, low output was recorded for October/December 1936 (49 tons compared with a quota of 345 tons), the reason being the opening of old workings and water problems. The level was abandoned on 31 December 1936.
However, Coal Authority records show that the level was re-opened in 1937 and continued in production until 1954, when only household coal was mined. The mine ownership changed to G & J P Llewellyn between1948–1954 and John P Llewellyn from 1955–1969.
No 2 (SO102049). This location is on the mountainside to the left of the road from Pentwyn Crossroads to Twynywaun above the site of the old Carmel Chapel.
This level was opened in 1960 under the ownership of John P Llewellyn, and, in its first year the output was 2,827 tons with 6 underground and 3 surface workers. The estimated saleable reserves of coal were 78,000 tons.
The level was abandoned in June 1983
No 2 South (SO094 049) This location is in the Taff Bargoed valley on the eastern side of the railway above Nant-y-ffin farm. This level was opened circa.1978 and it was closed during 1990. Reference to this level is also found under No3 below
No 3 (SO094 039) This location is on the eastern side of the Taff Bargoed valley half way up the mountainside adjacent to the railway to Cwmbargoed Opencast site and almost level with Pentwyn Cemetary to the east in the Darran Valley at Pentwyn.
It is the location of the Dowlais Iron Company Nantyffin Drift and was re-opened in 1972 under the ownership of Ffynonau Duon Mines Ltd.
Another first-hand report is given by “caiman” of welshcoalmining website who went underground during the winter of 1981-2 as part of his studies towards a B.Sc in Mining.
At the time the mine was working pillars in the Brithdir seam which was left behind from 19th century workings. The method was to drive a roadway through the centre of each pillar and then work stalls on either side on a retreat basis. The coal was broken with blast picks and sorted, as far as possible, underground as the seam contained several dirt bands. At that time a horse was used in No2 whereas No2 South used an Ingersoll Rand compressed air hauler as the main access dipped away from the entrance. This was a particularly small and primitive mine, with one collier and one horse driver at No2 and one collier and one labourer at No2 south with one deputy to cover both mines. Both were wet as the Brithdir has a sandstone roof.
My thanks to Ifor Coggan for researching and supplying the information for this page.