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Maerdy Colliery, around 1983.
Two men from Brecon, Mordecai Jones (who also owned Mountain Ash Level) and Wheatley Cobb started Maerdy No.1 in and No. 2 in 1875, they reach the Abergorki seam in December 1876.
In 1877 the owners took the name of Locket's Merthyr Company.
The following year the shafts were deepened the reach the steam coal seams including the Two Feet Nine, Four Feet, and Six Feet seams at 500 yards.
On the 23rd of December 1885, an explosion occurred at this colliery killing 81 men and boys. The force of the blast in the shaft smashed a cage and broke all four guide ropes. There were many large roof falls and some of the air doors were reduced to splinters of wood.
The explosion occurred in a part of the mine called the Arches. Incredibly in this area of the mine naked lights were used to illuminate the roadways, however because it was the main intake with good ventilation the naked flames were considered to be safe.
By 1893 the workings of Nos. 1 and 2 pits and became extended so the company decided to sink No. 3 pit, which was nearer the reserves about a mile further up the valley.
From the Inspector of Mines list 1896, there were 1262 employed at Maerdy Nos. 1 and 2 pits, with a further 225 employed at No. 3 pit.
No. 4 pit was added near to No. 3 in 1914.
In 1918 there 2,024 men employed at the Maerdy pits.
From a report 1923, there were 1,377 employed at Nos. 1 and 2 pits and 450 at Nos. 3 and 4 with a further 309 employed on the surface. House coal, Steam coal and Ironstone was produced from the Abergorki, Nine, Four, Five and Six Feet seams, New, Bute, Two Feet Nine, Red Vein and Gorllwyn seams.
Locket's Merthyr Company went out of business in 1926 and the colliery didn't reopen after the General Strike of that year.
In 1932 it was taken over by the Bwllfa and Cwmaman Collieries Ltd. and coal production ceased at Maerdy at Nos. 1 and 2 the same year.
During 1935 the Powell Duffryn Group took over the running of the colliery.
The colliery was effectively closed in 1940 when Nos. 3 and 4 pits ceased production, but were kept open for maintenance only.
After the Nationalisation the National Coal Board spent £5 million completely reconstructing the colliery including a new surface layout and a new horizon mining system underground. Also a link was made with the Bwllfa No. 1 pit workings over two miles away at the head of the Dare valley.
During the mid 1970's a workforce of 1,120 men were producing 253,000 tons of coal yearly from the Gorllwyn and No. 1 yard seams. This top quality dry steam coal was processed into smokeless fuel at Abercwmboi Phurnacite Plant.
Maerdy the last deep mine in the Rhondda valley was effectively closed in 1985 when the coal mined there was brought to the surface via the Tower colliery, although it was still use to transport men into the mine until 22nd of December 1990.