 |
|
Rock Colliery, Blackwood
Situated just to the north of Blackwood the Rock Colliery it was one of the many smaller mines in the area. Locally known as Budd's Rock, from Budd and Co. the one-time proprietors.
The company also owned mines at Aberbeeg, Crumlin, Plas, Argoed and Cwm Gelli. Their collieries mined the shallower house coal seams such as the two "Mynyddislwyn" seams also the "Tillery" in the Ebbw valley or "Brithdir" (same seam different name) in the Sirhowy valley.
The Rock was originally opened as a level in 1825 and is mentioned in the Royal Commission Report 1842, when the owners were the Rock Colliery Company.
Over the years there was many fatal accidents involving roof falls. There also was an instance of one man drowning in 1855 caused by breaking into old water logged workings.
The shaft was sunk in the late 1880's and was only used for the rising of coal with its wooden headgear, the men entered and exited via the old level.
From the Inspector of Mines list 1896, the owners were Lewis Lewis and Sons and there were 46 men employed here.
By 1908 it was under the ownership of Budd and Co. and there were 182 men employed.
At its peak in 1916, 190 men were producing coal from the Mynyddislwyn seams.
In 1945 there were 86 men employed.
Budd's Rock closed in 1957.
|
Primrose Colliery, Argoed.
Situated about one half mile north of Budd's colliery, near Argoed, Primrose colliery (also known as Rock) consisted of two headings driven horizontally into the hillside to work the Mynyddislwyn seams.
From the Inspector of Mines list 1896, Christopher Pond then owned it and there were 16 men employed. By 1910 this number had grown to 75.
Later it came under the ownership of Love and Gittins, who held it until its closure in the 1950's.
By 1923 the workforce numbered 66.
In 1945 there were only 10 men employed here.
Libanus Colliery (Lower Plas).
Another small mine in this area was the Libanus colliery (or Lower Plas pit) at Blackwood.
It was opened by Thomas Prothero to work the Mynyddislwyn seams, but from list dated 1869 it was in the hands of his trustees.
On January 25th 1872 five men were engaged in sinking a shallow shaft, when a fall of rock occurred killing four of them instantly and trapping one. Before this man could be rescued the shaft became inundated with water and they drowned.
As reported in the "Star of Gwent & South Wales Times" for Saturday 27th January 1872.
"A most deplorable accident occurred on Thursday morning at 2 am at the Lower Plas Pit, Blackwood, which is being sunk by Messrs. Prothero. It appears that a number of men were employed at their night turns at sinking in the shored up sides of the Pit, and everything as usual appeared safe around them, when a shot was fired in the usual way, which must have shaken the timber uprights and supports for shortly after the explosion the whole gave way, and four men were, without warning, instantly buried and undoubtedly crushed to death. A few of those at work escaped, but one poor fellow named Tovey, who was standing on one of the beams when they all gave way, was unfortunately caught by the legs, and there held against the sides of the Pit. His cries were heart-rendering as he called upon his comrades, to render him assistance. The pumping apparatus having been destroyed, the water gradually increased and the poor fellow, whose legs were frightfully crushed, say death not only staring him in the face, but surely advancing upon him. He besought the crowd to lower the chain and fasten it around his body and drag that up, even if his legs were left behind; but no assistance could be rendered. gradually the rubbish and debris that had fallen were covered by the water, and the poor fellow could see his span of life rapidly contracting as the water rose to the level at which he was lying. The scene was horrifying in the extreme. The pitiless element submerged the lower portions of his body, then his chest, and finally his head, hushing in death his unveiling cries for aid.
The names of the dead are as follows;
William Treasure, 44, leaves a wife and seven children. William Johnson, 34, leaves a wife and two children. William Tovey, - leaves a wife and two children. Morgan Richards, 28, single. William Poole, 27, single.
"Dr James and other medical men were quickly on the spot, but their services were not put into requisition. It is impossible at present to recover any bodies".
Probably closed in the early 1890's, shown as disused on the 1901 map.
More information required.