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Cwmbran Main Adit..
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The remains of Cwmbran Mine Slope, 1970.
The first known instance of a colliery at Cwmbran is shown on Charles Halsall's Mineral and Agricultural Map, 1811.
During the late 1830's two levels (Porthmawr) Nos. 1 and 2
were driven into the eastern slopes of Mynydd Maen at Upper
Cwmbran, to mine the out-cropping seams of the Gwent coal
basin.
The mine was owned by Reginald J. Blewitt Esq., M.P. During
December, 1837 the first coals from this colliery was transported
via tramroad to the newly erected wharf at Caerleon.
During 1843 the colliers went on strike over an enforced reduction of 5d per ton of coal, which resulted in several miners sentenced to one months imprisonment with hard labour for breaching their employment contract.
John Lawrence became the owner in 1852 and he expanded the colliery by opening the Mine Slope in 1854.
Ventilation was created by a mechanical fan, which drew out the foul air from the mines workings via the entrance. Fresh air was supplied via an airshaft that surfaced further up the mountain.
No. 1 closed in 1865
Three men were scalded to death on the 26th of April 1866, when some run-away trams left the rails and burst a steam pipe, which was feeding a haulage engine. They were, John Morgan, a stoker, aged 22, Isaac Maynard, a mason 39 and the haulier, Robert Allen, 23.
From a list dated 1869, John Lawrence then owned this colliery.
In 1878 the Patent Nut and Bolt Co. took over the running of the colliery and in 1879 drove another heading (Cwmbran Adit) at a lower level and about a mile down the valley from the Mine Slope. This new slope linked underground with the other and became the main entrance and coal delivery point.
From the Inspector of Mines list 1896, there were 798 employed at Cwmbran colliery, producing Gas, Coking, Manufacturing and Steam coal from the Blackvein and Meadow vein seams.
During the 1880's this company took over the running of the neighbouring Henllys colliery, which was previously owned by Hanson & Co, then later Hill & Co.
In 1896 there were 67 men working at Henllys producing both clay and coal,
Another mine in this vicinity was the Fire clay Level of Upper Cwmbran.
Opened around 1837 by R. J. Blewitt of Llantarnam Abbey and member for the Monmouth Boroughs. He had several cargoes of his coal shipped to London and advertised it in the metropolitan papers as being similar to Tredegar coal in quality.
Later H. Parfitt became the owner.
This coalmine also produced clay, which supplied brickworks also owned by Parfitt.
From the Inspector of Mines list 1896, there were 15 men producing clay and coal, the coal coming from the Meadow vein.
By 1908, Cwmbran, Henlys and the Fire clay collieries were under the ownership of Guest, Keen and Nettlefords Ltd. At this time employing a total of 1218 men.
Subsequently Henlys and the Main Adit became linked.
In about 1916 the Mine Slope was closed and the ventilating fan was moved to the Henllys shaft.
In 1918 there were 1,032 men employed at Cwmbran, Henllys and Fire clay level.
From a report 1923, there were 1,201 men employed producing from the Elled, Red Ash, Old Coal, Meadow Vein and Blackvein seams.
Production ceased in 1927.
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Some of the remains of Henllys colliery, 2005