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Llanhilleth, c. 1910
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Llanhilleth, 1960s
Llanhilleth's first shaft (old pit) was sunk in the 1850's by W. Crook to the Tillery seam (Red Ash) at a depth of 200 feet. This shaft was situated on the eastern side of the railway line. A second shaft (new pit) was sunk in 1865 to improve the ventilation. This was situated on the western side of the railway line and was 240 feet in depth.
Later it came under the ownership of Powell Bros., who held it until 1879, when Henry Powell alone took charge.
In 1889 it came under the control of Partridge Jones & Co. Ltd. who deepened one of the house coal shafts (new pit) to the Black vein seam and added another shaft (No.2) to the same seam on the eastern side of the railway. The shafts Nos.1 and 2 were 375 and 368 yards deep respectively.
From the Inspector of Mines list 1896, there were 813 men producing fine quality steam coal from the Black Vein seam.
Llanhilleth house coal temporally ceased production in 1896 when the company switched their house coal production the Hafod Van colliery.
By 1908 the House coal pit was back in production and there were 1,809 men employed at the House coal and Steam coal collieries.
In 1918 there were 77 men employed at the Llanhilleth "Red Ash" house coal pit and 1,305 in the steam pits.
From a report 1923, the Red Ash employed 92 men, working the Tillery seam and there were 1,212 men employed at Llanhilleth Steam, producing from the Black Vein, Meadow Vein and Lower Black Vein seams.
The workforce numbers in 1945 were 83 men employed at Llanhilleth House coal pit and 653 in the Steam coal pits.
Llanhilleth Red Ash was abandoned in 1946.
The colliery closed in 1969 |
Llanhilleth No.1 pit, 1970's