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Old Machen Colliery
Augustus Morgan began mining coal at this site in the 1840's. His father, Sir Charles Morgan owned the local lime quarry, the coal from this mine supplied the limekilns.
On the 26th of April 1858, a gas explosion killed three men and a boy.
At the inquest it was said that one of the safety lamps found at the scene had a faulty clasp, which held the protective gauge in place.
The four who died were, John Davies, William George, Isaac Gibbon and the boy George Brimble.
Further planned development of this mine was halted in 1860 when the owners went bankrupt.
It was reopened in 1900 and it continued working until its closure sometime in the 1920's.
More information from Tony Cooke.
The following may be helpful, if a bit overlong. It was, like so many others, a complex area.
(1) The GARN Slant near Machen was the last to be worked in the area. It was located at ST 205877?, worked the Brass (or Yard/Seven Feet). The first listed working was from 1920 to 1923 by, initially, David Jones and then by the Ashburnham Steamship Co. Ltd. In 1921 twenty men were employed. The second period of working, whether from the same slant has not been yet been determined (although the different NGR at
ST 203878
may well suggest a second opening), was from 1950 to 1964. Mr. J. H. G. Mitchell was the owner. Output for 1960 was 1,210 tons with four men. It clearly had further potential, as the estimated saleable reserves in 1964 were nearly 120,000 tons.
This mine, suffered a fire on 4th of June1962, which was briefly reported in the Colliery Guardian. No details were given as to the extent of the fire or its impact.
(2) All the following formed part of MACHEN COLLIERY at different times. Machen Colliery was abandoned in 1864. Some of the sites were later to become part of Pentwyn Colliery.
WILLIAM'S PIT (Downcast) ST 208889
OLD ROCK VEIN PIT ST 209890
OLD ROCK VEIN SLANT ST 210889
ROCK VEIN SLANT ST 210890
BLACK VEIN FURNACE PIT ST 212889
BLACK VEIN SLANT ST 212889
(3) The PENTWYN Colliery was a later reworking of much of the area worked by Machen Colliery. All the following, at different times, formed part of PENTWYN which operated pre 1875-78, 1882-87, 1888-89, 1893-1908, 1909-23. Recorded seam abandonments were Big Rock and Little Rock seams abandoned 6.1887, Big Rock and Black seams abandoned 16.12.1916, Big Rock, Big and Black seams abandoned 1923)
PENTWYN NEW PIT ST 200886
OLD MACHEN PIT ST 208889
OLD ROCK VEIN PUMPING PIT ST 208889
Two unnamed levels ST 209889
OLD BLACK VEIN SLANT (and air pit) ST 212889
PENTWYN LEVEL ST 197882
PENTWYN DRIFT ST 204880
TYN-Y-COED-CAE ST 196883
(4) The later PENTWYN SLANT at ST 197882 operated between 1921 and 1930.
(5) COED-Y-CEFN (or Coed Cefn) at ST 206884 and 208883 operated 1881-86 with the Fork, Brass and Hard seams abandoned 6.1886. The COED CEFN PWLL DU mine (1895-1907) was probably the same site. Finally, COED-Y-CEFN worked 1908-10 in the Sun, Fork, Brass, Hard and Black seams.
(6) BOVIL at ST 217890 was operating pre1847 to 1894. The Big, Sun, Brass and Black seams were abandoned 1847-87, Brass seam abandoned in 1894 and the Sun & Black seams abandoned 12.1894. The BOVIL SUN mine, at ST 220892 worked pre1874 to c1879, presumably working the Sun seam and ? (Query any other)