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Benjamin Hall, the son in law of Richard Crawshay of Cyfartha opened Manmoel colliery around 1813. In 1814 his tramroad, which terminated at Risca, was extended to serve the collieries. He also owned the nearby Waterloo Colliery and Hafod-yr-Isclawdd.
Later it came under the ownership of Sir Thomas Phillips and Co., who opened the Cwrt-y-bella colliery in 1838.
At their peak these collieries employ over 150 men.
The following is an extract from the Royal Commission Report 1842, showing some of the employees.
Henry George, 7 years old, collier.
Thomas Jenkins, 10 years old, collier.
Joseph Roberts, 13 years, collier.
George Roberts, 11 years old, collier.
Thomas Jones, 16 years old, haulier.
John Jones, 18 years old, collier.
James Harper, 20 years old, collier.
John Hughes, 17 years old, collier.
From the Inspector of Mines list 1896, there were 22 men employed at Manmoel, producing from the Mynyddislwyn seams.
Cwrt-y-bella was closed and reopened on a number of occasions. It's working life finally came to an end in 1962.
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Cwrt-y-Bella colliery, near Argoed, 2005.
Another level in the same area and dating from the early 19th century. Situated at Gwrhay Fawr farm it was originally owned by the John Moggridge.
The following is an extract from the Royal Commission Report 1842, showing the employees of Gwrhay Colliery..
GWRHAY and PEN-Y-VAN, parish of Mynyodduslwyn, county of
Monmouth. Aaron Crossfield, Esq., part proprietor.
Aaron Crossfield, Esq.
Mr. James Harper, book-keeper to Mr. Roger Lewis, general
storekeeper and contractor for working the Gwrhay Colliery.
Mrs. Mary Lewis.
Shadrach Williams, aged 11, collier.
Moses Williams aged 7, air-door boy.
Rosser Jenkins, aged 8, collier.
Richard Hutton, aged 7, collier.
John Evans, aged 8, collier.
Daniel Jones, aged 16, collier.
Charles Pascal, aged 14, collier.
John Rosser, aged 14. haulier.
Joseph Head, age, 14 haulier.
By 1869 in was in the hands of the Lewis family of Gwrhay Fawr farm.
From the Inspector of Mines list 1896, it was owned by John Lewis and Co., employing 13 men, including 3 surface workers.
It later worked inconjunction with Waterloo Colliery and in 1908 this unit employed a total of 149 men. At this time it was owned by Oakdale Navigation Collieries ltd. In 1918 and 1923 the workforce numbered 33 and 25 respectively.
Closed around 1924.
A stone lined heading was by the Tredegar Iron Company in the valley at the bottom of Pen-Rhiw-Bengi, in the district now called Oakdale. This was in the year 1815 and therefore was named after the town in Belgium where Napoleon was defeated.
It worked the upper and lower Mynyddislwyn seams.
By 1880 it was in the hands of William Davies of Blackwood and by 1908 was owned by the Oakdale Navigation Collieries ltd. In 1918 and 1923 the workforce numbered 33 and 25 respectively.
Closed around 1924.
Situated a little to the north of the Waterloo level, near the Daren Felin farm, Cwrt-y-Bella. The first mouth was opened in 1917 by the Islwyn Colliery Co. It was linked underground to the Waterloo level for a second exit. The straight heading was driven 700 yards through old workings and pillars of coal to an un-worked area to the North West of Gwrhay farm.
By 1918 there was a total of 20 men employed.
Machinery was used to mine the coal, Mavor and Coulson Bar Cutters, powered by compressed air from the levels own plant.
On May the 15th 1919 Mr. William J. Barnes of the Islwyn Colliery Co. was granted a lease to work the colliery for 12 years, starting from the 1st of July 1918.
There were 30 employed in 1923.
An accident occurred in 1936, when the two eldest sons of William Barnes (David and Oswald) were trapped underground for 4 days by a fall of roof.
In 1937 the colliery was sold to E. H. Bennet and Company, who obtained and extended the lease in May 1937.
The workforce numbered 37 and 63 in 1938 and 1945 respectively.
The National Coal Board closed it on Christmas day 1948. |
Twyn Simon No.2, near Argoed, 2005.
Another level in the same area was Twyn Simon (after the farm). It had two mouths, which were situated a considerable distance apart. No.1 at SO1809500358 sited below the Manmoel caravan park and No.2 sited a little to the west of Penderi farm at SO185009.
In 1923 Twyn Simon was owned by Bowditch Bros. Ltd. employing a total of 32 men, producing Gas and House coal from the Mynyddislwyn seams.
Later owned by the Manmoel Colliery Co. Employ only nine men in 1945.
More information wanted.