 |
|
Milfraen Colliery, Blaenavon, 10th of July 1929.
Originally opened in 1843. Jayne & Co. sunk a new shaft in 1865 and this company worked it until 1884. It then closed and was reopened some years later by the Blaenavon Iron & Steel Company Ltd.
At its peak there were 170 men employed producing 1,200 tons of coal per week.
An accident occurred here on March the 4th 1902, when the cage in which men were ascending the 250 yard deep shaft, touched into some ironwork tipping out five of the men, who fell to their deaths.
Among the dead were a father and his son, David and Edward Stollard; they only began working at this colliery that same morning.
In 1918 together with Kay's Slope there were 1,084 men employed.
From a list 1923, there were 677 men employed, working the No. 2 and Yard seams.
On the 10th of July 1929 nine men lost their lives in a gas explosion.
An enquiry concluded there was inadequate ventilation, which led to a build up of gas, which was ignited by electrical sparks from a faulty coal-cutting machine.
Production ceased in 1933, it was then used for ventilation purposed only.