Bedlinog Drift

Overview

A cross-measures drift at Bedlinog in the Taff Bargoed valley, driven from 1929 into the Brithdir seam and connected to the Nantyffin slant. Worked by Dowlais Collieries Limited and then the National Coal Board, it employed over 500 men at nationalisation and was closed as uneconomic in March 1956.

History

Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds developed the Bedlinog Cross Measures Drift from 1929, driving it into the Brithdir seam to connect with the existing Nantyffin Slant, through which all its coal was taken; Nantyffin was kept for travelling, ventilation and pumping. Before then Nantyffin's coal had been loaded at a siding on the joint Great Western and Rhymney railway, which survived as the rail link to the Cwm Bargoed opencast depot. The drift passed to Dowlais Collieries Limited, registered on 30 May 1931 and controlled from the East Moors works at Cardiff and later Port Talbot.

In 1935 it employed 302 men underground and 57 on the surface, working the Brithdir and No. 2 Rhondda seams, and the company's drifts produced 130,000 tons a year. The workforce reached 433 in 1938 and 508 by 1943-45, when R. T. Jones was manager.

The drift was nationalised on 1 January 1947, though Dowlais Collieries itself was not taken into public control until 1951. The National Coal Board listed Bedlinog Pumping Station, Bedlinog Cross Measures Drift and Nantyffin Drift as one unit with 517 men, and bought four railway coaches to carry workmen from Cae Harris. Output was 125,000 tons in 1949 but fell to 64,207 in 1954 from the Brithdir alone. The Tyla Du was abandoned in August 1949, and the NCB closed the drift as uneconomic on 31 March 1956.

Geology

The Brithdir and No. 2 Rhondda seams, and the Tyla Du; in 1954 the Brithdir had an average section of 1.5 metres.

Workings

A cross-measures drift driven into the Brithdir seam and connected to the Nantyffin Slant, through which all the coal was drawn; Nantyffin served for man-riding, ventilation and pumping.

Closure

The Tyla Du was abandoned in August 1949 and the Brithdir in 1956; the NCB closed the drift on 31 March 1956 as uneconomic. Dowlais Collieries Limited was dissolved on 12 April 1956.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

The colliery's rail link to the joint GWR and Rhymney line survived as the line to the Cwm Bargoed opencast depot.

Related mines

• Bedlinog Colliery — Same owner, Dowlais Collieries Limited, and listed with Bedlinog's pumping station as one NCB unit in 1947.
• Nantyffin Colliery — All the drift's coal was taken out through the Nantyffin Slant, and the NCB managed the two as one unit.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• Dowlais Collieries Limited started the Bedlinog Drift in 1932. (disputed) ²

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• The drift was developed by Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds from 1929 and connected to the Nantyffin Slant. ¹
• Dowlais Collieries Limited started the Bedlinog Drift in 1932. (disputed) ²
• In 1935 it employed 302 men underground and 57 on the surface. ²
• It worked the Brithdir and Tyla Du seams; the Tyla Du was abandoned in August 1949. ^2,1,3
• The drift was closed on 31 March 1956. ^4,2,1

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines: Bedlinog Cross Measures Drift — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) NMRS: Bedlinog Drift — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plan: BEDLINOG DRIFT (Tyladu, abandoned 1 August 1949) — British Geological Survey
4. (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plans: BEDLINOG DRIFT — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority

Record created: 11 October 2026 · Last researched: 11 October 2026