Brombil Colliery

Overview

Coal levels in the Brombil valley above Taibach, near Margam, opened about 1780 to fuel the copper works there; a level of 1814 met the Goytre Level underground, and under Vivian & Sons from 1838 output reached 500 tons a week before the colliery stopped work in the 1870s.

History

Small coal levels were opened in Cwm-yr-Afr and Cwm Brombil, above Taibach near Margam, between 1777 and 1780, by the English Copper Company to supply its copper works at Taibach, and the coal was carried down to the works in carts. About 1814 another level was opened in the Brombil valley to help the Goytre Level. It worked the same vein, the miners driving towards one another until the two met, and the Brombil level then served as an airway for the Goytre while its own coal went along the main road to the works.

Ownership passed in 1838 to Vivian & Sons of Taibach, who owned the Margam copper works together with Brombil and Morfa collieries and raised Brombil's output to 500 tons a week. In time it produced more than the works needed, and thousands of tons were exported to Ireland and elsewhere. One of the seams worked was the No. 2 Rhondda, known locally as the Rock Fawr or Malthouse, 48 inches thick. Brombil was listed in 1869 but not as working in 1878, and in 1880 it was 'not working'; Edward Daniel was apparently its manager when it closed. The Brombil and Goitre workings were abandoned in 1883.

Geology

The No. 2 Rhondda seam, called the Rock Fawr or Malthouse here, 48 inches thick.

Workings

Levels in Cwm-yr-Afr and Cwm Brombil from about 1780; a level of about 1814 driven to meet the Goytre Level, for which it became an airway.

Closure

Listed in 1869 but not working by 1878; the Brombil and Goitre workings were abandoned in 1883.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Morfa Colliery — Both supplied Vivian & Sons' Margam copper works at Taibach.

Recorded claims

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

• Small coal levels were opened in Cwm-yr-Afr and Cwm Brombil between 1777 and 1780 to supply the Taibach copper works. ¹
• A level opened about 1814 worked towards the Goytre Level until the two met, and then served as its airway. ¹
• Vivian & Sons took it over in 1838 and raised output to 500 tons a week. ¹
• Its surplus coal was exported to Ireland and elsewhere. ¹
• It worked the No. 2 Rhondda (Rock Fawr or Malthouse), 48 inches thick. ¹
• The Brombil and Goitre workings were abandoned in 1883. ²

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Cwmgwineu Colliery — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plan: BROMBIL AND GOITRE / TYLECIGFRAN, abandoned 1883 — British Geological Survey

Record created: 10 October 2026 · Last researched: 10 October 2026