Cefn Brithdir Colliery

Overview

A two-shaft house-coal colliery at Brithdir in the Rhymney valley, known locally as the 'George', sunk by the Rhymney Iron Company from 1873 and raising coal from 1875. Two men were killed by an inrush in 1888; it employed up to 220 men, closed in 1909, and reopened briefly from 1916 until January 1921.

History

Cefn Brithdir Colliery, at Brithdir in the Rhymney valley, was known locally as the 'George' and sometimes in directories and the press as the 'George Inn' pit, though its official name was always Cefn Brithdir. The Rhymney Iron Company started its two shafts in 1873, and it raised coal from 1875, working the Brithdir house-coal seam. In the summer of 1878 it flooded and was closed for thirteen weeks, and for a time it was thought it would have to be abandoned.

On 22 August 1888 two men were killed by an inrush of water from an old heading (see Disasters, below). In 1889 the colliery produced 94,461 tons. It employed 220 men in 1906, its most between 1894 and 1910.

The colliery closed in 1909 and was pumped until it was abandoned in 1910. It reopened in 1916, but production did not start again until 1919, with 69 men employed in 1920, and it closed in January 1921.

Geology

The Brithdir house-coal seam.

Workings

Two shafts to the Brithdir seam; the old rise headings held water behind dirt stoppings.

Closure

Closed in 1909 and abandoned in 1910 after a period of pumping; reopened in 1916, raising coal again from 1919, and closed in January 1921.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Coed-y-Moeth Colliery — Neighbouring pits in the Brithdir seam, recorded together on the same abandonment plans.

Disasters & major incidents

• Cefn Brithdir Colliery inrush, 1888
  22 August 1888 · Flooding / Inundation · 2 fatalities
  On the evening of 22 August 1888 two firemen opening up an old heading at the 'George Inn' colliery at Brithdir, near New Tredegar, disturbed a stopping holding back water and were drowned when it burst out.

Recorded claims

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

• The Rhymney Iron Company started the two shafts in 1873, and coal was raised in 1875. ¹
• The colliery produced 94,461 tons in 1889. ¹
• It employed 220 men in 1906. ¹
• The Cefn Brithdir workings in the Brithdir seam were abandoned in 1921. ²
• Cefn Brithdir and Coed-y-Moeth are recorded together on plans of the Brithdir seam. ³

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines: Cefn Brithdir — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plan: CEFN BRITHDIR, BRITHDIR (Brithdir), abandoned 1921 — British Geological Survey
3. (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plan: CEFN BRITHDIR & COEDYMOETH (Brithdir) — British Geological Survey

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