Clydach Colliery, Brynmawr

Overview

A colliery at Waunafon near Brynmawr, on the north-eastern outcrop of the South Wales Coalfield just inside the old Breconshire border, worked from 1878 through a succession of small partnerships before the dominant Waen Nantyglo Colliery Company took it over in 1911; it closed with its neighbour Llammarch after Nationalisation in 1947.

History

Clydach Colliery lay at Waunafon, adjacent to the Llammarch level, on the north-eastern outcrop of the South Wales Coalfield just inside the old Breconshire county border. In 1878 it was owned by the Lewis and Morgan Partnership, managed by W. Morris; by 1884 W. Lewis had taken sole ownership and management, passing it to the Clydach (Mon) Colliery Company. D. Burrows of Brynmawr owned it by 1893. By 1908 it belonged to T & E Williams of Ellwood, Brynmawr, who had opened a new slant nearby and employed 116 men there, 4 of them on the surface. In 1911 Evan Williams of Cardiff formed the Waen Nantyglo Colliery Company, which took over Clydach the same year with 30 men employed; the company — established in 1875 and incorporated in 1911 — became the dominant coal operator of the north-east outcrop, and by 1917 controlled seven levels employing 803 men. Clydach's own workforce grew fast under the new ownership: 165 men underground and 22 on the surface by 1918, and by a 1923 return, 285 men underground and 28 on the surface, producing steam coal from the Yard and Meadow vein seams under manager W.H. Jones. By 1938 Clydach was worked jointly with the neighbouring Llammarch level, the two together employing 80 men under manager W.J. Buck; Buck was still in post in 1945, when the two mines together employed 63 men. Clydach Colliery closed, together with Llammarch, on 21 June 1947, shortly after Nationalisation.

Geology

On the north-eastern outcrop of the South Wales Coalfield; worked the Yard and Meadow vein seams in its later, Waen Nantyglo years.

Workings

A slant/level worked on the outcrop, latterly producing steam coal from the Yard and Meadow vein seams; worked jointly with the neighbouring Llammarch level from at least 1938.

Closure

Closed on 21 June 1947, together with the neighbouring Llammarch level, under the same manager, W.J. Buck.

What remains

Unknown.

Nearby mines

• Duffryn Colliery, Brynmawr — 1.5 km W
• Forge Colliery, Nantyglo — 1.5 km S
• Garn Colliery, Nantyglo — 1.9 km SE
• Cinder Pit, Blaina — 2.9 km SW
• Milfraen Colliery — 2.9 km SE, Torfaen

Straight-line distance, within 15 km. Show on the map.

Recorded claims

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

• Owned in 1878 by the Lewis and Morgan Partnership (manager W. Morris), passing by 1884 to W. Lewis and then the Clydach (Mon) Colliery Company, to D. Burrows of Brynmawr by 1893, and to T & E Williams of Ellwood by 1908, who employed 116 men including 4 on the surface at a newly opened slant. ^1,2
• Taken over in 1911 by the newly formed Waen Nantyglo Colliery Company (Evan Williams of Cardiff), which grew into the dominant operator of the district, controlling seven levels and 803 men by 1917. ^1,2
• Employment grew from 30 men in 1911 to 165 underground/22 surface by 1918 and 285 underground/28 surface by a 1923 return, producing steam coal from the Yard and Meadow vein seams under manager W.H. Jones. ¹
• By 1938 worked jointly with the Llammarch level under manager W.J. Buck, together employing 80 men, falling to 63 by 1945; both mines closed on 21 June 1947. ²

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Clydach Colliery — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (secondary) Blaennant, Llammarch, Clydach and Waun Afon collieries — Welsh Coal Mines

Record created: 14 September 2026 · Last researched: 15 September 2026