Cwrt-y-bella Colliery

Also known as	Court-y-bella Colliery, Courty Bella Colliery
Location	Cwrt-y-bella, near Argoed and Gwrhay, Sirhowy valley, Caerphilly — 51.6912, -3.1805 (approximate)
Commodity	Coal
Type	Coal
Worked	1838–1962
Maximum depth	Unknown.
Operators	Sir Thomas Phillips and Co. (1838–?)

Overview

A level near Argoed in the Sirhowy valley, opened by Sir Thomas Phillips and Co. in 1838 and worked, on and off, until 1962. In 1842 it and Manmoel employed 130 men and boys.

History

Sir Thomas Phillips and Co. opened Cwrt-y-bella Colliery in 1838. John Prujean marked it on his 1843 map of Monmouthshire ironworks and collieries, and in 1843 a notice advertised it as 'Courty Bella Colliery'. In 1842 the Children's Employment Commission returned it with Manmoel, both occupied by Phillips and Co. Together they employed 90 adults, 30 under 18 and 10 under 13.

Coal came out of the level by horses and down an inclined plane to the tramroad, the loaded and empty carts balanced over wheels. The agent, Hananiel Morgan, told the commissioners that boys were taken underground almost as soon as they could stand, and that some of seven drank and smoked. Phillips and Co. were then building a schoolhouse to hold 160. The colliery was closed and reopened several times, and its working life finally ended in 1962.

Geology

Upper Coal Measures (Pennant) of the eastern South Wales coalfield: the Mynyddislwyn and Lower Mynyddislwyn seams.

Workings

A level worked by horses, with an inclined plane down to the tramroad on which loaded and empty carts were counterbalanced over wheels.

Closure

Closed and reopened several times; its working life ended in 1962. The reason is unknown.

What remains

Tips, the adit, a collapse and pieces of the tramroad survive.

Tips and the adit, with tramroad sleepers and tie-bars.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

Gwrhay Colliery — Neighbouring early level near Argoed.
Manmoel Colliery — Occupied by Sir Thomas Phillips and Co. with Manmoel and returned with it in 1842.

Nearby mines

Gwrhay Colliery — 0.2 miles (0.4 km) S
Manmoel Colliery — 0.6 miles (1.0 km) N
Oakdale Colliery — 0.7 miles (1.1 km) S
Rhoswen Colliery — 0.8 miles (1.3 km) NW
Pen-y-fan Colliery — 1.6 miles (2.5 km) NE, Blaenau Gwent

Straight-line distance, within 9 miles (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.

Opened in 1838 by Sir Thomas Phillips and Co. ¹
In 1842, with Manmoel, it employed 90 adults, 30 under 18 and 10 under 13. ¹
Closed and reopened several times, its working life ending in 1962. ¹
Tips, the adit and pieces of the tramroad survive at the site. ²
Shown on Prujean's 1843 map and advertised in 1843 as Courty Bella Colliery. ^1,2
Its plans show workings in the Mynyddislwyn and Lower Mynyddislwyn seams. ^3,4

Photographs & further reading

The Central Sirhowy Valley (Industrial Gwent) (observational)

Field notes and photographs of the Cwrt-y-bella tips, adit and tramroad remains.

View source

Cwrt-y-bella (Welsh Coal Mines) (reference)

A section on the Manmoel page with the 1842 Commission evidence and a 2005 photograph.

View source

Sources

(secondary) Manmoel - Welsh Coal Mines — Welsh Coal Mines
(secondary) The Central Sirhowy Valley: From Argoed to Markham via Manmoel — Industrial Gwent
(primary) Mine plan: Cwrt-y-bella, Mynyddislwyn — British Geological Survey
(primary) Mine plan: Court y Bella, Lower Mynyddislwyn — British Geological Survey

Record created: 2 October 2026 · Last researched: 2 October 2026