MineArchiveDarrell Colliery
| Location | Near Crynant, Dulais Valley, Neath Port Talbot — 51.7449, -3.7287 (approximate) |
|---|---|
| Commodity | Coal |
| Type | Coal |
| Worked | 1976–1 April 1995 |
| Maximum depth | Unknown. |
| Operators | Firmglow Ltd (?–1995), Wavell T. J. Hopkins, W. J. Fyfield |
Overview
A small licensed level at Crynant in the Dulais Valley, started in 1976 and worked by hand with two horses until 1991; abandoned in 1995 and later opencast.
History
Darrell Colliery was a small level near Crynant in the Dulais Valley, close to the Heol Hen and Carn Cornel mines, working the No. 2 Rhondda seam by hand-got methods with two horses, Sandy and Blackie.
It was started in 1976. In 1978 it was owned by Wavell T. J. Hopkins, though the licence was actually granted to his wife Barbara, of Lower Cwmtwrch. On 19 April 1983 the haulier Brian Benjamin Myers was killed when he was trapped between a dram, a timber and a blast pipe. By October 1989 the mine belonged to W. J. Fyfield.
Darrell closed in 1991 and was taken over by Firmglow Ltd of Caerhenllys, Cwmllynfell; its No. 2 Rhondda workings were abandoned on 1 April 1995. The site was opencast by Ward Brothers in the late 1990s and 2000s, and the opencast plans of Darrell and its extension are dated 2009.
Geology
The No. 2 Rhondda seam.
Workings
A level, worked by hand with horse haulage.
Closure
Closed in 1991; taken over by Firmglow Ltd and abandoned on 1 April 1995. The site was opencast by Ward Brothers in the late 1990s and 2000s.
What remains
Unknown.
Redevelopment
Unknown.
Nearby mines
- Carn Cornel Colliery — 0.3 miles (0.5 km) NE
- Brynteg Colliery — 0.8 miles (1.3 km) NE
- Hir Fynydd Colliery — 1.0 miles (1.6 km) E
- Blaenant Colliery — 1.2 miles (2.0 km) SW
- Crynant Colliery — 1.2 miles (2.0 km) SW
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.
- Darrell Colliery was started in 1976. 1
- It worked the No. 2 Rhondda seam by hand, with two horses. 1,2
- The haulier Brian Benjamin Myers was killed on 19 April 1983, trapped between a dram, a timber and a blast pipe. 1
- The No. 2 Rhondda workings were abandoned on 1 April 1995. 1,2
- The site was later opencast; the Darrell and extension opencast plans are dated 2009. 1,3
Photographs & further reading
Owners, seams, working methods and closure of this small licensed mine.
View sourceSources
- (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines: Other small mines — Welsh Coal Mines
- (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plan: DARRELL, No. 2 Rhondda seam, abandoned 1 April 1995 — British Geological Survey
- (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plan: DARRELL & EXTENSION (OPENCAST), No. 2 Rhondda and Pantrhydydwr, 2009 — British Geological Survey
Record created: 10 October 2026 · Last researched: 10 October 2026