Fforchwen Colliery

Overview

The Cwmaman Coal Company's steam-coal colliery at Cwmaman, its 1850 sinking completed to 360 yards in the 1890s, which employed over a thousand men by 1910 and closed in 1935.

History

Fforchwen Colliery stood at Cwmaman in the Aman valley above Aberdare, near the older Cwmaman and Fforchaman pits. A sinking was begun here in 1850 but abandoned at only 60 yards. After lying idle for 44 years it was taken up again in 1894 by the Cwmaman Coal Company, owners of the neighbouring Cwmaman Colliery, and completed to 360 yards; coal production started in 1897. The Northern Mine Research Society dates the sinking of Fforchwen to 1900, as part of the company's expansion.

The colliery grew fast, from 187 men in 1900 to 870 in 1908 and 1,050 in 1910, raising steam coal from the Bute, Seven Feet and Yard seams. The Trewen pit was opened about 1912 as the main ventilation shaft, and a new drift followed in 1914. By 1918 Fforchwen, Cwmaman and Trewen together employed 1,846.

Fforchwen was later absorbed into Cwmaman Colliery. In 1930, with D. T. Davies as manager, it employed 399 underground and 115 on the surface. The Cwmaman company sold out in the early 1930s to Bwllfa and Cwmaman Collieries Ltd, and in 1935 the three pits' production was combined; Fforchwen closed that year.

Geology

South Wales Coal Measures, Aberdare steam coals. The colliery worked the Bute, Seven Feet and Yard seams, and with Cwmaman and Trewen in 1923 the Nine Feet, Bute, Nos. 1 and 2 Yard, Red and Seven Feet, together with ironstone.

Workings

A shaft sunk to 360 yards, with the Trewen pit of about 1912 as its main ventilation shaft and a drift opened in 1914. Its workings were later run as part of Cwmaman Colliery.

Closure

The colliery was absorbed into Cwmaman, and in 1935 the production of Cwmaman, Fforchwen and Trewen was combined; Fforchwen closed that year under Bwllfa and Cwmaman Collieries Ltd.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Cwmaman Colliery — Sunk by the Cwmaman Coal Company, Fforchwen was later absorbed into Cwmaman Colliery, and their production was combined in 1935.
• Fforchaman Colliery — Neighbouring Cwmaman collieries; NMRS has Fforchaman working in conjunction with Cwmaman and Fforchwen at nationalisation.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• The Cwmaman Coal Company sank Fforchwen in 1900 and the Trewen Pit in 1910. (disputed) ²
• Fforchwen employed 870 men in 1908, and 1,026 in 1923. (disputed) ¹
• Employment was 187 in 1900, 1,050 in 1910, 750 in 1923 and 514 in 1933. (disputed) ³
• On nationalisation in 1947 Fforchaman Colliery worked in conjunction with Cwmaman and Fforchwen Collieries. (disputed) ⁴

Recorded claims

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

• Sinking began in 1850 but was abandoned at 60 yards; the Cwmaman Coal Company recommenced it in 1894, completed it to 360 yards, and coal production started in 1897. ¹
• The Cwmaman Coal Company sank Fforchwen in 1900 and the Trewen Pit in 1910. (disputed) ²
• Fforchwen employed 870 men in 1908, and 1,026 in 1923. (disputed) ¹
• Employment was 187 in 1900, 1,050 in 1910, 750 in 1923 and 514 in 1933. (disputed) ³
• The Trewen pit was opened in 1912 and became the main ventilation shaft; a new drift opened in 1914. ¹
• The owners were the Cwmaman Coal Co. Ltd, Bwllfa and Cwmaman Ddu Collieries Ltd and Bwllfa and Cwmaman Collieries Ltd. ^3,1
• Fforchwen was absorbed into Cwmaman colliery and closed in 1935. ¹
• In 1935 Cwmaman's production figures were combined with Fforchwen and Trewen pits. ²
• On nationalisation in 1947 Fforchaman Colliery worked in conjunction with Cwmaman and Fforchwen Collieries. (disputed) ⁴

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Cwmaman Fforchwen Colliery - Welsh Coal Mines — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) Cwmaman Colliery - Northern Mine Research Society — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (primary) Durham Mining Museum - Fforchwen Colliery (UK) — Durham Mining Museum
4. (secondary) Fforchaman Colliery - Northern Mine Research Society — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 1 October 2026 · Last researched: 1 October 2026