Forge Colliery, Nantyglo

Overview

One of the earliest pits the Wigan coal firm of John Lancaster acquired from the Bailey family at Nantyglo, worked until sometime between 1878 and 1888. Six named men died here across the 1857–72 period it is documented, one of them in a gas explosion.

History

Forge Colliery was one of the earliest pits John Lancaster acquired from the Bailey family's Nantyglo interests, and it was still working for him in 1878 under manager J. Williams; it is not listed in 1888, so closure fell somewhere in that decade. Six named deaths are recorded here across the period the mine is documented: William Cullen, 13, a collier, killed by a fall of coal on 16 November 1857; Thomas Drewett, 47, also a collier, by a fall of coal on 7 December 1858; Richard Thomas, 53, by a fall of coal while holing on 25 September 1862; William White, 40, by a heavy fall of roof on 4 May 1868; a 21-year-old collier — named Thomas Williams in one account and David Williams in another, both agreeing on his age and the date — who on 20 February 1871 went into a stall known to hold gas to fetch some candles, was caught in the resulting explosion, and died three days later; and Thomas Stone, 16, a labourer, by a fall of clod on 8 June 1872. Each death was a separate, single-fatality incident rather than a mass-casualty event.

Geology

Worked the Bydyllog (Bydylog) coal of the South Wales Coalfield's Nantyglo outcrop.

Workings

Worked the Bydyllog/Bydylog coal, per the recorded causes of death.

Closure

Still working for John Lancaster in 1878 under manager J. Williams; not listed in the record by 1888.

What remains

Unknown.

Nearby mines

• Garn Colliery, Nantyglo — 0.4 km SE
• Clydach Colliery, Brynmawr — 1.5 km N
• Milfraen Colliery — 1.5 km SE, Torfaen
• East Blaina Red Ash Colliery — 1.9 km SE
• Coalbrook Vale Colliery — 2.4 km SW

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.

• One of the earliest pits John Lancaster acquired from the Bailey family's Nantyglo interests, still working for him in 1878 under manager J. Williams and no longer listed by 1888. ¹
• Six named men died here in separate incidents: William Cullen (13, 1857), Thomas Drewett (47, 1858), Richard Thomas (53, 1862), William White (40, 1868), a 21-year-old collier surnamed Williams (1871, gas explosion), and Thomas Stone (16, 1872). ¹
• The victim of the 20 February 1871 gas explosion is named Thomas Williams in one source and David Williams in another; both agree on his age (21), his trade (collier) and that he was fetching candles from a stall known to hold gas. (disputed) ^1,2

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Small Collieries of the Ebbw Valley — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (secondary) Fatalities 1871 — Welsh Coal Mines

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