Gwrhay Colliery

Overview

An early nineteenth-century house-coal level at Gwrhay Fawr farm, above the Sirhowy valley near Argoed. It was worked from at least 1832 and last recorded in 1918.

History

The country around Gwrhay was advertised as a coal district as early as 1813. Gwrhay Colliery, a level at Gwrhay Fawr farm, was at work by 1832, when it was put up for auction. It was first owned by John Moggridge and later by Aaron Crossfield and a partner. John Prujean's 1843 map of Monmouthshire ironworks and collieries marks it as Gwrhai. In 1842 the Children's Employment Commission returned Gwrhay with the neighbouring Pen-y-van as employing 59 adults, 14 under 18 and 13 under 13. Roger Lewis, the storekeeper who held the contract for working it, engaged the colliers by the month.

Roger Lewis of Gwrhay Fawr became the owner in 1868. After his death in 1873 it passed to his son, and D. Lewis and Co. held it in 1880. In 1896, under John Lewis and Co., 16 men worked the Tillery seam. By 1908 Oakdale Navigation Collieries Ltd of Tredegar owned it, employing 149 men there and at the Waterloo colliery, and 33 in 1918. It does not appear in the 1923 list.

Geology

Upper Coal Measures of the South Wales coalfield: the Tillery seam in 1896.

Workings

Levels driven into the hillside, worked without machinery in 1842; coal was brought out by horses along tramroads, and the mine was ventilated by airways and air pits. Loading banks on Hall's Road served it.

Closure

Last recorded in 1918 with 33 men and absent from the 1923 list of mines. The reason for closure is unknown.

What remains

Two loading banks remain on Hall's Road.

Two loading banks on Hall's Road.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Cwrt-y-bella Colliery — Neighbouring early level near Argoed.
• Pen-y-fan Colliery — Held by the same owners, Aaron Crossfield and then Roger Lewis; returned together in 1842.

Recorded claims

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

• At work by 1832, when it was put up for auction. ¹
• In 1896, under John Lewis and Co., 16 men worked the Tillery seam. ²
• Roger Lewis of Gwrhay Fawr became the owner in 1868; on his death in 1873 it passed to his son. ²
• Last recorded in 1918 and absent from the 1923 list. ^2,1
• Two loading banks remain on Hall's Road. ¹

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) The Central Sirhowy Valley: From Argoed to Markham via Manmoel — Industrial Gwent
2. (secondary) Penyfan-Gwrhay - Welsh Coal Mines — Welsh Coal Mines

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