Llammarch Colliery

Overview

A level at Waunafon, near Brynmawr, just inside the old Breconshire border on the north-eastern outcrop of the South Wales coalfield, possibly opened in 1794 to supply the Clydach ironworks and worked by the Waen Nantyglo Colliery Company until it closed after nationalisation in June 1947.

History

Llammarch was a level on the northern outcrop of the coalfield at Waunafon, near Brynmawr. It was possibly opened in 1794 to supply the Clydach ironworks, which the Llam-march tramroad, engineered by Thomas Dadford in 1793-94, linked with the coal and iron-ore workings at Gellifelen and Llam-march.

In 1893 it was owned by M. Morgan and worked the Old Coal seam; in 1896 a separate West Llanmarch level, owned by Roberts and Davies of Llanelly Hill, employed two men. By 1907-08 the level employed about a hundred men, with William Thomas as manager, and the workforce reached 177 by 1913-15. It passed to the Waen Nantyglo Colliery Company, formed by Evan Williams of Cardiff in 1911, which worked the outcrop seams of the district from several levels. In 1918 it employed 77, working the Black Vein, which was abandoned in October 1922.

The level grew again in the late 1920s, to 150 men in 1927 and 220 in 1930, and by the mid-1930s it was working the Elled seam with about 250. From 1938 it was run with the neighbouring Clydach level, the two together employing 80 men under W. J. Buck and 63 in 1945. Llammarch closed after nationalisation, on 21 June 1947.

Geology

Coal Measures of the north-eastern outcrop of the South Wales coalfield: the Old Coal, Black Vein and Elled seams.

Workings

A level driven into the northern outcrop; a separate West Llanmarch level (1896); worked jointly with the neighbouring Clydach level from 1938.

Closure

Closed after nationalisation on 21 June 1947.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Clydach Colliery, Brynmawr — Neighbouring Waen Nantyglo levels at Waunafon, worked together from 1938 until both closed on 21 June 1947.

What's uncertain

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

• Llammarch was a level possibly opened in 1794, when it supplied the Clydach ironworks. (uncertain) ^1,2

Recorded claims

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

• Llammarch was a level possibly opened in 1794, when it supplied the Clydach ironworks. (uncertain) ^1,2
• In 1893 Llammarch was owned by M. Morgan and worked the Old Coal seam. ^1,2
• The workforce had reached 177 by 1913. ^1,2
• The Black Vein seam was abandoned in October 1922. ²
• The level employed 150 men in 1927 and 220 in 1930, with William Thomas as manager in 1927. ^1,2
• Llammarch closed after nationalisation on 21 June 1947. ^1,2

Sources

1. (secondary) Blaennant, Llammarch, Clydach and Waun Afon collieries — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) Llanmarch Colliery — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 16 October 2026 · Last researched: 16 October 2026