Rhoswen Colliery

Location	Rhos-wen farm, Argoed, Sirhowy valley, Caerphilly — 51.6976, -3.1958 (approximate)
Commodity	Coal
Type	Coal
Worked	c. 1860–1935
Maximum depth	Unknown.
Operators	Bevan and Pryce (1869–?), Price and Smith (1908–?)

Overview

A small house-coal level at Argoed in the Sirhowy valley, opened about 1860 on the Mynyddislwyn seam, with an old adit worked to the 1890s and a new one worked by a handful of men until 1935.

History

Rhoswen Colliery was a house-coal level at Rhos-wen farm, Argoed, in the Sirhowy valley, opened about 1860 by Messrs Marshall to work the Mynyddislwyn seam. By 1869 it belonged to Messrs Bevan and Pryce, and T. Ellis managed it in 1888; in 1889 it produced over 3,000 tons. It closed during the 1890s, and the old adit is shown as disused on the 1900 Ordnance Survey map.

A new adit further north was being developed in 1902 by Thomas Williams of Argoed with three men. By 1908 Price and Smith of Gwerthonor Quarry owned it, with seven men, and Bevan and Price employed twelve between 1913 and 1916. It was never more than a handful of men: two in 1924 and four in 1928 and 1930, by then under Lewis Price of Penrhiw-yr-Eglwys Farm, Argoed, and two in 1934. It closed in 1935.

Geology

South Wales Coal Measures. The levels worked the Mynyddislwyn seam for house coal.

Workings

Two levels: Rhoswen Old (SO174005), worked to the 1890s, and Rhoswen New (SO171009), opened from 1902.

Closure

The old adit closed in the 1890s; the new level closed in 1935.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Nearby mines

Manmoel Colliery — 0.6 miles (1.0 km) E
Cwrt-y-bella Colliery — 0.8 miles (1.3 km) SE
Gwrhay Colliery — 0.9 miles (1.4 km) SE
Oakdale Colliery — 1.3 miles (2.1 km) SE
Bargoed Colliery — 1.4 miles (2.3 km) W

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.

Situated at Rhos-wen farm, Argoed, it was opened around 1860 by Messrs Marshall to work the Mynyddislwyn seam for house coal. ¹
By 1869 it was owned by Bevan and Pryce; managed in 1888 by T. Ellis, the level produced over 3,000 tons of coal in 1889. ¹
Another adit further north was being developed in 1902 by Thomas Williams of Argoed, employing 3 men; it closed in 1935. ¹
Rhoswen is named on a combined plan of the Mynyddislwyn seam levels of the district. ²

Photographs & further reading

Welsh Coal Mines: Rhoswen and Argoed collieries (reference)

Owners and manpower of both Rhoswen levels, with the 1842 Commission evidence for Argoed.

View source

Sources

(secondary) Rhoswen Colliery, Argoed Colliery - Welsh Coal Mines — Welsh Coal Mines
(primary) BGS mine plans: Rhoswen, Cwrt Coch, Gwaelodywin, Cwm Crach, Rock, Primrose levels (Mynyddislwyn) — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority

Record created: 1 October 2026 · Last researched: 2 October 2026