Tirbach Colliery

Overview

An anthracite colliery at Ystalyfera, opened in 1899 by the Pwllbach Colliery Company just north of its Pwllbach mine, where the Big Vein could swell to 70 feet thick in places and vanish in others. It grew to 650 men by 1931 under Henderson's Welsh Anthracite and Amalgamated Anthracite, abandoned its seams in 1939-40, and was then used by the National Coal Board as a training centre until 1961.

History

Tirbach was opened in 1899 by the Pwllbach Colliery Company, just north of Pwllbach Colliery on the west side of the Twrch, and was served by the Midland Railway's Swansea Vale line. Local history names its owner before the anthracite combine as Davies of Aberlash, who also owned the Ystalyfera tinplate works. The Big Vein here was extraordinarily irregular, as much as 70 feet thick in places and missing altogether in others, and the thick parts were reworked two or three times, each working taking about eight feet of coal. In 1908 Peter Jones managed 201 men underground and 38 at the surface; in 1913 the Pwllbach Collieries Company employed 260 under D. W. Davies. After the First World War it belonged to the Pwllbach, Tirbach and Brynamman Anthracite Collieries Company, which became part of Henderson's Welsh Anthracite Collieries, itself a subsidiary of Amalgamated Anthracite from 1928. Manpower rose to 580 in 1927 and 650 in 1931, with 498 underground and 114 at the surface in 1930 and 1935. The Big Vein was abandoned in 1939 and the Middle and Lower Brass seams in 1940. The National Coal Board later used Tirbach as a training centre for new recruits until 1961, and a licensed mine of the same name was worked by J. H. and R. D. Edmunds in 1970.

Geology

Worked the Big Vein, locally up to 70 feet thick but absent elsewhere, and the Middle, Lower and Brass seams.

Geological setting: Sedimentary Beds and Seams (historical documentary reference)

Workings

Local history places the mine near a disused mine at SN 771 094, with an air shaft, engine house and drift up the mountain towards Allt-y-grug linked by tramway. The thick Big Vein was reworked two or three times, eight feet at a time.

Closure

The Big Vein was abandoned in 1939 and the Middle and Lower Brass seams in 1940. The NCB then used Tirbach as a training centre for recruits until 1961.

What remains

Unknown.

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Brynamman Colliery — Both owned by the Pwllbach, Tirbach and Brynamman Anthracite Collieries Company and then Henderson's Welsh Anthracite.
• Pwllbach Colliery — Opened just north of Pwllbach by the same Pwllbach Colliery Company, and owned with it by the Pwllbach, Tirbach and Brynamman company.

Nearby mines

• Gilwen Colliery — 1.1 km NW
• Pwllbach Colliery — 1.2 km SW
• Gurnos Colliery — 1.4 km E, Powys
• Ystalyfera Colliery — 1.5 km SW
• Yniscedwyn Colliery — 2.3 km E, Powys

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.

• Tirbach was opened just north of Pwllbach Colliery in 1899 by the Pwllbach Colliery Company; the Big Vein could be as much as 70 feet thick and absent in other parts, the thick parts reworked two or three times. ¹
• The 1908 list of mines gives Tirbach Colliery, Ystalyfera, Pwllbach Colliery Co Ltd, manager Peter Jones, 201 underground and 38 surface. ²
• The owner before the anthracite combine was Davies (Aberlash), who also owned the Ystalyfera Tinplate Works; the Lower, Middle, Brass and Large seams were found here. ²
• Manpower 260 (1913), 580 (1927), 638 (1928), 650 (1931), 612 (1935), 488 (1940). ¹
• It abandoned the Big Vein in 1939 and the Middle and Lower Brass seams in 1940, and was used by the NCB as a training centre until 1961. ¹
• Mining Remediation Authority abandonment plans titled 'Tirbach' (Big seam) and 'Tirbach / Ystalyfera' (Peacock) are dated 1939 and 1940 respectively. ^3,4

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Tirbach Colliery — Northern Mine Research Society (Ray Lawrence)
2. (secondary) Coal mining in Gwauncaegurwen and Cwmgors and local area (Glyn-Moch Colliery; Ystrad, Glanaman) — Gareth Hicks, GENUKI
3. (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plans: TIRBACH (1939) — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority
4. (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plans: TIRBACH/ YSTALYFERA (1940) — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority

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