Vanwain Colliery

Overview

One of the many Dowlais Iron Company levels feeding the works with coal and iron ore, closing with the rest of the wider Dowlais Collieries complex in 1924.

History

Vanwain Colliery was one of the many levels used by the Dowlais Iron Company to feed its works. It was part of the wider "Dowlais Collieries" complex, named alongside Black Ball, Blaen Dowlais, Brewhouse, Buxton's, Carno, Coslet, Cwmcenol, Morgan's, Pant-y-Waun, Penyard, several Penydarren pits, Pen-yr-Heol, Price's, Rhas Las and Tyla Dowlais — all worked for coal and ironstone and abandoned together in May 1924.

Geology

Unknown — no specific seam is named for Vanwain itself in the sources read for this pass.

Workings

A level worked for coal and iron, part of the wider Dowlais Collieries complex.

Closure

Abandoned in May 1924, along with the rest of the wider Dowlais Collieries complex.

What remains

Unknown.

Related mines

• Dowlais Ironworks — One of the many Dowlais Iron Company levels that fed the Dowlais Ironworks.

Nearby mines

• Twyn-y-Waun Colliery — 0.3 km E
• Penyard Colliery — 0.5 km W
• Coslet Colliery — 0.7 km NE
• Banwaun Colliery — 0.9 km NE
• Dowlais Ironworks — 1.0 km W

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 many levels used by the Dowlais Iron Company to feed its works, abandoned in May 1924. ¹
• Named among the pits making up the wider Dowlais Collieries complex, all worked for coal and ironstone and abandoned together in May 1924. ²
• Part of the wider Dowlais Collieries complex, the umbrella name for everything worked for the Dowlais Iron Works. ²

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Small collieries of the Dowlais Cwmbargoed & Penydarren areas — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (secondary) Dowlais Collieries — Northern Mine Research Society

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