Wernos Colliery

Overview

An anthracite colliery in the Amman Valley, worked in a small way from as early as 1865 before being formally reopened in 1908 by the Rhos Colliery Company, closing in 1965 after nearly a century's intermittent working.

History

Coal had already been worked at Wernos, near Ammanford in the Amman Valley, as early as 1865 under Benjamin Jones, initially on the Rock Vein seam half a mile west of the neighbouring Pantyffynnon Colliery. The colliery was formally reopened in 1908 under the Rhos Colliery Company, with Lewis Jenkins as manager, later becoming New Rhos Anthracite Collieries Limited and then, during the industry's 1920s consolidation, part of United Anthracite Collieries Limited. Wernos worked multiple seams over its life — the Rock, Gras, Lower Pumpquart and Stanllyd — reached chiefly via a main drift 850 yards long and 14 feet high, with a new upcast shaft added in 1954-56; estimated reserves stood at 5.5 million tons. Employment grew from 250 men at the 1908 reopening to a peak of 629 by 1930, fell sharply after the 1947 nationalisation, and had rebuilt to 614 by 1965. Output peaked at 106,520 tons in 1960. Despite improving profitability in its final years, the National Coal Board closed Wernos on 6 November 1965, transferring willing workers to Cynheidre Colliery.

Workings

A main drift 850 yards long and 14 feet high, with a new upcast shaft added in 1954-56; worked the Rock, Gras, Lower Pumpquart and Stanllyd seams, with estimated reserves of 5.5 million tons at closure.

Closure

Closed on 6 November 1965 by the National Coal Board despite improving profitability in its final years; willing workers were transferred to Cynheidre Colliery.

Recorded claims

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

• Coal had already been worked at Wernos as early as 1865 under Benjamin Jones, on the Rock Vein seam half a mile west of Pantyffynnon Colliery. ¹
• The colliery was formally reopened in 1908 by the Rhos Colliery Company, later becoming New Rhos Anthracite Collieries Limited and then part of United Anthracite Collieries Limited during the 1920s consolidation of the anthracite industry. ¹
• The colliery was worked chiefly through an 850-yard, 14-foot-high main drift, with a new upcast shaft added in 1954-56; it worked the Rock, Gras, Lower Pumpquart and Stanllyd seams. ¹
• Wernos closed on 6 November 1965 despite improving profitability, with willing workers transferred to Cynheidre Colliery; output had peaked at 106,520 tons in 1960. ¹
• Wernos was one of several anthracite collieries in the Amman Valley, a district within the wider South Wales anthracite coalfield centred on Ammanford. ²

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (primary) Wernos Colliery — Northern Mine Research Society — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (secondary) History of Coal Mining in the Amman Valley, Carmarthenshire — GENUKI

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