Whitworth Colliery

Overview

An ambitious Tonmawr sinking that reached 1,520 feet without ever finding workable coal, defeated by water, cost and the death of its own driving force.

History

The Whitworth family, Northampton gentry who had built up a substantial mineral estate east and south of Neath through the 19th century, incorporated the Whitworth Mineral Estate Company in 1890 to trade in coal, coke and minerals. Whitworth Collieries Ltd was not registered as colliery proprietor for the estate until 12 February 1905, and the first sod of the new colliery at Tonmawr, on the eastern side of Cwmgwenffrwyd, was not cut until 29 April 1907. Control of the company passed into German hands in October 1906, when two of its British directors resigned.

Sinking, managed by Percy Jacob, employed between 65 and 172 men through 1907-1911 without ever finding a workable seam. The No.2 shaft reached the Wernddu (No.2 Rhondda) seam far deeper than expected, flooding badly, and in November 1911 sinking was abandoned — the Northern Mine Research Society attributes this to the excessive water and cost overruns, while a Welsh Coal Mines forum contributor citing the company's own registration records attributes it instead to the death of a Mr de Frietas, evidently a key figure in the venture. The final depth reached was 1,520 feet 8 inches.

The colliery lay idle from 1912. In January 1913 the New Rhondda Collieries Ltd was registered to acquire the Whitworth estate and the defunct company's assets, but nothing came of the venture and it was dissolved on 15 December 1916. The abandoned works were eventually bought by Baldwin's Limited, who dismantled the surface equipment.

Geology

Sinking reached the Wernddu (No.2 Rhondda) seam far deeper than expected, at a final depth of 1,520 feet 8 inches, before flooding badly.

Workings

A sinking that never found a workable seam; abandoned in November 1911 after four years and between 65 and 172 men employed.

Closure

Sinking abandoned November 1911; the colliery lay idle from 1912, and a revival attempt (New Rhondda Collieries Ltd, 1913) came to nothing before its own dissolution in 1916.

What remains

The surface equipment was dismantled after the works were bought out of the failed venture, and the colliery was finally abandoned in 1915. Nothing on record describes what stands on the ground at Tonmawr now.

The abandoned surface equipment was dismantled after Baldwin's Limited bought the works.

What's uncertain

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

• Whitworth Collieries Ltd was registered on 12 February 1905, passed into German-controlled directorship in October 1906, cut its first sod on 29 April 1907, and suspended sinking in November 1911 on the death of a Mr de Frietas. (disputed) ^1,2
• One account has the works purchased in 1912 by the New Rhondda Collieries Limited and in 1913 by Baldwins Limited, who dismantled the surface equipment. (disputed) ³
• The same account elsewhere reports the plant as acquired by Messrs Baldwins in 1919, for their new pits at Margam and Aberbaiden. (disputed) ³

Recorded claims

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

• Whitworth Collieries Ltd sank the colliery at Tonmawr from 1907, employing between 65 and 172 men under manager Percy Jacob, but abandoned the No.2 shaft in November 1911 owing to excessive water and cost overruns after the Wernddu seam proved deeper than expected; the completed depth was 1,520 feet 8 inches. ¹
• Whitworth Collieries Ltd was registered on 12 February 1905, passed into German-controlled directorship in October 1906, cut its first sod on 29 April 1907, and suspended sinking in November 1911 on the death of a Mr de Frietas. (disputed) ^1,2
• The failed venture passed to the New Rhondda Collieries Ltd, registered 3 January 1913 to acquire the Whitworth estate and assets, but came to nothing and was dissolved on 15 December 1916; the site was later bought by Baldwin's Limited, who dismantled the surface equipment. ^1,2
• The Whitworth estate was said to run to 6,526 acres - ten square miles - with a freehold surface area of 3,679 acres, which for a colliery that never raised a saleable ton is the most remarkable thing about it. ³
• A receiver was appointed at the Whitworth Collieries in December 1911. The South Wales Daily Post of 15 December reported that there was no cash in hand to pay wages and that it was necessary to buy coal to keep the pumps going. Charles Herbert Bull, appointed manager and receiver, worked the colliery briefly, and by November 1912 it was described as being at a standstill. ³
• In October 1913 the workings were inspected by well-known colliery proprietors with a view to reopening, and a powerful South Wales syndicate was reported to be about to take over the concern. Nothing came of either, and the colliery was finally abandoned in 1915. ³
• One account has the works purchased in 1912 by the New Rhondda Collieries Limited and in 1913 by Baldwins Limited, who dismantled the surface equipment. (disputed) ³
• The same account elsewhere reports the plant as acquired by Messrs Baldwins in 1919, for their new pits at Margam and Aberbaiden. (disputed) ³
• The colliery stood at SS 798 968, at Tonmawr on the eastern side of Cwmgwenffrwyd. ³

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Small Collieries in the Afan Valley and surrounding areas — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (secondary) Whitworth colliery tonmawr (forum thread) — Welsh Coal Mines forum
3. (secondary) Whitworth Colliery, Tonmawr — Welsh Coal Mines (Glamorgan West) — Welsh Coal Mines

Record created: 14 September 2026 · Last researched: 28 September 2026