imported>Citation bot: Alter: title. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by BrownHairedGirl | #UCB_webform 3660/3726

2022-08-24T10:30:34Z

Alter: title. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by BrownHairedGirl | #UCB_webform 3660/3726

New page

{{short description|Welsh coal mine active 1889-1988}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = Abercynon Colliery
| image = Abercynon coal mine view up Cynon valley, 30 09 73 (28767877371).jpg
| width =
| caption = Abercynon Colliery in 1973
| alt =
| pushpin_map = Wales Rhondda Cynon Taf#Wales#UK
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption=
| pushpin_image =
| pushpin_label =
| pushpin_label_position = left
| coordinates = {{coord|51.6385|-3.3284|type:landmark_region:GB|display=it}}
| place = [[Abercynon]]
| subdivision_type =
| state/province =
| country = [[Wales]], [[United Kingdom]]
| products =
| amount = 
| financial year =
| type = Coal
| greatest depth =
| discovery year =
| opening year = {{Start date|1889}}
| active years = 
| closing year = {{End date|1988}}
| owner =
| official website = 
| acquisition year =
| module = 
}}
'''Abercynon Colliery''' was a [[coal mine]] located in [[Abercynon]], [[South Wales]]. Opened in 1889, it closed in 1988.

==Development==
The colliery [[Mining in Wales|was developed]] at a cost of £270,000 from 1889, by the [[Dowlais]] [[Iron]] [[Dowlais Ironworks|Company]], to feed a new [[steel]] works in [[Cardiff]].<ref name="WCM1">{{cite web|url=http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamEast/Abercynon.htm |title=Abercynon Colliery |publisher=Welshcoalmines.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2016-05-29}}</ref> Initially known as the '''Dowlais Cardiff Colliery,''' the two shafts were sunk to the Nine Feet coal seam at depths of {{convert|740|yards}} (South - upcast) and {{convert|753|yards}} (North - downcast).

===Accidents===
Eighteen men lost their lives during development, including eight on 23 January 1893 and six on 9 September 1895. An [[Mining accident|underground haulage accident]] on 28 April 1906 cost the lives of five men.<ref name="WCM1"/>

==Production==
In 1903 the pit passed into the hands of [[GKN|Guest Keen and Nettlefolds Ltd]], at which point it employed 2,502 men. By 1923 the colliery was producing from the Six Feet, Nine Feet and Upper Four Feet seams, employing 2,794 men. In 1931 it was taken over by Welsh Associated Collieries, who were absorbed into [[Powell Duffryn]] Company Ltd. in 1936.<ref name="WCM1"/>

[[Nationalisation]] took place on 1 January 1947, but the returning miners wanted better conditions, and many choose to commute to work at the newly developed [[Treforest Estate railway station|Treforest Trading Estate]]. Now only employing 1,100 men, the vacancies were in part filled by displaced and stateless [[Europe]]ans, but even special allowances did not fulfil the labour needs of the mines.<ref name="RCT1"/>

Following development of the [[A470 road|A470]] in the late 1960s, its distinct winding [[head gear]] in blue with very long [[backstay]]s supported by transitional struts, became a distinct welcoming sign for travellers towards [[Merthyr Tydfil]].

The winding engines were some of the most powerful in the South Wales coalfield. The South had a single electric motor producing 1600 hp and the North had a twin drive system which had a rating of 3200 hp.

In March 1975, it was linked underground via two parallel tunnels with [[Lady Windsor Colliery]], which was situated on the other side of the mountain in [[Ynysybwl]],<ref name="RCT1"/> to form a single production unit at a cost of £450,000. Coal was raised at the Lady Windsor end of the unit from a depth of 687 yards, with 1,150 men were producing 318,000 tons yearly from Six feet, Lower Nine feet and Seven feet seams.<ref name="WCM2">{{cite web|url=http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamEast/LadyWindsor.htm |title=Lady Windsor Ynysybwl |publisher=Welshcoalmines.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2016-05-29}}</ref> By 1981 manpower deployment broke down to 216 on development, 292 on the coalface, 342 underground and 305 on the surface.<ref name="BBC1"/>

==Closure==
The Lady Windsor Lodge assumed a leading role in the [[UK miners' strike (1984-1985)|1985/86 UK Miner's Strike]], but on return to work the unit managed an impressive recovery obtaining 98% of expected output within a month.<ref name="BBC1"/>

The Lady Windsor/Abercynon unit was closed by [[British Coal]] in February 1988,<ref name="BBC1">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/coalhouse/sites/mines/pages/lady_windsor_colliery.shtml |title=BBC - Wales - Lady Windsor Colliery |accessdate=13 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428213431/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/coalhouse/sites/mines/pages/lady_windsor_colliery.shtml |archivedate=28 April 2009 }}</ref> with an estimated 25 years of workable coal left.<ref name="RCT1">{{cite web|url=http://webapps.rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk/heritagetrail/taff/ynysybwl/ynysybwl.htm |title=Rhondda Cynon Taf |accessdate=13 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905200124/http://webapps.rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk/heritagetrail/taff/ynysybwl/ynysybwl.htm |archivedate=5 September 2008 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Rhondda Cynon Taf]]
[[Category:Former mines in Rhondda Cynon Taf]]
[[Category:Coal mines in Rhondda Cynon Taf]]
[[Category:Underground mines in Wales]]

Abercynon Colliery - Revision history

imported>Citation bot: Alter: title. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by BrownHairedGirl | #UCB_webform 3660/3726