imported>Serols: Reverted 1 edit by 88.97.223.48 (talk) to last revision by Jean-de-Nivelle

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Reverted 1 edit by 88.97.223.48 (talk) to last revision by Jean-de-Nivelle

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = Penallta Colliery
| image = Penallta Colliery Building, Nr Ystrad Mynach - geograph.org.uk - 364024.jpg
| width =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = Wales Caerphilly
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_label =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|51.6544|-3.2447|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| place = [[Hengoed]], [[Caerphilly]]
| subdivision_type =
| state/province =
| country = [[Wales]]
| owner = [[Powell Duffryn]]<br>[[National Coal Board]]
| official website = 
| acquisition year =
| stock_exchange =
| stock_code =
| products = [[Steam coal]]
| financial year =
| amount =
| opening year = 1905
| active years = 1909–1991
| closing year = 1991
}}
'''Penallta Colliery''' was a [[coal mine]], located close to [[Hengoed]] in the [[Rhymney Valley]] in the [[South Wales Valleys]]. A [[Mining in Wales|coal mine]] which in 1935 held the [[Europe]]an record for coal wound in a 24-hour period, it is now the site of an original redevelopment project which will make use of the former [[pit head]] buildings.

==History==
Situated near [[Hengoed]], in 1905 [[Powell Duffryn]] began the sinking of Penallta colliery, and had employed 291 men by 1908. The two shafts Nos.1 (downcast {{convert|783|yd}}) and 2 (upcast {{convert|750|yd}}), and at the time were the deepest in the [[South Wales Coalfield]]. The first coal was raised in 1909, with the railway served by the Cylla branch which connected it to both the [[Rhymney Railway]] from the [[Ystrad Mynach railway station|Ystrad Mynach north junction]], and the [[Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway]]. By 1923 there were 2,395 men employed, producing from the Six Feet seam, and at peak production during the 1930s, there were in excess of 3,200 men employed. In 1930 it produced 975,603 tons, and in 1935 it held the European record for coal winding.<ref name="WCM">{{cite web|url=http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamEast/Penallta.htm|title=Penallta Colliery|publisher=welshcoalmines.co.uk|accessdate=2008-10-15}}</ref>

===Nationalisation===
In 1947, the mine was nationalised as part of the governments post-[[World War II]] regeneration scheme, and became owned by the [[National Coal Board]]. Investment was made, and in the late 1940s a [[Meco-Moore Cutter Loader]] was installed, one of the first power loaders to be used in British mines, and as a result the [[Minister of Fuel and Power]] [[Hugh Gaitskell]] made a visit in December 1949.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1949/dec/12/penallta-colliery-glamorgan-ministers|title=Penallta Colliery, Glamorgan (Minister's Visit)|work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|date=1949-12-12|access-date=2008-10-15}}</ref> The colliery formed a [[rugby union]] club in 1952 called [[Penallta RFC]], and in 1954 produced 500,000 tonnes of coal.<ref name="BBC1">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/coalhouse/sites/mines/pages/penallta_colliery.shtml|title=Penallta Colliery|publisher=BBC Wales|accessdate=2008-10-15|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113061624/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/coalhouse/sites/mines/pages/penallta_colliery.shtml|archivedate=13 November 2012}}</ref> During 1960 the shafts were extended to reach 800 yards as part of a scheme, which also included electrification of the shaft winding engines.<ref name="WCM"/>

But access to coal was becoming more difficult, and by the 1970s only 700 men were producing 210,000 tons yearly from the Lower Nine Feet and Seven Feet seams – both 20% of the figures at the height of production. The colliery survived the [[1984–1985 miners' strike]], and made impressive gains in production after the return to work.<ref name="BBC1"/> It was closed by [[British Coal]] on 1 November 1991 with the last shift led out by a [[brass band]].<ref name="WCM"/> It was the last deep mine working in the [[Rhymney Valley]].<ref name="BBC1"/>

===Penallta Country Park===
[[File:Breaking Mould Andrew McKeown Aberdare Blog.jpg|thumb|Breaking the Mould at Parc Penallta by Andrew McKeown]]

In 1996, a vision for Penallta was put forward by [[Caerphilly County Borough Council]], in partnership with Groundwork Wales and various local community, statutory and voluntary agencies. Stage 1 of the project converted 180 [[hectares]] of derelict land into Penallta Country Park. Stage 2 created more access, through the installation of a [[bridle path]] and [[cycle track]]s, and a stone [[footpath]].

To complete redevelopment of Penallta, the council developed a [[business park]] on the site, and have now agreed a development project which will result in a housing estate on part of the site, whereby the [[listed building]] status of the headgear of the two shafts are proposed to be part of a pioneering housing development scheme.

Several of the colliery buildings and structures are Grade II* listed, including the colliery baths, engine hall and the pit's headframe.<ref>{{cite web|title=Listed Buildings in Gelligaer, Caerphilly, Wales |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wales/caerphilly/gelligaer |publisher=British Listed Buildings|accessdate=2015-01-21}}</ref>

{{clear left}}

=== ''Sultan'' ===

[[File:Penallta pit pony - geograph.org.uk - 90215.jpg|thumb|left|The [[pit pony]] sculpture, constructed from the [[spoil tip]].]]

A {{convert|200|m|ft}} artwork, ''Sultan'', created between 1996 and 1999 by [[Mike Petts]], commemorates [[pit ponies]]. It uses 60,000 tons of coal shale waste, covered with living grass.<ref name="Cooper">{{cite web |last1=Cooper |first1=John |title=The huge tribute to the pit ponies of Wales you may never have noticed |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/pit-ponies-caerphilly-sulta-penallta-17408261 |website=Wales Online |accessdate=18 December 2019 |date=14 December 2019}}</ref> The artwork was named by local people, after one of the last pit ponies from the area, which was still living at the time.<ref name="Cooper" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.hengoed.net/index.php?x=penallta Penallta Colliery at hengoed.net]
*[http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamEast/Penallta.htm Penallta Colliery at welshcoalmines.co.uk]
*[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/364024 Pictures of Penallta colliery]
*[http://www.hfinster.de/StahlArt2/archive-SouthWales-BW-4520-3-27.03.1990-en.html Pictures of Penallta from 1990]

[[Category:Collieries in South Wales]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Caerphilly County Borough]]
[[Category:Underground mines in Wales]]

Penallta Colliery - Revision history

imported>Serols: Reverted 1 edit by 88.97.223.48 (talk) to last revision by Jean-de-Nivelle