Ferndale Colliery: Difference between revisions
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The first development by [[David Davies (industrialist)|David Davies]] of Montgomeryshire from 1857, in accessing the high quality [[steam coal]] and a greater depth, spurred others into tapping into the "Black Gold." Over the following 50 years, eight further pits were created. |
The first development by [[David Davies (industrialist)|David Davies]] of Montgomeryshire from 1857, in accessing the high quality [[steam coal]] and a greater depth, spurred others into tapping into the "Black Gold." Over the following 50 years, eight further pits were created. |
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Ferndale No.1 was developed on the land of the farm at [[Blaenllechau]], within the borough of Ferdale. The following four pits were also within the village borough of Ferndale, while the last four were within the boundaries of neigbouring village [[Tylorstown]]. These later pits were also referred to as Tylorstown No.6 through No.9. However, later consolidation within the areas mining and pit complex eventually connected all nine of the mines. Hence the whole development was called '''Ferndale Colliery''', from the completion of No.9 in 1907 by Davies's [[Ocean Colliery Company]] onwards. |
Ferndale No.1 was developed on the land of the farm at [[Blaenllechau]], within the borough of Ferdale. The following four pits were also within the village borough of Ferndale, while the last four were within the boundaries of neigbouring village [[Tylorstown]]. These later pits were also referred to as Tylorstown No.6 through No.9. However, later consolidation within the areas mining and pit complex eventually connected all nine of the mines. Hence the whole development was called '''Ferndale Colliery''', from the completion of No.9 in 1907 by Davies's [[Ocean Colliery Company]] onwards. This allowed the complex to work the coal and [[ironstone]] of the: Two Feet Nine; Four Feet; Five Feet; Bute; Gellideg; Red; and Yard seams. |
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By the 1930s, when most of the complex was within the ownership of [[Powell Duffryn]], the accessible coal reserves had been exhausted from the shorter shafts. Resultantly, their pit head workings were closed on economic grounds, although the workable underground coal faces were consolidated into the remaining shafts. |
By the 1930s, when most of the complex was within the ownership of [[Powell Duffryn]], the accessible coal reserves had been exhausted from the shorter shafts. Resultantly, their pit head workings were closed on economic grounds, although the workable underground coal faces were consolidated into the remaining shafts. |
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By the time of [[World War II]] and the [[Bevin Boys]], only three of the original pits were still worked. These continued operation successfully under nationalisation from 1947, until the entire complex was finally closed by the [[National Coal Board]] in 1959. |
By the time of [[World War II]] and the [[Bevin Boys]], only three of the original pits were still worked. These continued operation successfully under nationalisation from 1947, until the entire complex was finally closed by the [[National Coal Board]] in 1959. |
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==Disasters== |
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Two large [[Mining accident|colliery disaster]]s occurred in Ferndale during the 19th century. |
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On Friday 8th of November 1867 the whole district of Ferndale was shaken by two consecutive explosions. |
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The manager had just entered the mine and in the ensuing rescue attempt his was one of the first bodies to be discovered. The rescuers were hampered by roof falls and the air was so foul that on times it extinguished the flames in their safety lamps. Eventually with some trepidation the furnace, which powered the ventilation was relit and with the improved ventilation the rescuers could venture further into the mines workings. |
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Most of the bodies brought to the surface showed signs of severe burning and many were so badly disfigured it made identification impossible. |
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A month had nearly past before all the remains of the 178 men and boys who perished had been recovered. |
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At the enquiry the lamp keeper stated during the period prior to the explosion lamps returned to him often showed signs of being tampered with and he added that he had reported these incidents that breached the company's rules to the manager. |
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The jury concluded: - "We believe the explosion took place, first - in consequence of a great accumulation of gas in certain workings of the colliery, and this accumulation we attribute to the neglect of Mr. Williams the manager and his subordinate officers, second - by this gas being fired by one or more of the colliers carelessly taking off the tops of their lamps and working with naked lights.". |
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Just seventeen months later on the 10th of June 1869 another explosion occurred at this fated colliery this time killing 53 men and boys. |
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The conclusion of the inquest criticised the managers of the pit for not implementing all the recommendations made after the 1867 explosion and also criticised the pits ventilation system which they believed did not manage to properly distribute air throughout all the pit. |
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On 8 November 1867, an underground explosion at No.1 killed 178 miners. Secondly, on 10 June 1869 an explosion at No.1 resulted in the death of 53 miners.<ref>''The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales''. John Davies, [[Nigel Jenkins]], Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg280 ISBN 9780708319536</ref> |
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On 13 February 1908, former Private Thomas Chester, who 29 years earlier had been one of the defenders during the [[Battle of Rorke's Drift]] by thousands of [[Zulu]] warriors, was killed in the railway sidings of the [[coal washery]] at No.5 pit. After allowing a number of wagons to pass, he stepped onto the railway tracks, and was run over by some addtional wagons that he did not see.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/coalhouse/sites/mines/pages/ferndale_collieries.shtml|title=Ferndale Collieries|publisher=[[BBC Wales]]|accessdate=16 September 2011}}</ref> |
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The man who was killed was ex Private Thomas Chester, who 29 years earlier had been present, and was one of the defenders, during the attack on Rorke's Drift by thousands of Zulu warriors in the Anglo Zulu war. The defence, for which 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded took place on 22nd 23rd January 1879, as depicted in the film Zulu. |
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Report from the Inspector of Mines. "Thomas Chester, 55, Coal Trimmer. Deceased was breaking up a lump of coal, which had fallen onto the empty road leading to No.1 pit screens, when he was knocked down by a wagon, which was being lowered towards the screens. Deceased had stood one side to allow two wagons to pass, but was not aware that others were to follow."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamEast/Ferndale.htm|title=Ferndale|publisher=Welsh Coalmines|accessdate=2010-12-23}}</ref> |
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==Ferndale pits== |
==Ferndale pits== |
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Industrialist businessman [[David Davies (industrialist)|David Davies]] sunk No.1 in 1857, the first pit sunk in the Rhondda to work [[steam coal]]. This mine, also known as Blaenllechau, had two shafts each of {{convert|200|yard}} deep. |
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No.3 was sunk in 1864 in the Rhondda Fawr and was |
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known as the Bodringallt, was sunk in 1864, and purchased by Davies in 1890. |
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No.5 was sunk in 1889 by David Davies & Sons and was situated 40 yards from No.1 at Ferndale, both 400 yards deep. |
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No.2 and No.4 sunk in 1870 and 1876, about 1500 yards further to the north. They closed before the outbreak of W.W.2. |
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==Input== |
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Ferndale No.2 and No.4 pits 1911. |
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David Davies sunk the Ferndale No.1 in 1857. This was the first colliery in the Rhondda Fach opened to work Steam coal. This mine also known as Blaenllechau had two shafts each being 200 yards deep. |
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On Friday 8th of November 1867 the whole district of Ferndale was shaken by two consecutive explosions. |
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The manager had just entered the mine and in the ensuing rescue attempt his was one of the first bodies to be discovered. The rescuers were hampered by roof falls and the air was so foul that on times it extinguished the flames in their safety lamps. Eventually with some trepidation the furnace, which powered the ventilation was relit and with the improved ventilation the rescuers could venture further into the mines workings. |
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Most of the bodies brought to the surface showed signs of severe burning and many were so badly disfigured it made identification impossible. |
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A month had nearly past before all the remains of the 178 men and boys who perished had been recovered. |
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At the enquiry the lamp keeper stated during the period prior to the explosion lamps returned to him often showed signs of being tampered with and he added that he had reported these incidents that breached the company's rules to the manager. |
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The jury concluded: - "We believe the explosion took place, first - in consequence of a great accumulation of gas in certain workings of the colliery, and this accumulation we attribute to the neglect of Mr. Williams the manager and his subordinate officers, second - by this gas being fired by one or more of the colliers carelessly taking off the tops of their lamps and working with naked lights.". |
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Just seventeen months later on the 10th of June 1869 another explosion occurred at this fated colliery this time killing 53 men and boys. |
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The conclusion of the inquest criticised the managers of the pit for not implementing all the recommendations made after the 1867 explosion and also criticised the pits ventilation system which they believed did not manage to properly distribute air throughout all the pit. |
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In 1908 the employment numbers in the Ferndale pits were: - |
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No. 1 = 999 |
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No. 2 = 112 |
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No. 3 = 653 |
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No. 4 = 632 |
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No. 5 =1,096 |
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Tylorstown pits 6,7,8,and 9 were also known as Ferndale pits. |
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Later Cory Brothers took over the Ferndale No.3 and restored its original name Bodringallt. |
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In 1923 there were 1,198 men employed at No. 1 pit, working the Two Feet Nine, Four Feet, Bute, Yard seams. |
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Nos.2 and 4 pits employed 1,032 men producing coal and ironstone from the Five Feet, Yard, Bute and Gellideg (No. 2 pit) and from the Four Feet, Six Feet and Red (No. 4 pit) |
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No. 5 employed 1,089 men working the Five Feet, Bute and Gellideg seams. |
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By 1945 the Ferndale pits Nos. 1 & 5 employed a total of 768 men. |
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It closed in 1959. |
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all images copyright |
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Ferndale Nos. 1 and 5 pits |
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all images copyright |
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Ferndale No.1, depicted at the time of the first explosion, 1867. |
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Interesting note: |
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On 13th February 1908 a fatal accident occured at No.5 pit Ferndale Colliery, Tylorstown. |
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The man who was killed was ex Private Thomas Chester, who 29 years earlier had been present, and was one of the defenders, during the attack on Rorke's Drift by thousands of Zulu warriors in the Anglo Zulu war. The defence, for which 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded took place on 22nd 23rd January 1879, as depicted in the film Zulu. |
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Report from the Inspector of Mines. "Thomas Chester, 55, Coal Trimmer. Deceased was breaking up a lump of coal, which had fallen onto the empty road leading to No.1 pit screens, when he was knocked down by a wagon, which was being lowered towards the screens. Deceased had stood one side to allow two wagons to pass, but was not aware that others were to follow."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamEast/Ferndale.htm|title=Ferndale|publisher=Welsh Coalmines|accessdate=2010-12-23}}</ref> |
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==Disasters== |
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Two large [[Mining accident|colliery disaster]]s occurred in Ferndale during the 19th century. On 8 November 1867, an underground explosion at No.1 killed 178 miners. Secondly, on 10 June 1869 an explosion at No.1 resulted in the death of 53 miners.<ref>''The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales''. John Davies, [[Nigel Jenkins]], Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg280 ISBN 9780708319536</ref> |
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On 13 February 1908, former Private Thomas Chester, who 29 years earlier had been one of the defenders during the [[Battle of Rorke's Drift]] by thousands of [[Zulu]] warriors, was killed in the railway sidings of the [[coal washery]] at No.5 pit. After allowing a number of wagons to pass, he stepped onto the railway tracks, and was run over by some addtional wagons that he did not see.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/coalhouse/sites/mines/pages/ferndale_collieries.shtml|title=Ferndale Collieries|publisher=[[BBC Wales]]|accessdate=16 September 2011}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 17:48, 17 September 2011
Ferndale Colliery was a series of nine coal mines, located close to the village of Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales.
History
The first development by David Davies of Montgomeryshire from 1857, in accessing the high quality steam coal and a greater depth, spurred others into tapping into the "Black Gold." Over the following 50 years, eight further pits were created.
Ferndale No.1 was developed on the land of the farm at Blaenllechau, within the borough of Ferdale. The following four pits were also within the village borough of Ferndale, while the last four were within the boundaries of neigbouring village Tylorstown. These later pits were also referred to as Tylorstown No.6 through No.9. However, later consolidation within the areas mining and pit complex eventually connected all nine of the mines. Hence the whole development was called Ferndale Colliery, from the completion of No.9 in 1907 by Davies's Ocean Colliery Company onwards. This allowed the complex to work the coal and ironstone of the: Two Feet Nine; Four Feet; Five Feet; Bute; Gellideg; Red; and Yard seams.
By the 1930s, when most of the complex was within the ownership of Powell Duffryn, the accessible coal reserves had been exhausted from the shorter shafts. Resultantly, their pit head workings were closed on economic grounds, although the workable underground coal faces were consolidated into the remaining shafts.
By the time of World War II and the Bevin Boys, only three of the original pits were still worked. These continued operation successfully under nationalisation from 1947, until the entire complex was finally closed by the National Coal Board in 1959.
Disasters
Two large colliery disasters occurred in Ferndale during the 19th century.
On Friday 8th of November 1867 the whole district of Ferndale was shaken by two consecutive explosions.
The manager had just entered the mine and in the ensuing rescue attempt his was one of the first bodies to be discovered. The rescuers were hampered by roof falls and the air was so foul that on times it extinguished the flames in their safety lamps. Eventually with some trepidation the furnace, which powered the ventilation was relit and with the improved ventilation the rescuers could venture further into the mines workings.
Most of the bodies brought to the surface showed signs of severe burning and many were so badly disfigured it made identification impossible.
A month had nearly past before all the remains of the 178 men and boys who perished had been recovered.
At the enquiry the lamp keeper stated during the period prior to the explosion lamps returned to him often showed signs of being tampered with and he added that he had reported these incidents that breached the company's rules to the manager.
The jury concluded: - "We believe the explosion took place, first - in consequence of a great accumulation of gas in certain workings of the colliery, and this accumulation we attribute to the neglect of Mr. Williams the manager and his subordinate officers, second - by this gas being fired by one or more of the colliers carelessly taking off the tops of their lamps and working with naked lights.".
Just seventeen months later on the 10th of June 1869 another explosion occurred at this fated colliery this time killing 53 men and boys.
The conclusion of the inquest criticised the managers of the pit for not implementing all the recommendations made after the 1867 explosion and also criticised the pits ventilation system which they believed did not manage to properly distribute air throughout all the pit.
On 8 November 1867, an underground explosion at No.1 killed 178 miners. Secondly, on 10 June 1869 an explosion at No.1 resulted in the death of 53 miners.[1]
On 13 February 1908, former Private Thomas Chester, who 29 years earlier had been one of the defenders during the Battle of Rorke's Drift by thousands of Zulu warriors, was killed in the railway sidings of the coal washery at No.5 pit. After allowing a number of wagons to pass, he stepped onto the railway tracks, and was run over by some addtional wagons that he did not see.[2]
The man who was killed was ex Private Thomas Chester, who 29 years earlier had been present, and was one of the defenders, during the attack on Rorke's Drift by thousands of Zulu warriors in the Anglo Zulu war. The defence, for which 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded took place on 22nd 23rd January 1879, as depicted in the film Zulu.
Report from the Inspector of Mines. "Thomas Chester, 55, Coal Trimmer. Deceased was breaking up a lump of coal, which had fallen onto the empty road leading to No.1 pit screens, when he was knocked down by a wagon, which was being lowered towards the screens. Deceased had stood one side to allow two wagons to pass, but was not aware that others were to follow."[3]
Ferndale pits
| Collieries in Ferndale | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Name | Date sunk | Date closed | Shaft Depth | Employment 1908 |
Employment 1923 |
Employment 1945 |
Notes |
| 200 yards (180 m) | First pit sunk in the Rhondda to work steam coal. After sinking of No.5, was extended to same depth | |||||||
| 225 yards (206 m)[4] | 1,540 yards North of No.1, located next to No.4. Closed before the outbreak of World War 2 | |||||||
| 238 yards (218 m)[4] | Sunk in 1864 by Warner Simpson and Company. Bought by David Davies in 1890. Sold to Cory Brothers before 1923. Closed from 1936, used as a ventilation shaft for No.1 & No.5[5] | |||||||
| 300 yards (270 m)[4] | 1,540 yards North of No.1, located next to No.2. Closed before the outbreak of World War 2 | |||||||
| 358 yards (327 m)[4] | 40 yards North from No.1 | |||||||
| 464 yards (424 m) | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of No.1, developed by Alfred Tylor’s Colliery Company | |||||||
| 464 yards (424 m) | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of No.1, developed by Alfred Tylor’s Colliery Company | |||||||
| 606 yards (554 m) | Sunk by Thomas Wayne as Pont y Gwaith in 1858, it was renamed Cynllwyn Du. Closed, it was reopened by David Davies in 1892 to access the Gellideg seam. Extended to a depth of 606 yards, it was the deepest mine in the Rhondda[6] | |||||||
| 550 yards (500 m) | ||||||||
References
- ^ The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg280 ISBN 9780708319536
- ^ "Ferndale Collieries". BBC Wales. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
- ^ "Ferndale". Welsh Coalmines. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
- ^ a b c d Enoch Rees. "The History of Brynamman: Depths of our Coal Pits". Ivor Griffiths. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
- ^ "Bodringallt". welshcoalmines.co.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
- ^ "Tylorstown". welshcoalmines.co.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2011.