Bedwas Navigation Colliery: Difference between revisions
→References: Category:Buildings and structures in Caerphilly county borough |
section |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
The colliery closed after the [[UK miners' strike (1984-1985)|miners' strike of 1984 - 1985]]. |
The colliery closed after the [[UK miners' strike (1984-1985)|miners' strike of 1984 - 1985]]. |
||
== |
==Development== |
||
In 1909 the Bedwas Colliery Company leased 1,475 [[acres]] of land, just outside the village of [[Trethomas]].<ref name="WCM1">http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/Gwent/Bedwas.htm</ref> Designed by [[Edmund L. Hann]], [[Fred Piggott]], a mining contractor from Caerphilly and the former owner of a mansion that is now The [[Caerphilly & District Miners Hospital|Caerphilly and District Miners' Hospital]], was responsible for the entire sinking. |
|||
Two shafts were sunk through the [[Mynyddislwyn seam]], down to the Rhas Las (English - Black Vein) and thence, by a cross-measure, to the lowest coal seam then known in the Caerphilly area, the Hard Vein, known later as the Lower Black Vein. The two shafts (North and South) were 768 and 802 yards deep respectively (more than twice the height from ground to the roof of the [[Empire State Building]]), both with a diameter of 21 ft. Due to its depth, Bedwas was one of the first collieries in South Wales to employ double-deck winding.<ref name="WCM1"/> |
|||
==Operations== |
|||
| ⚫ | [[Samuel Instone|Sir Samuel Instone]], founder of [[Instone Air Line]] which would merge into [[Imperial Airways]] and later become part of [[British Airways]], became the controlling shareholder in the colliery in 1921.<ref>[http://www.bedwascolliery.co.uk/History.html History of Bedwas Colliery]</ref> |
||
The first coal rose in 1912, which proved to be high quality [[steam coal]]. |
|||
On the 27th of March 1912, and underground explosion caused by sparks from an open signalling wire occurred, which injured 9men and killed 3. Twelve men were badly injured, three of whom later died. The cause of the blast was attributed to a spark from a signalling system. |
|||
Problems in the 1920s and 1930s would cause riots in the village in the latter years. The [[South Wales Miners' Federation]] (the main Trade Union) was banned in the earlier years and following the riots, was later recognised again. |
|||
| ⚫ | [[Samuel Instone|Sir Samuel Instone]], founder of [[Instone Air Line]] which would merge into [[Imperial Airways]] and later become part of [[British Airways]], became the controlling shareholder in the colliery in 1921.<ref>[http://www.bedwascolliery.co.uk/History.html History of Bedwas Colliery]</ref> By 1923, 2,578 were producing half a million tons annually from the Black Vein, Lower Black Vein and Rock Vein seams. This production was despite the banning of the [[South Wales Miners' Federation]] (the main [[Trade Union]]), which following [[riot]]s was later recognised again. By the outbreak of the [[World War 2]], 1,850 men produced 675,000 tons, which was its best ever figure.<ref name="WCM1"/> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
==Closure== |
==Closure== |
||
Revision as of 17:40, 13 March 2009
Bedwas Navigation Colliery was a coal mine that was located in the small welsh village of Bedwas. Situated 2 miles north of Caerphilly, the colliery opened in 1913 and in 1939 produced 675,000 tonnes of coal in single year.
The colliery closed after the miners' strike of 1984 - 1985.
Development
In 1909 the Bedwas Colliery Company leased 1,475 acres of land, just outside the village of Trethomas.[1] Designed by Edmund L. Hann, Fred Piggott, a mining contractor from Caerphilly and the former owner of a mansion that is now The Caerphilly and District Miners' Hospital, was responsible for the entire sinking.
Two shafts were sunk through the Mynyddislwyn seam, down to the Rhas Las (English - Black Vein) and thence, by a cross-measure, to the lowest coal seam then known in the Caerphilly area, the Hard Vein, known later as the Lower Black Vein. The two shafts (North and South) were 768 and 802 yards deep respectively (more than twice the height from ground to the roof of the Empire State Building), both with a diameter of 21 ft. Due to its depth, Bedwas was one of the first collieries in South Wales to employ double-deck winding.[1]
Operations
The first coal rose in 1912, which proved to be high quality steam coal.
On the 27th of March 1912, and underground explosion caused by sparks from an open signalling wire occurred, which injured 9men and killed 3. Twelve men were badly injured, three of whom later died. The cause of the blast was attributed to a spark from a signalling system.
Sir Samuel Instone, founder of Instone Air Line which would merge into Imperial Airways and later become part of British Airways, became the controlling shareholder in the colliery in 1921.[2] By 1923, 2,578 were producing half a million tons annually from the Black Vein, Lower Black Vein and Rock Vein seams. This production was despite the banning of the South Wales Miners' Federation (the main Trade Union), which following riots was later recognised again. By the outbreak of the World War 2, 1,850 men produced 675,000 tons, which was its best ever figure.[1]
On 1 January 1947, along with all other working collieries, Bedwas Navigation Colliery was Nationalised, controlled by the National Coal Board.
Closure
The closure of Bedwas Colliery is closely linked to the miners' strike of 1984 – 1985.
The miners' strike of 1984 – 1985 ended on 9 March 1985. The Western Mail reported in April 1985 the closure of the mine had been accepted by the colliers at Bedwas. The NUM had told the miners not to accept the closure and to fight for its survival. However, The National Coal Board, required by an agreement in October 1984, had to refer any colliery proposed for closure to an independent colliery review process. When the strike was over, the mine was closed due to lack of maintenance during the strike.
The closure finally announced in May 1985 was attributed to geological problems.
At its closure, Bedwas had amongst the largest reserves of coal of any South Wales mine.
Incidents
On 27 March 1912 the sparks from an electric bell caused an explosion underground which killed 3 miners and seriously injured 9 others. The 10 October 1952 saw an explosion of firedamp underground in the Lower Black Vein seam, resulted in the death of one collier and injuries to 19 others.[3]
The colliery today
Following the closure in 1985, the colliery was demolished quickly. Possibly to prevent any chance of it reopening in the future. The various buildings were demolished, but not removed and now the site has decayed to rubble and the overgrowth of nature. It is in stark contrast to the former proud location of the once glorious colliery.
The site has since been inherited by Caerphilly County Borough Council and the face a very awkward situation. To clear the land would cost more than what it is worth and therefore, redevelopment in the near future is unlikely. However, recent announcements from Caerphilly County Borough Council has indicated that they are planning to build up to 650 new houses and a school on the site. This has been met by opposition from local residents who want to see the area developed into something for the community rather than a new housing estate.
A visit to the colliery today is not welcoming. Stone and rubble fill most of the area and the rest has been left to nature to overgrow. Decaying brickwork and parts of the Trethomas Coke Plant (which was next to the colliery) are still there to be seen. Along with the two platforms, severely camouflaged by overgrown plantlife, from Trethomas railway station that closed in 1961. The railway line that ran to the mine was closed and all that remain are a few rotten railway sleepers, half buried in the ground. A majority of the former railway line has been upgraded to a cycle path. However, this does not run as far as the former site of the colliery.