Photos from a visit to Cae Glas Colliery, possibly the most complete small mine remains in South Wales.
This mine is located on the opposite side of the hill to the Ffos-y-Fran opencast. The two drifts were driven in 1920 as part of Fochrhiw colliery and reached around 400ft of depth at the bottom, it was closed in 1925, then reopened as a small mine in 1955. There was 3 deaths in 1958 including the owner due to methane ingress.
The mine worked the No 3, No1 Rhondda and Tyladu Seams. 1982 output was 3,022 tons with 7 men underground.
The mine shut in December 1997.
Theres a couple of pictures of the mine working in the 'Small mines of South Wales Volume 2' book.
As of October 2024 the site has been cleared.
That sign can't stop me because I can't read.
Top of the drift
Hut
Drift entrance
Looking inside
Conveyor and grid to stop the lumps
The mine yard, note the winder next to the blue skip
The roof has mostly fell in now, so it's a bit trecherous to get around inside.
Lockout box for the haulage system
Compressed air system
Theres a fair few tubs under all that metal.
Mine office
Store room
The winding engine, still hooked up to a tub in the drift. Notice how its housed inside an old BR van.
The second drift entrance
Looking inside the drift, I wonder if that tub was once tight against the gate but has lowered itself down over the years. Also seems to be collapsed just behind it.
This mine is located on the opposite side of the hill to the Ffos-y-Fran opencast. The two drifts were driven in 1920 as part of Fochrhiw colliery and reached around 400ft of depth at the bottom, it was closed in 1925, then reopened as a small mine in 1955. There was 3 deaths in 1958 including the owner due to methane ingress.
The mine worked the No 3, No1 Rhondda and Tyladu Seams. 1982 output was 3,022 tons with 7 men underground.
The mine shut in December 1997.
Theres a couple of pictures of the mine working in the 'Small mines of South Wales Volume 2' book.
As of October 2024 the site has been cleared.
That sign can't stop me because I can't read.
Top of the drift
Hut
Drift entrance
Looking inside
Conveyor and grid to stop the lumps
The mine yard, note the winder next to the blue skip
The roof has mostly fell in now, so it's a bit trecherous to get around inside.
Lockout box for the haulage system
Compressed air system
Theres a fair few tubs under all that metal.
Mine office
Store room
The winding engine, still hooked up to a tub in the drift. Notice how its housed inside an old BR van.
The second drift entrance
Looking inside the drift, I wonder if that tub was once tight against the gate but has lowered itself down over the years. Also seems to be collapsed just behind it.
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