A brief overview of the coal mines and workings in the Abercynon area.
Abercynon Colliery
Sunk between 1889 and 1896 the Dowlais Cardiff Colliery, as it was originally known, was the last to be sunk in the Cynon Valley.
1903 saw Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds ltd take ownership of the colliery. A few years later (in 1908) the number of men employed in the colliery was recorded as 2,502. By the end of World War One this number had fallen slightly to 2,491.
1931 saw ownership pass to Welsh Associated Collieries. They were absorbed into Powell Duffryn Company Ltd in 1936 who owned the colliery until nationalisation in 1947. At this point 1001 men were employed here.
Modernisation in the early 1970s saw Abercynon Colliery being connected to Lady Windsor Colliery in Ynysybwl, via two underground parallel tunnels. This link-up led to the N.C.B. stating in 1977 that The Lady Windsor/Abercynon Colliery was the least likely colliery to close in Wales. However following the 1984 strike the Lady Windsor/Abercynon Colliery closed in 1988 leaving an estimated 25 years worth of workable coal untouched.
Nant-y-fedw
Located on the mountain directly behind the bus stop above the estate of the same name.
Nant-y-fedw had three periods of operation: 1921-1927; 1930-1950 and 1952-1973. Its third era began under Archibald Bevan before I.D. and E.B. Blacker took over in 1953 (operating as the Nant-y-fedw Mining Company).
Ynysboeth
Around 500 yards further along the road heading towards Penrhiwceiber than the Nant-y-fedw level Ynysboeth was located opposite the flats next to Potchy’s service station. Like Nant-y-fedw this level was owned by the Blackers up until its abandonment in 1968.
Both Ynysboeth and Nant-y-fedw levels have been lost to housing developments.
The Pentwyn Isha level (sometimes referred to as Pentwyn Merthyr) was also located in this area and was worked from 1910 until 1924.
At least four Pontycynon (or Pont Cynon) levels were located in the same area but on the eastern side of the railway line. These were worked from 1861, or possibly earlier, until 1876.
Carne Park Colliery
A relatively small enterprise consisting of a number of levels. It was located south west of St Donats Church.
Carne Park was being worked as early as 1864 however the owner at the time is unknown. By 1910 it was owned by the Carne Park Colliery Co. Ltd. however the company went bankrupt in the following year.
By 1916 Carne Park was operating under the control of the Richard Brothers. Despite not being nationalised in 1947 it continued to operate and by 1957 it was under the ownership of D. Leonard and partners. Its date of closure is unknown.
The Abercynon history blog 