Pen-fford-goch to The Blorenge

Pen-fford-goch coal and iron workings and tramroads

Ironworks tuyere at Rifle Green	Balls Pond, Pen-fford-goch
Coal tramroad formation	Coal tramroad formation	Keepers Cottage, Pen-fford-goch

An old level on Pen-fford-goch

This level was discovered by Gwent Caving Club in 2016. It appears to be primarily an ironstone mine but also has small coal seams running through it as well. It would be typical of the small levels in the area

Ironstone level on Pen-fford-goch	Ironstone level on Pen-fford-goch	Ironstone level on Pen-fford-goch	Ironstone level on Pen-fford-goch
Ironstone level on Pen-fford-goch	Ironstone level on Pen-fford-goch	Ironstone level on Pen-fford-goch	Ironstone level on Pen-fford-goch

The Blorenge Tramroad

Pen-fford-goch tipping dock - SO 2540 1015
The quarries - SO 2692 1247

The 2ft gauge Blorenge Tramroad dates from c1793 but was disused around 1801 and the track lifted by 1813. Perhaps the limestone turned out to be poor quality. The tramroad starts from the tipping dock or staithe at Pen-fford-goch, below which another tramroad ran to the ironworks. The tramroad ran to shallow limestone quarries on the Western flank of The Blorenge. There appear to be three working areas at the end of the tramroad, some small workings down on the left, then a small quarry on the right-hand side and finally a long, narrow quarry as a continuation of the tramroad. At the right time, there are loads of wild strawberries here.

Blorenge Tramroad tipping dock	Blorenge Tramroad tipping dock	Blorenge Tramroad tipping dock	Blorenge Tramroad tipping dock
Blorenge Tramroad tipping dock	Blorenge Tramroad tipping dock	Blorenge Tramroad to the quarry	Blorenge Tramroad to the quarry
Blorenge Tramroad to the quarry	Blorenge Tramroad at the quarry
Foundations of small building	Right-hand quarry	Right-hand quarry	The long quarry

The Radio Station - SO 2634 1078

These buildings were an 'Auxiliary Unit Zero Station' from WW2. The small building further over appears to be similar but more recent, could have been a Met. Station.

Blorenge radio station	Blorenge radio station	Blorenge radio station	Blorenge radio station
Blorenge radio station hut	Blorenge radio station

Cefn-y-Galchen Colliery - SO 2647 1075

Cefn-y-Galchen Colliery appears on the 1881 OS map. The tips are minimal and the maps don't change over time so it doesn't seem to have produced much coal. Indeed it's on the very edge of the coalfield....

Cefn-y-Galchen Colliery	Cefn-y-Galchen Colliery	Cefn-y-Galchen Colliery	Cefn-y-Galchen farm
Cefn-y-Galchen Colliery	Cefn-y-Galchen Colliery	Cefn-y-Galchen Colliery	Cefn-y-Galchen Colliery

Hill's Tramroad - Pwlldu to Garnddyrys Forge

Pwlldu Village - SO 2468 1151

Dyne-Steel incline from Tyla

Tips at foot of Dyne-Steel incline

Buildings from the opencast mining

Buildings from the opencast mining

Pwlldu Tunnel, Northern portals - SO 2456 1167

Pwlldu tunnel Western portal, 1968	Pwlldu tunnel Western portal	Pwlldu tunnel Eastern portal
Pwlldu tunnel Western tunnel interior	Pwlldu tunnel Western tunnel interior	Pwlldu tunnel Western tunnel interior
Pwlldu tunnel Western tunnel interior	Pwlldu tunnel Western tunnel interior	Pwlldu tunnel Western tunnel interior

Pwlldu Quarry - SO 2515 1160

Pwlldu Quarry is believed to have opened c1819 supplying limestone to Garnddyrys Forge via a tramroad from the quarry floor. This can be seen below Hill's Tramroad where it crosses Rhiw Ifor. When Hill's Tramroad opened, it joined the quarry branch which then could also supply Blaenavon Ironworks. By 1836 the water-balance had been opened taking drams up to Hill's Tramroad, possibly following a landslip on the original branch. The quarry was disused from the closure of Garnddyrys in c1860 and all working finally ceased c1926.
The outstanding feature of the quarry is the water-balance shaft though the entrance tunnel is almost blocked. There are stories of choirs performing at its base as the acoustics are superb.
Boundary markers inscribed 'WL' for Walter Lewis and 'A' for the Earl of Abergavenny were around the quarry.

Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry
Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry
Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry
Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry
Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry	Quarry from Hill's Tramroad	Balance shaft from Hill's Tramroad
Pwlldu Quarry, 1880	Tramroad above Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu Quarry
Pwlldu Quarry from Garnddyrys	Pwlldu Quarry balance shaft	Pwlldu Quarry balance shaft

Pwlldu Quarry to Garnddyrys Forge

Tramroad cutting above quarry	Tramroad cutting above quarry	Tramroad cutting cave	Tramroad above Pwlldu Quarry
Tramroad East of Pwlldu Quarry	Pwlldu small quarry and tramroad	Workings below Balance Pond	Cast iron fence post on tramroad
Tramroad and Rhiw Ifor	Tramroad and Rhiw Ifor

Balance pond for Pwlldu Quarry - SO 2519 1137

This is the reservoir that operated the balance shaft at Pwlldu Quarry. It also connected to the system of leats feeding Garnddyrys Forge ponds.

Balance pond for Pwlldu Quarry	Balance pond full of water	Leat from Pwlldu to Garnddyrys
Leat from Keepers Pond	Leat from Keepers Pond	Leat from Keepers Pond

Pen Rhiw Ifor - SO 2540 1116

Latterly a smallholding but could have originally be for workers at Pwlldu Quarry.

The ruins of Pen Rhiw Ifor

The ruins of Pen Rhiw Ifor

The ruins of Pen Rhiw Ifor

Smallholding on The Tumble

Tumble blacksmiths and beerhouse - SO 2549 1125

A small group of buildings have been built into the embankment behind the tramroad, believed to be a cottage, blacksmiths, beerhouse and possibly a stable or barn, to the great relief of the tramroad drivers.

Tumble blacksmiths

Tumble blacksmiths

Tumble blacksmiths

Tumble blacksmiths

Tramroad approaching Garnddyrys

Hills Tramroad to Garnddyrys	Hills Tramroad to Garnddyrys	Hills Tramroad to Garnddyrys	Hills Tramroad to Garnddyrys
Hills Tramroad to Garnddyrys	Hills Tramroad to Garnddyrys	Hills Tramroad to Garnddyrys

Hall's Tramroad - Garnddyrys Forge to Llanfoist

Garnddyrys Forge - SO 2582 1200

Garnddyrys Forge in operation from about 1817 to 1861 as the 'Garnderris Iron Co' and was probably a puddling furnace with a rolling mill powered by water from Keepers Pond. Hill’s Tramroad passed through the site and was protected by a covered way, now split into two sections, with a side tunnel going towards the furnaces. There were two reservoirs connected by a culvert.

Pre-1839 'B Co' boundary post	Engine foundations	Reservoir culvert	Reservoir culvert
Reservoir culvert	Reservoir culvert	Upper reservoir sluice	Upper reservoir sluice
The exterior of the tunnel	The exterior of the tunnel	The exterior of the tunnel	The Northern tramroad tunnel
The Northern tramroad tunnel	The Northern tramroad tunnel	The Northern tramroad tunnel	The Northern tramroad tunnel
The Northern tramroad tunnel	The Northern tramroad tunnel	The Northern tramroad tunnel	The Northern tramroad tunnel
Side hole in the Northern tunnel	Side hole in the Northern tunnel	Side hole in the Northern tunnel	The side tunnel to the furnaces
The side tunnel to the furnaces	The side tunnel to the furnaces	The side tunnel to the furnaces	The side tunnel to the furnaces
The side tunnel to the furnaces	The side tunnel to the furnaces	The side tunnel to the furnaces	The Southern tramroad tunnel
The Southern tramroad tunnel	The Southern tramroad tunnel
Garnddyrys Forge from Pwlldu	Building below the tramroad	The Monster slagheap	The Monster slagheap
The managers house	Lower pond, Garnddyrys Forge	Lower pond, Garnddyrys Forge	Lower pond full of water
The back wall of the forge	The back wall of the forge	The back wall of the forge	A sluice in the back wall
Engine foundations	Engine foundations	The North tunnel South entrance	The Northern tramroad tunnel
The South tunnel North entrance	The South tunnel South entrance	The Southern tramroad tunnel	The Southern tramroad tunnel
'The Bungalow', Garnddyrys

Garnddyrys to Llanfoist

The Tramroad to the top of the inclines to Llanfoist

Hill's Tramroad to Llanfoist	Hill's Tramroad to Llanfoist	Hill's Tramroad to Llanfoist	Hill's Tramroad to Llanfoist
Hill's Tramroad to Llanfoist	Tramroad sleepers from East	Tramroad sleepers from West

The Tramroad tunnel on the Blorenge - SO 2721 1291

Tramroad tunnel from West	Tramroad tunnel from West	Tramroad tunnel from West	Tramroad tunnel from West
Tramroad tunnel from West	Hill's Tramroad tunnel	Hill's Tramroad tunnel	Hill's Tramroad tunnel
Hill's Tramroad tunnel	Hill's Tramroad tunnel	Hill's Tramroad tunnel	Hill's Tramroad tunnel
Hill's Tramroad tunnel
Tramroad tunnel from East	Tramroad tunnel from East	Tramroad tunnel from East	Tramroad tunnel from East

The three inclines to Llanfoist - SO 2773 1265

Hills Tramroad incline top	Tramroad incline top foundations	Inclines from the Blorenge
Top incline to Llanfoist	Top incline to Llanfoist	Llanfoist middle incline subway	Llanfoist lower incline subway

Llanfoist Wharf - SO 2846 1303

Llanfoist Wharf wharfinger's house	Llanfoist Wharf warehouse	Llanfoist Wharf warehouse	Llanfoist Wharf tramroad bridge
Llanfoist Wharf tramroad bridge	Llanfoist Wharf tramroad bridge	Llanfoist Wharf tunnel	Llanfoist Wharf tunnel
Llanfoist Wharf tunnel

Tyla and Gilwern Hill

From Pwlldu to the Tyla Quarries - SO 2451 1208

Originally the Tyla quarries were connected to Blaenavon Ironworks by a tramroad through Pwlldu to Keepers Pond and down towards Blaenavon. With the opening of the Pwlldu Tunnel the tramroad beyond the tunnel was closed. As the quarries expanded the tramroad was converted to a 3' 0" gauge tramway in 1885 and extended to Gilwern Hill. Locomotives were used betwen the quarries and Pwlldu tunnel.

Tyla tramway to Pwlldu Tunnel	Tyla tramway to the quarries from Pwlldu	Tyla tramway to the quarries from Pwlldu
Tyla tramway looking towards Pwlldu	Tyla tramway to the quarries from Pwlldu	Tyla tramway loco 'Llanfoist'

Tyla East Quarry - SO 2465 1255

Tyla East Quarry, 1920	Tyla East Quarry original workings	Tyla East Quarry original tips	Tyla East Quarry original tips
Tyla East Quarry	Tyla East Quarry	Tyla East Quarry and stone mine	Tyla East Quarry stone mine
Tyla East Quarry tramway	Tyla East Quarry tramway sleepers	Tyla East Quarry tramway	Tyla tramway causeway
Tyla East Quarry from Blorenge	Tyla East Quarry from Pwlldu	Tramway to Tyla North Quarry	Tramway from Tyla East Quarry

Tyla North Quarry - SO 2440 1290

Tyla North Quarry, 1901	Tyla North Quarry	Tyla North Quarry
Tyla North tips tramway	Tyla North tips tramway	Tyla North Quarry tips	Tyla North Quarry tips
Tramway to Gilwern Hill Quarry	Tramway to Tyla North Quarry	Tramway to Tyla North Quarry

Gilwern Hill Quarry - SO 2400 1325

Gilwern Hill Quarry, 1920	Gilwern Quarries, 1888 From a local resident :- My Great Uncle Thomas lived in the Wain and is listed as an engine driver in the quarry at this time and we believe he is centre kneeling with the white hat on.	Gilwern Quarries, 1888 The Farm in Pwlldu in the background, that train was left just outside Pwlldu village in The Wain between the Quarry and Pwlldu and was sat there for many years rotting away, until it was taken away in WW2 for scrap metal.	Gilwern Quarries, 1888
Gilwern Hill Quarries from Clydach	Gilwern Hill Quarries from Clydach	Tramway junction approaching quarry	Gilwern Hill Quarry
Gilwern Hill Quarry	Gilwern Hill Quarry	Gilwern Hill Quarry	Gilwern Hill Quarry tramway

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

Thanks for the use of their photos to :- Stuart J Baldwin, Gwyn Jenkins, Alan Murray-Rust
'Early Limestone Railways' by John Van Laun.