Trinant

Mark Phillip's Tramroad

Mark Phillip's Tramroad opened c1795 from Trinant Colliery and the other levels to the Monmouthshire Canal basin at Crumlin. The 1875 OS map shows the track in place but it had gone by1899.

The incline or Ginny to Crumlin, 1880

Mark Phillips Tramroad to Trinant

Mark Phillips Tramroad to Trinant

Crumlin incline - ST 2103 9873

This is the site of the brakehouse of Mark Phillip's Tramroad incline down to Crumlin. The back wall is visible as is the incline itself, with stone embankments about halfway down. The incline seems to have been known as the 'Ginny' as the 1861 census shows 'Morgan Jones' and family living at 'The top of the Ginny' and employed as 'Seting in Incline'.

An old rail on Trinant incline	Tramway incline to Crumlin	Trinant incline brakehouse
Lower end of Phillips incline	1861 Census of the incline houses	'Cables' post near Trinant

Llanerch-Isaf Southern level - ST 2090 9910

The Southern level lies at the end of a short incline off the Trinant tramroad, marked as 'old level' on the 1901 map. The tips, incline and the site of the level are still prominent features.

Llanerch-Isaf Southern level	Llanerch-Isaf Southern level	Llanerch-Isaf Southern level
Llanerch-Isaf Southern level	Llanerch-Isaf Southern level	Llanerch-Isaf Southern level

Llanerch-Isaf Northern level - ST 2098 9944

The Northern level is at the end of an even shorter incline at ST 2098 9944, marked as 'old level' on the 1880 map. The tips, incline and the site of the level are beside the tramroad.

Llanerch-Isaf Northern level	Llanerch-Isaf Northern level	Llanerch-Isaf Northern level	Llanerch-Isaf Northern level
Llanerch-Isaf Northern level	Llanerch-Isaf Northern level	Llanerch-Isaf Northern level	Llanerch-Isaf Northern level
Llanerch-Isaf Northern level	Llanerch-Isaf Northern level

Trinant Colliery - ST 2092 9965

This was the location of the main Trinant level at the end of the Trinant tramroad from Crumlin, believed closed in 1897 and shown as disused by 1901. The site of this level is clear, with stained water leeching from it, the rest of the complex is under the rubbish tip. Ton-tyr-bel Level (ST 2046 9977) was a modern level, opened in 1953 by Lyndon Robinson, closed in 1973. The site is has been cleared and is occupied by stables (Oct 2010). Ton-tyr-bel Shaft at ST 2064 9984 was linked to the main Trinant Colliery complex by an incline, now a grassy footpath. Opened after 1880 and disused with the rest of Trinant Level by 1901. The tips and bricklined shaft are next to the Ton-tyr-bel Chapel. The remains of another Ton-tyr-bel Level (ST 2075 9984) are beside the stream, reported as the downcast for the shaft with another shaft known as 'Barnes' further downhill at ST 208999. Llanerch-Uchaf Level tips at ST 2100 9995 are shown as an 'Old level' on the 1880 map, later known as Cefn Coed No 3.

Main level, Trinant Colliery	Main level, Trinant Colliery	Ton-tyr-bel shaft	Ton-tyr-bel shaft
Level below Ton-tyr-bel shaft	Tips at Ton-tyr-bel shaft	Tips at Ton-tyr-bel shaft	Tramway to Ton-tyr-bel shaft

Ton-tyr-bel Colliery - ST 20151 9978

A small colliery operating in the 1960s

The site of Ton-tyr-bel Colliery

The site of Ton-tyr-bel Colliery

Cefn Coch No 3 - ST 211998

Llanerch-Uchaf Level tips at ST 2100 9995 are shown as an 'Old level' on the 1880 map, later known as Cefn Coed No 3.

Cefn Coch No 3 level, Trinant

Cefn Coch No 3 level, Trinant

Tip near Cefn Coed No 3 Level

Reservoir near Cefn Coch No 3

Pentwyn Colliery - SO 2170 0025

Pentwyn Colliery was opened in 1932 by the Harrhy Bros and worked until abandoned in 1982. Other levels along the outcrop were also worked.

Pentwyn Colliery site	Pentwyn Colliery site	Pentwyn Colliery site
Pentwyn tramway	Pentwyn tramway	Pentwyn tramway	Pentwyn workings

Brunant and Cwm-Nant-Gwint - SO 2084 0120

In the 1880s there were a number of small levels along the hillside, from Brunant and Cwm-Nant-Gwint connected by a tramway to coke ovens at Glandwr. Some of theses also worked in the 1950s.

Brunant and Cwm-Nant-Gwint

Brunant incline, June 2009

Coed Trinant quarry, June 2009

Aberbeeg

Packhorse Bridge - SO 2095 0192

First recorded in 1659, the Packhorse Bridge has been repaired, renovated and generally messed about with. But underneath we're told it really is the original. Whatever the truth, it still looks the part though.

The 1769 packhorse bridge

The 1769 packhorse bridge

Aberbeeg Station - SO 2101 0188

Aberbeeg Station was opened by the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company on 21/23 December 1850. The MRCC and station were absorbed by the GWR in 1880, then BR in 1948. The station was closed to passengers on 30 April 1962 and goods traffic on 28 November 1966. The line to Ebbw Vale has re-opened but not the station and there is talk of re-opening the line to Abertillery.

Aberbeeg Station, for Brynmawr

Aberbeeg Station, for Brynmawr

Aberbeeg Station, for Brynmawr

Aberbeeg North Colliery - SO 2068 0193

Aberbeeg North Colliery	Aberbeeg North Colliery	Aberbeeg North Colliery	Aberbeeg North Colliery
Aberbeeg North Colliery	Aberbeeg North Colliery	Aberbeeg North Colliery	Aberbeeg North Colliery
Aberbeeg North Colliery	Aberbeeg North Colliery	Aberbeeg North Colliery

The Ivorites and Cwm Big - SO 2057 0206

Quarry and retaining wall	Quarry and retaining wall	Ruins near the Ivorites	Ruins near the Ivorites
Ruins near the Ivorites	Ruins near the Ivorites	Ruins near the Ivorites	Ruins near the Ivorites
Ruins near the Ivorites	Ruins near the Ivorites	Ruins near the Ivorites	Ruins near the Ivorites
Ruins near the Ivorites	Ruins near the Ivorites	Ruins near the Ivorites	Ruins near the Ivorites
Ruins near the Ivorites	Webbs Brewery water tank

Hafod-y-dafal Farm - SO 2007 0362

Webbs Brewery was the centrepiece of Aberbeeg, working from 1838 to 1969 at ST 210020 and now, more houses. An interesting relic at the derelict Hafod-y-dafal Farmhouse may have come from here. It's a cast- or wrought-iron tank made from 10 or 12 panels inscribed 'G Adlam & Sons, Engineers, Bristol'. Adlams were brewery equipment suppliers and this could have been one of Webbs brewing vats, an easy haul up the track from the Ivorites. Marian Gibson from Ontario, Canada was born at the farm in the 1930's and remembers that they collected rainwater in the old cast iron tank, for washing and bathing. The water had to be heated in a big boiler in the back kichen just near the door to the porch on the centre left of the picture.

Hafod-y-dafal Farm	Hafod-y-dafal Farm	Hafod-y-dafal Farm	Hafod-y-dafal Farm
Hafod-y-dafal Farm	Hafod-y-dafal Farm	Hafod-y-dafal Farm	Hafod-y-dafal Farm
Hafod-y-dafal Farm	Hafod-y-dafal brewers vat	Hafod-y-dafal brewers vat	Hafod-y-dafal brewers vat
Hafod-y-dafal brewers vat	Hafod-y-dafal brewers vat	Hafod-y-dafal brewers vat
Pen-rhiw-lech barn	Pen-rhiw-lech barn

Six Bells

Six Bells Colliery in 1980

These photos of Six Bells Colliery and its colliers were taken in 1980.

Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980
Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980
Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980
Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980
Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980
Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980
Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980	Six Bells Colliery in 1980

Six Bells Colliery tip - SO 2051 0396

Six Bells Colliery tip was on the Arail mountain and was removed in 2009. Remains of the aerial ropeway from the colliery can still be found up there.

Arail tip reclamation	Arail tip reclamation	Arail tip reclamation	Aerial ropeway to the Arail tips
Aerial ropeway to the Arail tips	Aerial ropeway to the Arail tips	Aerial ropeway to the Arail tips	Aerial ropeway to the Arail tips
Aerial ropeway to the Arail tips	Aerial ropeway to the Arail tips	Aerial ropeway to the Arail tips	Aerial ropeway to the Arail tips

Six Bells Village

Six Bells Village and 'The Guardian of the Valleys'

Chapel Road bridge	Chapel Road bridge	Six Bells Colliery sidings gate
The Guardian of the Valleys	The Guardian of the Valleys	The Guardian of the Valleys

Hafod Van Colliery level - SO 2233 0256

The level was part of the New Hafod Van Colliery and was operating by 1865, closing in 1908. The rest of the complex down in the valley closed in 1928.

Hafod Fan Colliery level

Hafod Fan Colliery level

Hafod Fan Colliery level

Blaenllan Bungalow - SO 2280 0243

Track below Blaenllan Bungalow

Blaenllan Bungalow ruins

Blaenllan Bungalow ruins

Blaenllan Bungalow ruins

Ty Dafydd Level - SO 2297 0250
Gilfach Wen barn - SO 2298 0268

Ty Dafydd level tips, open c1920

Ty Dafydd level tips, open c1920

Gilfach Wen barn

Gilfach Wen barn

Cwm Nant-y-groes Colliery - SO 2280 0349

Thought I'd found some ruins of one of the oldest mines around, Cwm Nant-y-groes Colliery, opened around 1840 and closed by 1908, but Mike Webber has written to point out "The concrete structure shown was used as a sheep dip 40 yrs ago, I was told it was originally a filter bed ( it is indeed a series of stepped sumps) for what was a reservoir / water supply works for Six Bells [perhaps for the 1930s lido]. It lies just above other concrete structures including an open sump or pond ( approx 10 ft cube) and an enclosed "manhole" style sump. This is all now full of silt and buried. On a side note further up this track (on top hairpin) is the site of a rifle range target system, steel gearwheels are visible on road surface and old bullets cover the area." According to 'Old Maps' the rifle range was in existence between 1901 and 1920. Now all I've got to do is find some remains of the mine and tramway!

Cwm Nant-y-groes Level, 1880

Cwm Nant-y-groes waterworks

Cwm Nant-y-groes brick lane

Cwm Nant-y-groes brick lane

Abertillery

Rhiw Colbren Colliery, Cyril Place - SO 2065 0478

Cyril Place was built around 1916 to serve the nearby levels of Rhiw Colbren Colliery. There were two to the North, the original level at SO 204049 with a tramway to the loading dock at SO 2063 0483, the later level was just above the loading dock. The course of the tramway and the tips can easily be traced. The 1901 OS map shows an 'old level' to the South of Cyril Place at SO 2071 0469.

Rhiw Colbren Colliery tips

Rhiw Colbren Colliery tips

Greenmeadow Farm - SO 2223 0509

There are a number of old farms and quarries on the Eastern side of Cwmtillery

The ruins of Greenmeadow Farm

The ruins of Greenmeadow Farm

Coedcae-du Quarry

Coedcae-du Quarry

Tillery Level - SO 2263 0503

The Tillery Level worked until c1896, quite an extensive level in 1880 but just one tramway in 1901 and marked 'disused' with no tramway by 1920 .

Tillery Level brickwork	Tillery Level brickwork	Tillery Level
Stonework above Tillery Level	'Five Houses' above Tillery Level

Pullingers Level - SO 2212 0503

Pullingers Level was listed as 'abandoned' in 1896 but appears to have worked briefly in c1906 when it was referred to as Billingers or Pillingers. Today a steady stream of water flows out of the level. The incline next to it appears to be Pen-y-bont Colliery's waste tipping line.

Greenmeadow Inclines	Incline next to Pullingers Level	Incline next to Pullingers Level	Incline next to Pullingers Level
Incline next to Pullingers Level	Incline next to Pullingers Level	Pullingers Level	Pullingers Level
Pullingers Level	Pullingers Level	Pullingers Level	Pullingers Level

Gwasted Ffynnonau Farm and Quarry - SO 2225 0597

Gwasted Ffynnonau Farm

Gwasted Ffynnonau Farm

Gwasted Ffynnonau quarry

Gwasted Ffynnonau quarry

Woodland Brickworks and levels - SO 2200 0570

Woodland brickworks was owned by Joseph Wallace to 1892, then Arthur Tilney who had retired by 1910. It isn't shown on the 1915 OS map. The photos of 'Cwmtylery' may be the reverse of Wallace and Tilney bricks. Bricks for 'E G Smith Co Abertillery' and 'Weaver Abertillery', if not owners or partners, are likely to have been made here on a contract basis.

Incline to Woodland Brickworks

Tramplate on Woodland incline

Tramplate on Woodland incline

Coedcae Tillery No 1 level - SO 2080 0640
No 2 level - SO 2093 0596
No 3 level - SO 2098 0559

Coedcae Tillery Colliery was working from 1856 to 1888. A tramway ran from No 1 level along the hillside to No 3 level where an incline ran down to sidings and coke ovens at SO 2065 0535. The tramway makes a pleasant walk up to the small level to the North, SO 2075 0657, which was shown as 'old' in 1899. The incline and coke ovens have all gone now..

Level at the very end	No 1 level Coedcae Tillery Colliery	No 2 level Coedcae Tillery Colliery	No 2 level Coedcae Tillery Colliery
No 2 level Coedcae Tillery Colliery	Tramway from No 2 level	No 3 level Coedcae Tillery Colliery	No 3 level Coedcae Tillery Colliery
No 3 level Dram wheel	No 3 level rail or tramplate	No 3 level rail or tramplate	No 3 level foundations
Quarry at Coedcae Tillery Colliery	Quarry at Coedcae Tillery Colliery

Rosemont Colliery or Clynmawr Colliery - SO 2120 0511

Nothing shown on the 1885 OS map but appears as 'old coal level' from 1899. However if this is on land known as Tyr Valentine then royaslties were being claimed in 1878 and a lease for 9 years from 1928 was granted to the 'Rosemont Colliery Co Ltd. Ray Lawrence says that Clynmawr Colliery was working in 1923-4.

Rosemont or Clynmawr Colliery

Rosemont or Clynmawr Colliery

Around Abertillery

The Abertillery Foundry was opened c1874 by John Ward Williams succeeded by his son, Henry. J H Cole took over the Warwills Foundry & Engineering Works In 1927. Bawn Bros were the owners by1992, finally closing the site in 1997. Now it's a Tesco supermarket. The Foundry Bridge is named after this foundry.

Rhiw Park quarry

Rhiw Park quarry

Ward Williams 1913 drain cover

Ward Williams drain cover

Rose Heyworth Colliery

Rose Heyworth Colliery was opened in 1872 and closed in 1985. It was latterly linked underground to Cwmtillery and Blaenserchan by a drift known as Abertillery New Mine.

Rose Heyworth Colliery, 1962	Rose Heyworth Colliery, 1980	Rose Heyworth Colliery, 1980	Rose Heyworth Colliery, 1980
Rose Heyworth Colliery, 1980	Rose Heyworth Colliery, 1980	Rose Heyworth Colliery, 1980

Cwmtillery

Cwmtillery Colliery - SO 2170 0590

The winding wheels stand a a memorial to Cwmtillery Colliery and its workforce. Nothing else remains.

Cwmtillery Colliery memorial	Cwmtillery Colliery headsone	Cwmtillery Colliery memorial	Site of Cwmtillery Colliery
Woodland terrace, Cwmtillery	Cwmtillery West quarry or landslip	Aber Gwrhyd level

Llanerch Padarn level - SO 2164 0652

Llanerch Padarn level

Llanerch Padarn level

Llanerch Padarn level

Llanerch Padarn level

Ty Nest Llewellyn - SO 2189 0723

Ty Nest Llewellyn was a C16th farmhouse also believed to have been used by a religious group. The ruins of Panteg farmhouse are a little to the East.

Ty Nest Llewellyn

Ty Nest Llewellyn

Panteg Farmhouse, Pant Ddu

Panteg Farmhouse, Pant Ddu

Cwmtillery East quarry - SO 2219 0646

Cwmtillery East quarry and incline

Cwmtillery East quarry

Cwmtillery East quarry and incline

Gwrhyd Longhouse - SO 2224 0682

Gwrhyd Longhouse barn

Gwrhyd Longhouse barn

Gwrhyd Longhouse barn

Gwrhyd Farmhouse

Hendre Gwyndir level - SO 2226 0721

Hendre Gwyndir level tramway	Hendre Gwyndir level tramway	Hendre Gwyndir level	Hendre Gwyndir level
Hendre Gwyndir level	Hendre Gwyndir level	Hendre Gwyndir level

Hendre Gwyndir Farmhouse - SO 2230 0745

Hendre Gwyndir Farmhouse	Hendre Gwyndir Farmhouse	Hendre Gwyndir Farmhouse
Hendre Gwyndir quarry	Hendre Gwyndir rusty stream	Hendre Gwyndir reservoir

Gilfach Green - SO 2200 0788
Watercourse Adit - SO 2175 0682

At Gilfach Green there were around 4 small levels active around 1900 with an odd bridge over the Nant Tillery that probably carried the tramway between levels and to the tips.
The 'Watercouse Adit' is so-called on the Coal Authority maps. It doesn't appear on 1938 OS maps but is marked 'Old coal level' on the 1948 edition.

Gilfach Green barn	Gilfach Green pipeline bridge	Gilfach Green pipeline bridge	Gilfach Green retaining wall
Pipeline retaining wall	Lower level, Gilfach Green	Lower level, Gilfach Green	Gilfach Green spoil tips
Gilfach Green bridge	Gilfach Green bridge	Gilfach Green bridge	Upper level bridge
Upper level, Gilfach Green	Upper level, Gilfach Green		Watercourse level, Cwmtillery

around Blaentillery Farm - SO 222084

ADWB Blaenavon tunnel yard	Nant Tillery pipeline	Nant Tillery weir	Nant Tillery weir
Blaentillery workings	Blaentillery barn	Blaentillery cable or pipe run	Blaentillery cable or pipe run
Blaentillery old farm	Blaentillery old farm	Blaentillery top level	Wind turbines being installed

Robens Folly - SO 2244 0811

Dug between Blaenavon and Blaentillery with 'Great Expectations'. It turned out to be completely unproductive and very wet! A true folly.

Robens Folly	Robens Folly	Robens Folly	Robens Folly
Robens Folly	Robens Folly	Robens Folly

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

Thanks for the use of their photos to :- Janet Hughes
'The Coal Workings of Blaenau Gwent' by Ray Lawrence
'www.outoftheblueartifacts.com' by Graham Bennett