Caerphilly

Rhos Llantwit Colliery and gasworks - ST 1642 8774 and ST 1634 8773

Lansbury Park Estate has been built over the site of the colliery, which was working from 1863 to 1892 at the end of a short branch of the Caerphilly - Machen line. The colliery branch can be followed as footpaths through the estate. In 2012 the shafts were re-opened for a new concrete cap to be built. Opened beside the colliery, the gasworks functioned until the 1920s. Some decent stone walls remain to show it's positionand on Google Earth you can just make out the gasholder site in the grass.

Rhos Llantwit Colliery shaft	Rhos Llantwit Colliery shaft	Rhos Llantwit Colliery shaft	Rhos Llantwit Colliery shaft
Gasholder being demolished, 1939	Rhos Llantwit gasworks walls	Rhos Llantwit gasworks walls	Rhos Llantwit gasworks walls
Rhos Llantwit gasworks walls	Rhos Llantwit gasworks walls

Penrhos Junction - ST 1360 8600

This is the site of the five line junction, viaduct and Barry Railway flyover at Penrhos. It's a shame they've filled in the viaduct but I was surprised to find the Barry Railway bridge under Blackbrook Road still there. The last time I was at the Barry Railway sidings it was a coal stockpile under police guard and that was 30 years ago.

Blackbrook Road Barry Rly bridge	Penrhos Viaduct, Rhymney Rly	Penrhos Viaduct, Barry Rly	Penrhos Viaduct, Barry Rly
Barry Railway trackbed	Barry Railway trackbed	Barry Railway sidings	Barry Railway sidings

Blackbrook Colliery and Furnace Blwm Brickworks - ST 1422 8524

There was a small level known as 'Ty Melin Colliery' here in 1875 but by 1898 Furnace Blwm Brickworks had come and gone, being marked 'disused'. In 1920 the site appears cleared but between 1921 and 1935 Blackbrook Colliery has opened and closed, being marked as 'disused' in 1938. The entrance to the level still existed in the early 1970s and may still be amongst the bushes in the garden area. A mystery at this site is whether a tramway ran down to the GWR sidings near Penrhos Junction, I have seen one OS map that shows it and there are faint earthworks. There used to be a rather frail metal bridge taking the lane to Ffwrnes Blwm Farm across the entrance to the small quarry, since filled in.

Blackbrook Colliery, 1898	Blackbrook Colliery, 1915	Blackbrook Colliery, 1938
Blackbrook Colliery and brickworks	Blackbrook Colliery and brickworks	Blackbrook Colliery and brickworks	Blackbrook Colliery and brickworks
Blackbrook Colliery and brickworks	Blackbrook Colliery and brickworks	Blackbrook Colliery and brickworks	Blackbrook Colliery tramway
Blackbrook Quarry	Blackbrook Quarry	Blackbrook Quarry	Blackbrook Colliery building
'Thos Rees Furnace Blwm'	'Caerphilly'

Thornhill and the Caerphilly Mountain ridge

Cefn On Quarry, Caerphilly - ST 1738 8515

An interesting ramble around Caerphilly Mountain starting off at Cefn On Quarry turned up quite a few new locations to explore

Cefn On Quarry, Caerphilly

Cefn On Quarry, Caerphilly

Cefn On Quarry, Caerphilly

Cefn Carnau, Thornhill - ST 1738 8515

Blaen Nofydd quarry and old limekilns on the ridgeway, limekiln 1 is at ST 1660 8469 and limekiln 2 is at ST 1637 8464

Cefn Carnau, Thornhill, 1919	Cefn Carnau limekiln 1	Cefn Carnau limekiln 1	Cefn Carnau limekiln 1
Cefn Carnau limekiln 2	Cefn Carnau limekiln 2	Blaen Nofydd quarry, Caerphilly	Blaen Nofydd quarry, Caerphilly
Blaen Nofydd quarry, Caerphilly	Blaen Nofydd quarry, Caerphilly	Blaen Nofydd quarry, Caerphilly	Blaen Nofydd quarry, Caerphilly

Wernddu Colliery and Brickworks - ST 1680 8630

Wernddu Colliery and Brickworks

Wernddu Colliery and Brickworks

Wernddu Colliery and Brickworks

Coed parc-y-van shaft

Around and about in Caerphilly

First, some historic photos from the 1960, 70s and 80s

GWR 5322 at Caerphilly works	GWR 5322 at Caerphilly works	Aber Halt and Sprinter 150140	Aber Halt and Sprinter 150140
Aber Halt and Class 116	Penrhos Junction and GWR 66xx	Beddau Junction and Class 47	Season tickets from Aber to Cardiff

.... and back to today.

Level at Twyn-y-Gwcw, Watford

Pwll-y-pant Viaduct, Barry Railway

Pwll-y-pant Quarry

Abertridwr and Senghenydd

Abertridwr

Early photo of a loco at Windsor Colliery	'PLB' boundary post	Cwmbyr levels, Abertridwr	Cwmbyr Quarry, Abertridwr
St Ilans quarry, 'Rose and Crown'	Graig-wen Farm, Abertridwr	Graig-wen Farm, Abertridwr

Senghenydd

The National Miners Memorial	Northern quarry, Senghenydd	Southern quarry, Senghenydd	Senghenydd Station bridge
Parc Quarry, Senghenydd	Parc Quarry, Senghenydd	Universal Colliery tips	Universal Colliery tips
Universal Colliery tips	Universal Colliery tips	Universal Colliery tips	Universal Colliery tips
Universal Colliery tips	Universal Colliery tips	Universal Colliery quarry
Universal Huts (Sinkers Row)	Universal Colliery offices		Pylon base on Eglwysilan

Llanbradach

Llanbradach Colliery - ST 1484 9095

Llanbradach Colliery	Llanbradach Colliery	Llanbradach Colliery	Llanbradach Colliery
Llanbradach Colliery	Llanbradach Colliery	Llanbradach Colliery	Llanbradach Colliery
Llanbradach Colliery	Llanbradach Colliery	Llanbradach Colliery	Colliery winding house
Llanbradach Colliery sub-station	Llanbradach Colliery dam	Llanbradach Colliery pipework

Llanbradach Colliery tips - ST 1385 9135

Llanbradach Colliery tips	Llanbradach Colliery tips	Llanbradach Colliery tips	Llanbradach Colliery tips
Llanbradach Colliery tips	Llanbradach Colliery tips	Llanbradach Colliery tips	Llanbradach Colliery tips
Llanbradach Colliery tips	Llanbradach Colliery tips	Llanbradach Colliery tips	Llanbradach Colliery tips
Llanbradach Colliery tips	Llanbradach Colliery tips	Llanbradach Colliery tips	Llanbradach Colliery tips

Other spots around Llanbradach

Ty Isaf malthouse, Llanbradach	Ty Isaf malthouse, Llanbradach	Pant-y-ffawydden Farm	Pant-y-ffawydden Farm
Pen-y-rhiw barn	Pen-y-rhiw barn
Llanbradach Fawr	Llanbradach Fawr	Llanbradach Fawr	Llanbradach Fawr
Llanbradach Fawr	Llanbradach Fawr	Graddfa, Llanbradach	Graddfa, Llanbradach

Coed-y-Brain Quarries - ST 1460 8990

Coed-y-Brain Quarries	Coed-y-Brain Quarries	Coed-y-Brain Quarries	Coed-y-Brain Quarries
Coed-y-Brain Quarries	Coed-y-Brain Quarries	Coed-y-Brain Quarries	Coed-y-Brain Quarries
Coed-y-Brain Quarries

Ystrad Mynach and Maes-y-cwmmer

Ystrad Mynach

The Blacksmiths and Post Office	Ystrad Mynach Mill	Ystrad Mynach Mill leat
Mill Lane bridge, Ystrad Mynach	Mill Lane culvert, Ystrad Mynach

Maes-y-cwmmer

B&MR to TVER connecting line	B&MR to TVER connecting line	Summerfield Hall Lane bridge	Summerfield Hall Lane bridge
Woollen factory below viaduct	Woollen factory below viaduct

Gelli-deg Colliery - ST 1635 1475

Gellideg Colliery lower level tips	Gellideg Colliery lower level tips	Gellideg Colliery lower level tips
Gellideg Colliery upper level shaft	Gellideg Colliery upper level tips	Colliery upper level tramway

Maesycwmmer Brickworks - ST 1614 9474

Maesycwmmer Brickworks seems to have been short-lived, being only shown on the 1916 OS map. By 1938 the site at the end of the tramway from one of the Gellideg Collieries was empty. The works were owned by Edward Harvey, who also used his initials 'EH' on bricks. Bricks marked 'HARV' appear to be a poor impression from Maesycwmmer Brickworks. The name 'Gellydeg' was also used.

Maes-y-Cwmmer brickworks, 1916	'Maesycwmmer'	'E Harvey'
'Gellydeg Brick Works'	'EH'	'HARV'

Hengoed, Penallta and Fleur-de-lis

Hengoed

Hengoed High Level station	Hengoed High Level station	TVER bridge at Bedwlwyn Road5
TVER bridge over Penallta branch	Penallta Colliery branch bridge	Penallta Colliery branch bridge
Penallta Colliery branch bridge	Penallta Colliery branch trackbed	Nelson branch at Penallta

Penallta

Penallta Colliery tip tramway - ST 1385 9559

A short length of the tramway that took the colliery waste to the tip is hidden away behind the wardens office. The cable-hauled line is about 3ft gauge with flat-bottomed rails and steel sleepers. Lengths of cable are dotted along the route.

Penallta Colliery tip tramway, 1916

Penallta Colliery tip tramway

Penallta Colliery tip tramway

Penallta Colliery tip tramway

Penallta Colliery - ST 1400 9580

The ventilation system	The ventilation system	The ventilation system	The ventilation system
The ventilation system	The ventilation system	The ventilation system
Inside the upcast shaft	Inside the upcast shaft	Inside the upcast shaft	Inside the upcast shaft
Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery
Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery
Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery
Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery
Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery
Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery
Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery
Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery
Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery
Penallta Colliery and GWR 7714	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery	Penallta Colliery

Tir-y-berth

Tir-y-berth drainage levels - ST 1533 9618

A number of drainage levels come out on the banks of the River Rhymney behing the indutrial estate. One is bricked up, others have collapsed and there is one modern drain issuing a lot of orange water. It appears that they are draining Glan-ddu Level, Hengoed Colliery and Glan-Rhymney level, all working from c1877 to c1899. Thanks to 'Skirrid1969' for pointing them out.

Tir-y-berth drainage levels	Tir-y-berth drainage levels	Tir-y-berth drainage levels
Tir-y-berth drainage levels	Tir-y-berth drainage levels	Tir-y-berth drainage levels
Tir-y-berth drainage levels	Tir-y-berth drainage levels	Tir-y-berth pipeline

Fleur-de-lis

Buttery Hatch Colliery - ST 1579 9609
Gellihaf Colliery - ST 1572 9558

Buttery Hatch Colliery is recorded to have been working by 1823 until c1878 from a shaft near New Place Colliery. Tre-lyn Level was open c1869, closing on and off until c1941, by which time it was known as 'Buttery Hatch'. It was closely connected with the adjacent Gellihaf Colliery, open c1869 to 1910, sharing the loading dock and sidings.

Buttery Hatch Colliery, 1916

Buttery Hatch Colliery

Buttery Hatch Colliery

Buttery Hatch Colliery

The Brecon & Merthyr Railway

The Brecon & Merthyr Railway through Fleur-de-lis has almost disappeared but the course of the Taff Vale Extension link line up to the end of the Hengoed Viaduct at Maes-y-cwmmer is a good footpath.

TVER to B&MR trackbed	TVER to B&MR trackbed	The Gellihaf Colliery sidings
TVER to B&MR trackbed	The B&MR bridge abutments	The B&MR bridge at Fleur-de-lis

Bargoed and Aberbargoed

Bargoed Colliery - ST 1519 0007

One remaining fragment of Bargoed Colliery's buildings

A fragment of Bargoed Colliery

Aberbargoed - ST 1512 0046

The Brecon and Merthyr Railway ran through Aberbargoed over a very narrow bridge into a station perched on stilts above the river.

The parapet of the BMR bridge	The parapet of the BMR bridge	The parapet of the BMR bridge	The parapet of the BMR bridge
The 'Travellers Rest', Aberbargoed	The BMR station foundations	The BMR station foundations	The BMR station foundations
The BMR station foundations	The BMR trackbed South	The BMR trackbed North	The BMR trackbed North

Nelson to Bedlinog

Gelliargwellt Quarry - ST 1265 9635

A modern quarry and compost recycling site near Gelligaer village.

Gelliargwellt Quarry

Gelliargwellt Quarry

Gelliargwellt Quarry

Railways through Nelson

Pont-y-Saeson Bridge - ST 1300 9510

This bridge spanned both the Rhymney Railway link and the TVER, with separate arches.

The TVER line to Hengoed	The Rhymney Railway line	The Rhymney Railway line
The original TVR bridge	Llancaiach Colliery crossing	Llancaiach Colliery crossing
Near Taff Merthyr Colliery	Near Taff Merthyr Colliery

Wern Ganol Collieries - ST 1120 9528 and ST 1262 9514

Two small collieries near the 'Rowan Tree' pub between Nelson and Ystrad Mynach. The 'Smallest Colliery in the Kingdom' possibly dates from 1865 and appears to have closed c1945. The later Wern Ganol Colliery (or Wern Forest Level) opened in 1912 and was abandoned in 1940.

The 'Smallest' Wern Ganol Colliery

The 'Smallest' Wern Ganol Colliery

The 1913 Wern Ganol Colliery

The 1913 Wern Ganol Colliery

Llancaiach Colliery - ST 1125 9630

Llancaiach Colliery possibly dates back to 1810 when it may have been connected to the Llanfabon Tramroad to Abercynon. There are extensive sidings and coke ovens on the 1875 OS map but all had gone by 1900.

Llancaiach Colliery, 1868

Llancaiach Colliery tramway

Llancaiach Colliery cottages

Llancaiach Fawr mill

Tophill Colliery and tramway - ST 1177 9680

Tophill Colliery possibly dates back to 1810 when it may have been connected to the Llanfabon Tramroad to Abercynon. On the 1875 OS map a long tramway runs to an interchange with the GWR at Llancaiach Isaf. By 1900 an extension had been built to a new Northern level at ST 1160 9730. All had gone by 1920 leaving a new, smaller level near the Northern terminus.

Tophill Colliery, Llancaiach, 1868	Tophill Colliery, Llancaiach	Tophill Colliery tramway
Tophill Colliery tramway	Tophill Colliery tramway	Leat to Llancaiach Colliery
Leat to Llancaiach Colliery	Tophill Colliery sidings	Tramplate near Llancaiach Isaf

Deep Navigation Colliery - ST 1015 9760
Taff Merthyr Colliery - ST 1022 9950

The site of Deep Navigation Colliery has a series of marker stones detailing the shafts and seams used by the colliery.

Base of shaft	Five feet seam	Upper and Lower Bute Seams	Nine feet seam
Red vein seam	Six feet seam	Four feet seam	Two feet nine seam
Dram at Deep Navigation Colliery	Dram at Deep Navigation Colliery	Drams and haulage wheel

Bedlinog

Bedlinog Colliery building

Bedlinog Colliery building

Coed Cae Quarries, Bedlinog

Hendre Quarry, Bedlinog

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

Thanks to :- Michael Kilner, Richard Paterson and 'Skirrid1969'.