The Industrial Archaeology and History of the Clydach Gorge
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Brynmawr to Black Rock
The Clydach Railroad from Pont Clydach to Black Rock
The Clydach Railroad starts its journey down the Clydach Gorge but very little is left following the building and dualling of the A465. Heavy engineering is still in progress in 2020 so I've no idea how little has survived. A short branch went South to the Brecon Boat Co's levels and then a longer branch crossed the river at Pont Harry Isaac and went up to Gellifelen Collieries. The Llammarch Tramroad took most of this traffic so the branch was little used. Another short spur entered Black Rock Quarry passing under the original Turnpike Road. The quarries at Darren Ddu were served by an incline running up from the lime works.

Pont Clydach
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Pont Nant Gam
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Black Rock
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Pont Clydach - SO 1960 1214
The original Pont Clydach is under the Heads of the Valley road roundabout at the entrance to Brynmawr. It carried both the Turnpike and the Railroad until the A465 arrived and I believe it has survived the dualling of the road. Old pre-1880 levels just below the bridge were uncovered during the roadworks, originally just nicks in the banking, like the Hafod Arch example.

The original Pont Clydach
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Levels below Pont Clydach
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Levels below Pont Clydach
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Pre-1880 level near Hafod Arch
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The original Pont Clydach
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The original Pont Clydach
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The original Pont Clydach
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The original Pont Clydach
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The original Pont Clydach
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The original Pont Clydach
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The top of Clydach Gorge
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The top of Clydach Gorge
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The top of Clydach Gorge
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The top of Clydach Gorge
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Coal Tar Houses and the Brecon Boat Co levels - SO 1999 1217
The Brecon Boat Co levels (occasionally known as Clydach Colliery) were served by a short spur off the Railroad and later a siding off the MTAR with Coal Tar Houses next to them.

Coal Tar Houses, 1878
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Coal Tar Houses and Railroad
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Coal Tar Houses and Railroad
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Brecon Boat Co tramroad
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Brecon Boat Co drainage level
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Brecon Boat Co drainage level
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Brecon Boat Co drainage level
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Brecon Boat Co drainage level
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Coal Tar Cave
Gwent Caving Club explored Coal Tar Cave in the Summer of 2019. It is a man-made cave to divert the River Clydach away from the coal workings of the Brecon Boat Co, which are above it.

Coal Tar Cave
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Coal Tar Cave
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Coal Tar Cave
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Coal Tar Cave
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Coal Tar Cave
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Coal Tar Cave
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Coal Tar Cave
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Coal Tar Cave
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Coal Tar Cave
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Coal Tar Cave
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Coal Tar Cave
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Coal Tar Cave
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Hafod Arch - SO 2021 1226
The Hafod Arch was rebuilt in 2011 after becoming dangerously unstable. The setting was rather spoilt by the Brynmawr sewerage pipeline running above it but thats been demoished now.

Hafod Arch, Clydach Railroad
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Hafod Arch, Clydach Railroad
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The Clydach Railroad at Hafod Arch
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The Clydach Railroad at Hafod Arch
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Hafod Arch, Clydach Railroad
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Hafod Arch, Clydach Railroad
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Hafod Arch, Clydach Railroad
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Hafod Arch, Clydach Railroad
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The sewerage pipe, Hafod Arch
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The sewerage pipe, Hafod Arch
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The sewerage pipe, Hafod Arch
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The sewerage pipe, Hafod Arch
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The sewerage pipe, Hafod Arch
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The sewerage pipe, Hafod Arch
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Pre-1880 level near Hafod Arch
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Hafod Arch, Clydach Gorge
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Hafod Arch, Clydach Gorge
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Cwm Nant Gam and The George Inn - SO 2086 1224
The Gelli-felen branch of the Clydach Railroad crossed Pont Harry Isaac and came up through Cwm Nant Gam, where the George Inn stood up to the 1920s. All that remains of it now are the cellars. The branch ended up at Gellifelen Collieries, which were better served by the Llammarch Tramroad on that side of the gorge.

Pont Harry Isaac
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Pont Harry Isaac and the Railroad
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The Clydach Railroad / MTAR crossing
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The Clydach Railroad / MTAR crossing
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The cellars of the George Inn
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The cellars of the George Inn
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The cellars of the George Inn
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Clydach Railroad bridge
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Gardeners Cottage - SO 2110 1245
The well-known photo of the Clydach Railroad at Gardeners Cottage was taken by 'Judges' for a commercial picture postcard, probably around 1910. It shows the railroad with conventional rails but it was probably little used by then. The 'Judges' photographer also took another photo looking West. The whole area now lies under the A465 dual carriageway.

Gardeners Cottage, Black Rock
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Gardeners Cottage, Black Rock
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Gardeners Cottage, Black Rock
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Near Gardeners Cottage
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Black Rock Quarry - SO 2135 1255
Opened by 1811 and closed after 1944. It was linked to the Clydach Railroad by a steep branch crossing the turnpike road on the level and then a tunnel underneath it.

Black Rock Quarry and branch
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Black Rock Quarry
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Black Rock Quarry
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Black Rock Quarry
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Black Rock Quarry
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Black Rock Quarry
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Black Rock Quarry
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Black Rock Limeworks and Daren Ddu Quarry - SO 2184 1275
Opened in the 1790s, the current kilns date from the end of the 19th century and were connected to the Clydach Railroad by a short incline. A much longer incline leads up to Daren Ddu quarries.

Black Rock Limeworks
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Black Rock Limeworks
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Black Rock Limeworks
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Black Rock Limeworks and incline
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Daren Ddu Quarry
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Daren Ddu Quarry
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Daren Ddu Quarry and incline
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Daren Ddu Quarry and incline
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Daren Ddu Quarry and incline
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Daren Ddu Quarry and incline
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Daren Ddu Quarry
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Craig-y-Ffynnon cave at Daren Ddu Quarry
There's a cave (not a mine, a cave) up on Daren Ddu, all safely locked up, but if you're an experienced caver and you know the man with the key, then you're in. And you're in for a surprise! Inside there's a short length of tramway and a couple of wagons that were used for securing the entrance. Thanks to Jamie Larke of the Gwent Caving Club for sharing this little gem.

Craig-y-Ffynnon cave tramway
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Craig-y-Ffynnon cave tramway
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Craig-y-Ffynnon cave tramway
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Craig-y-Ffynnon cave tramway
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Craig-y-Ffynnon cave tramway
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