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1248 |
The earliest known
use of coal in Wales
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1660
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The first recorded
mine death in South Wales.
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1755
|
The first use of
coal as a replacement for charcoal
in smelting iron.
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1790
|
Work started on the
Glamorgan Canal.
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1794
|
Glamorgan Canal
completed.. Distance covered
twenty-four miles, forty-nine locks
and a rise in level of 543 feet to
Merthyr.
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1810
|
The demand for
Welsh coal to feed the iron furnaces
increases dramatically. There are
over 25 furnaces in operation in
Glamorgan alone.
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1815
|
Invention of the
Davey Lamp promises a new era in
mines safety.
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1830
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Steamship companies
choose Welsh Steam Coal for its
efficiency.
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| |
An Act of
Parliament enables the Marquis of
Bute to begin construction of
Cardiff Docks.
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1831
|
Miners of South
Wales organise the first trade
unions.
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1832
|
Anti Truck Act
passed by Parliament.
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1836
|
Construction began
on Taff Railway line to Cardiff.
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1838
|
Dinas Colliery
several miners receive severe burns
in an explosion.
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1839
|
West Bute Dock at
Cardiff opens bringing with it a new
era of development to the South
Wales coalfield.
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1841
|
Taff Vale Railway
opens between Merthyr and Cardiff.
This eases congestion on the
Glamorgan Canal and Cardiff becomes
the great coal exporting centre of
South Wales.
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1842
|
The Mines and
Collieries Act forbids the
employment of girls and boys under
10 from working underground.
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1844
|
Dinas, an accident
on New Year's Day kills twelve.
Amongst the dead a four young boys.
Explosion caused by a "little
boy" who had been told to test
for gas using a candle.
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| |
Factory Act secures
fixed working day for young persons,
six hours for children and a twelve
hour day for teenagers and women.
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1847
|
Swansea Docks open.
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1851
|
South Wales steam
coal most suitable for navy ships
according to Admiralty report.
Demand for the superior fuel creates
a rapid expansion of the coal
industry.
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1855
|
The East Bute Dock
and Basin opened at Cardiff
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| |
First consignment
of Rhondda coal sent from Treherbert
to Cardiff. This was the beginning
of the Rhondda Valleys as a major
producer of quality coal.
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1856
|
Cymmer Colliery,
Porth. Explosion kills 114 of 160
workforce employed below ground.
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| |
Penarth Docks built
to cope with increased demand in
exported coal from the South Wales
coalfields.
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1859
|
Bute East Dock at
Cardiff built to meet ever
increasing world wide demand for
Welsh coal.
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1860
|
Average annual coal
output for Glamorgan 85 million
tons.
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1865
|
Glamorgan coal
output reaches 103 million tons per
annum.
|
| |
New docks are
opened at Penarth to meet extra
demand of exports of Welsh coal.
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1866
|
Work begins on
Roath Basin at Cardiff Docks.
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1867
|
Ferndale Colliery,
Ferndale. An explosion kills 178 men
and boys and shocks the nation.
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1869
|
Ferndale Colliery,
Ferndale. An explosion kills 60
workmen.
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1870
|
South Wales coal
production exceeds 13,590,000 tons,
50% of which is for export.
|
| |
Mining by the
longwall method replaces the more
traditional pillar and stall
technique.
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1871
|
Pentre Colliery. An
explosion kills 38 men.
|
| |
At Gelli Colliery
an accident claims the lives of 4
men.
|
| |
Over 34,000 coal
miners employed in Glamorgan.
|
| |
Amalgamated
Association of Miners forms a strong
union amongst the miners of South
Wales.
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|
1872
|
New legislation
introduced to regulate the operation
of coal mines, which now number 340
in South Wales.
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1873
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South Wales Coal
owners Association formed.
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1874
|
Roath Basin,
Cardiff opened to try and meet the
need for exported Welsh coal.
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1875
|
The sliding wage
scale introduced to determine the
level of wages among mineworkers of
South Wales.
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1877
|
Tynewydd Colliery,
Porth. Flooding in the mine kills 5
miners and a further death occurs of
a member of the rescue party. Albert
Medal first awarded for gallantry
underground.
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|
1880
|
Naval Colliery,
Tonypandy. An explosion kills 96
miners.
|
| |
First Lewis Merthyr
Colliery shaft sunk |
|
1881
|
New docks at
Swansea opened.
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|
1882
|
Coedcae Colliery. 6
miners dead.
|
|
1883
|
Coedcae Colliery.
An accident claims the lives of 5
miners underground.
|
| |
Gelli Colliery. 4
miners dead.
|
|
1884
|
Penygraig Colliery.
An accident claims the lives of 11
men.
|
|
1885
|
Maerdy Colliery,
Maerdy. A Christmas Eve explosion
kills 81 miners.
|
| |
Naval Colliery,
Tonypandy. 14 die underground.
|
| |
Tylecoch Colliery ,
Treorchy closes
|
|
1886
|
An amendment made
to the Coal Mining Act of 1872.
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1887
|
The Coal Mines
Regulation Act.
|
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1889
|
Barry Docks built
to ease the pressure on the docks at
Cardiff.
|
|
1892
|
Great Western
Colliery. An explosion underground
kills 58 men.
|
|
1893
|
Dinas Lower
Colliery Closes
|
|
|
Dinas Middle
Colliery Closes
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1895
|
Llwyncelyn
Colliery, Porth closes
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1896
|
Tylorstown
Colliery. 57 men killed underground.
|
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1898
|
Barry New Docks
constructed.
|
| |
Port Talbot docks
opened.
|
| |
Miners locked out
and the South Wales coalfield at a
standstill. After 6 months the
miners are defeated. South Wales
Miners Federation founded.
|
|
1900
|
Coal production in
South Wales increased to 39,320,000
tons.
|
|
1901
|
Tynewydd Colliery,
Porth closes
|
|
April 13 1903 |
Mid-Rhondda playing
field, built by Mid-Rhondda Athletic
Company Limited opens. A crowd of
10,000 watch Bert Howard of London
attempt to break his own one mile
cycle record. |
|
1905
|
Cambrian Colliery,
Clydach Vale. An accident leaves 31
men dead.
|
| |
Tylorstown. 2 men
killed in a shaft explosion.
|
| |
National Colliery,
Wattstown. Tragedy claims the lives
of 119 men and boys.
|
|
1906
|
The Notice of
Accidents Act.
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|
1908
|
The new Coal Mine
Regulations introduced to increase
safety in pits.
|
| |
First eve Rugby
League international held at Mid
Rhondda ground when Wales beat
England 35-18 and was watched by a
crowd of 15,000 |
|
1909
|
New docks at
Swansea opened to cope with the
demand for Welsh coal.
|
| |
Lady Margaret
Colliery, Treherbert closes
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| |
Ynyshir Colliery,
Ynyshir closes
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|
1910
|
Riots at Tonypandy.
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|
Nov 7, 1910 |
More than 8,000
miners at Mid Rhondda ground to
listen to will John plead to stop
blacklegs in Cambrian Dispute |
|
1909
|
The Miners' Next
Step published |
|
|
Coal miners minimum
wages favorably affects the South
Wales mining area.
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|
1913
|
Total output of
coal from South Wales is 57 million
tons, of which 70% is for export.
|
|
|
The zenith of the
South Wales coalfield. Over 17,000
horses were employed in the south
Wales coalfield to draw coal.
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1915
|
Strike by South
Wales miners results in a better
wage agreement.
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1916
|
The South Wales
coalfield comes under Government
control.
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1917
|
Serious conflict of
views in the South Wales coalfield
between unions and owners.
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1919
|
The Prince of Wales
descends pit at Cymmer.
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1921
|
Coal production
ceases following a lock out at South
Wales pits.
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1922
|
first electric
powered coal cutting machines to be
used in South Wales were installed
at Bwllfa No. 3
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1926
|
General Strike. The
miners held out for 9 months after
other workers had returned to work,
but were eventually forced back on
lower pay than they had before the
strike.
|
| |
Bute
Colliery, Treherbert closes
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| |
Lady Lewis
Colliery, Ynyshir closes
|
|
1928
|
Industrial
depression causes distress amongst
the mining communities of South
Wales.
|
| |
Average miner's
take home pay was £1/17/4 for a 5
day week (£1.86 or $2.95 US) |
|
1929
|
Depression
continues to cause severe distress
in the mining districts of South
Wales.
|
|
|
Pentre Colliery,
Pentre closes
|
|
1931
|
Coal dispute in
South Wales puts 140,000 men out of
work.
|
|
|
Nos. 2, 4
Collieries Ferndale close
|
|
1932
|
Nos. 1, 2
Collieries, Mardy close
|
|
Llwynypia Colliery.
11 men die in pit disaster.
|
|
1933
|
Tynybedw Colliery,
Pentre closes
|
|
1936
|
Nos. 6, 7, 8
Collieries, Tylorstown close
|
| |
11th. June 36
demonstrators arrested at fascist [Blackshirt]
rally, led by Oswald Mosley, held at
De Winton Field, Tonypandy |
|
1938
|
Abergorki Colliery,
Treorchy closes
|
|
1940
|
Production ceased
at Cymmer Colliery, Porth.
|
|
1945
|
Glamorgan (Scotch)
Colliery, Llwynypia closes
|
|
1947
|
The coal industry
is nationalized.
|
|
Blaenclydach,
Clydach Vale ( also known as
Brookvale). Closed by the N.C.B
shortly after nationalization.
|
| |
Ynysfeio Colliery,
Treherbert closes
|
| |
Standard Colliery,
Ynyshir closes
|
|
1948
|
Maindy Colliery,
Rhondda Fach. Opened in 1864 as the
first pit of the Ocean Coal Co.
Employed 1,399 men and boys at the
turn of the century, closes
|
|
Oct 4th. 1952 |
Pithead baths
built at Lewis Merthyr Colliery |
|
March 26th. 1955
|
Rhondda becomes a
Borough as opposed to an Urban
District
|
|
Nov 22nd 1956 |
Explosion at Lewis
Merthyr kills 9 and badly
injures 21 |
|
1958
|
Naval Collieries,
formally part of the mighty Cambrian
Combine under the ownership of Lord
Rhondda. Commenced operations in
1875, closes
|
| |
Ely Colliery,
Penygraig closes
|
| |
Nantgwyn Colliery,
Tonypandy closes
|
|
1959
|
Eastern Colliery,
Ystrad, owned by the Ocean Coal Co.
this deep mine employed over 690 men
during its heyday, closes
|
| |
Ferndale Nos. 1
& 5 Collieries, Tylorstown. One
of a series of deep mines sunk by D.
Davies and Sons during the 1860's,
close
|
| |
Tydraw Colliery
under the control of the Cory
Brothers Ltd.. Shortly after the
First World War employed over 730
men and boys, closes
|
|
1960
|
No. 9
Colliery, Tylorstown closes
|
|
1962
|
Gelli Colliery,
Gelli closes
|
|
1965
|
Cambrian Colliery,
Clydach Vale. A terrible accident
leaves 31 miners dead.
|
|
1966
|
Parc & Dare
Colliery, Cwmparc closes
|
| |
Glenrhondda (Hook
& Eye) Colliery , Blaencwm
closes
|
| |
Fernhill Colliery,
Blaenrhondda closes
|
|
1966/7
|
Cambrian Colliery,
Clydach Vale. A deep mine sunk in
1873 by Cambrian Collieries. Scene
of major disaster in 1894, closes
|
|
1967/8
|
Abergorki Colliery,
Treherbert. Originally owned by
Burnyeat and Brown and later by the
Ocean Coal Co., closes
|
|
1968/9
|
National
Collieries, Tylorstown. A deep mine
opened in 1881 by the United
National Coal Co., closes
|
|
1983
|
Lewis Merthyr
Colliery, Trehafod closes
|
|
1990
|
Nos. 3, 4
Collieries, Maerdy close thus ending
a 150 year period of mining in the
Rhondda Valleys
|
prior
to use. The reason from the graphic is to beat spammers.