PARK AND BLAINA COLLIERY

Penybanc, Amman Valley 61411242

These were anthracite slants that were flanked by Tir-y-Dail Colliery to the west, Pontyclerc Colliery to the east and Saron Colliery to the south. They were owned and managed by David Lloyd in 1882/7 when they worked the Stanllyd seam and by the Blaina and Park Colliery Company of Ammanford in 1896 when it employed 163 men underground and 62 men on the surface. The manager was E.R. Fisher who was still there in 1900.

It was later owned by the Blaina Colliery Company Limited which employed 235 men here in 1908/9, 229 men in 1911,137 men in 1913, 101 men in 1915 when the manager was Job Davies, 137 men here in 1918 and 75 men in 1919. In the 1908/11 period, George Robbings had been the manager. In 1919 the Stanllyd seam at this colliery was said to be the best malting coal in the business.

In 1925 the Blaina Slant was owned by the Blaina and Raven Anthracite Collieries Limited and employed 150 men and was managed by Rees Thomas in 1927. In 1931/3 it employed 150 men.

In 1935 it was owned by Henderson’s Welsh Anthracite Collieries Limited and employed ten men on the surface of the mine and 100 men working underground. It was not worked by the NCB.

During the 1925 Anthracite Strike, this mine was the scene of particularly violent actions, explosives were set off and the telephone lines to the colliery were cut.

Some statistics:

  • 1896: Manpower: 225.
  • 1899: Manpower: 297.
  • 1900: Manpower: 315.
  • 1901: Manpower: 280.
  • 1903: Manpower: Park: 265, Blaina: 34.
  • 1905: Manpower: 243.
  • 1907: Manpower: 259.
  • 1908: Manpower: 235.
  • 1909: Manpower: 53.
  • 1910: Manpower: 109.
  • 1911: Manpower: Park: 74, Blaina: 229.
  • 1912: Manpower: Blaina: 121.
  • 1913: Manpower: 137.
  • 1915: Manpower: 101.
  • 1918: Manpower: 137.
  • 1919: Manpower: 75.
  • 1920: Manpower: Park: 150. Blaina: 75.
  • 1923: Manpower: 113.
  • 1924: Manpower: 123.
  • 1925: Manpower: Park: 150, Blaina: 115.
  • 1927: Manpower: 141.
  • 1931/3: Manpower: 150.
  • 1935: Manpower: 110.

Information supplied by Ray Lawrence and used here with his permission.

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