Near Port Talbot (794896)

The Glenhafod Collieries Company was incorporated in 1920 and had the same address and a similar Board to the Glenavon Garw Collieries Limited (see Glenavon Colliery). The first drift was opened shortly after this date and was possibly a re-opening of the old Goytre Drift. In 1927/30 it was managed by Phillip Hill.

In December 1929 two colliers; P.Potter and T.J. Adams were found gassed in the top hole of No.1 Deep.

In 1933 a new drift was opened approximately 800 yards to the east of the old one. Both worked the No.2 Rhondda (Rock Fawr) seam at a thickness of 42 inches. In 1935 the colliery employed 25 men on the surface, and 195 men underground with the manager being P. Hill. It had its own coal preparation plant. In 1943/5 it was managed by W. Bassett and employed 224 men working underground in both the Rock Fawr and Rock Fach seams and 57 men working at the surface of the mine.

On Nationalisation in 1947 the colliery was placed in the National Coal Board’s, South Western Division’s, No.2 Area, Maesteg Group, and at that time employed 62 men on the surface and 200 men underground producing gas and manufacturing coals. The manager at that time was and in 1954 was W. Bassett. Glenhafod Colliery employed 127 men at the coalfaces in 1955, and 124 men at the coalfaces in 1956.

It was closed by the National Coal Board on November 28th 1958 due to its coal reserves being exhausted.

Some Statistics:

  • 1923: Manpower: 178. Output: 20,000 tons.
  • 1924: Manpower: 185.
  • 1927: Manpower: 111.
  • 1928: Manpower: 151.
  • 1929: Manpower: 204.
  • 1930: Manpower: 220.
  • 1931: Manpower: 204.
  • 1932: Manpower: 204.
  • 1933: Manpower: 211.
  • 1934: Manpower: 220. Output: 85,000 tons.
  • 1937: Manpower: 257.
  • 1938: Manpower: 269.
  • 1940: Manpower: 281. Output: 120,000 tons.
  • 1945: Manpower: 281.
  • 1947: Manpower: 262.
  • 1948: Manpower: 251. Output: 80,000 tons.
  • 1949: Manpower: 271. Output: 80,000 tons.
  • 1950: Manpower: 272.
  • 1953: Manpower: 265. Output: 85,000 tons.
  • 1954: Manpower: 272. Output: 78,000 tons.
  • 1955: Manpower: 253. Output: 80,369 tons.
  • 1956: Manpower: 256. Output: 76,880 tons.
  • 1957: Manpower: 250. Output: 69,411 tons.

 

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

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