Tondu, Bridgend (SS 8626 8458)

Link to map

Two slants were driven by the Ton Phillip Colliery Company to the No.3 Rhondda (Rock Fawr) seam, they ran parallel to each other, 500 yards apart. The mineral take was 1,480 acres. They were flanked to the east by the take of North’s Navigation Collieries and Park Slip Colliery and to the west by the take of Baldwin’s Limited and Aberbaiden Colliery. It worked this seam at a thickness of between 31 inches to 48 inches. The Tytalwyn Slant (see separate listing) was 1,500 yards long with the Tynewydd Slant being 2,000 yards long.

  • On the 20th of November 1899, Thomas Harding, aged 47 years, and a collier, died under a roof fall at this mine.
  • On the 11th of January 1913, John Matthews, aged 45 years, and a collier, also died under a roof fall.
  • As did John John, aged 25 years, and a collier, on the 4th of December 1914.

This mine employed 285 men in 1907, and 233 men in 1913 when it was managed by E. Morgan. On December 4th 1912, The Times newspaper’s engineering report mentioned driving a slant 500 yards in coal, main deep, dipping about 10 inches to the yard was up for contract.

In 1915 Ton Philip employed 350 men and the Tytalwyn employed 220 men while in 1916 Ton Phillip employed 450 men and the Tytalwyn employed 250 men. The manager was C.E. Tapson.

In 1917 the title of the Company had changed slightly to Ton Phillip Rhondda Colliery Company Limited of Commercial Buildings, Port Talbot and in 1918 it employed 675 men underground and 92 men on the surface with the manager being J. Hillary. This company was a member of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. Ton Phillip Colliery was purchased by Baldwyn’s Limited in 1920, who abandoned the Tynewydd slant in November 1923. In 1927 it was managed by D. Edwards.

In 1929 it was owned by the Coytrahen Park Colliery Company which was in liquidation, and the colliery was closed. By 1932 it was in the hands of T.J. David of Porthcawl, who also managed the mine, in 1935 it produced 5,500 tons of gas and house coal from this and the Rock Fawr Gas Coal Slant.

It was abandoned in 1945.

Some Statistics:

  • 1899: Manpower: 52.
  • 1900: Manpower: 168.
  • 1901: Manpower: 118.
  • 1902: Manpower: 183. Output: 54,136 tons.
  • 1903: Manpower: 187. Output: 59,259 tons.
  • 1904: Output: 72,701 tons.
  • 1905: Manpower: 197. Output: 81,981 tons.
  • 1906: Output: 60,971 tons.
  • 1907: Output: 96,487 tons.
  • 1908: Output: 98,465 tons.
  • 1909: Manpower: 211. Output: 127,304 tons.
  • 1910: Manpower: 268. Output: 113,751 tons.
  • 1911: Manpower: 262. Output: 160,836 tons.
  • 1912: Manpower: 232. Output: 162,097 tons.
  • 1913: Manpower: 233. Output: 163,856 tons.
  • 1914: Output: 128,244 tons.
  • 1915: Output: 179,179 tons.
  • 1917: Output: 233,822 tons.
  • 1916: Manpower: 450. Output: 231,585 tons.
  • 1918: Manpower: 757. Output: 206,054 tons.
  • 1922: Manpower: 450.
  • 1923: Manpower: 755 with Tytalwyn.
  • 1924: Manpower: 758 with Tytalwyn.
  • 1925: Manpower: 450.
  • 1927: Manpower: 403.
  • 1928: Manpower: 31. abandoned.
  • 1933: Manpower: 8.
  • 1935: Output: 5,500 tons.
  • 1937: Manpower: 13.
  • 1938: Manpower: 12.
  • 1940: Manpower: 12.
  • 1942: Manpower: 12.
  • 1944: Manpower: 7.

 

This information has been provided by Ray Lawrence, from books he has written, which contain much more information, including many photographs, maps and plans. Please contact him at welshminingbooks@gmail.com for availability.

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