Mining at Llanhilleth & beyond

Llanhilleth Pit, near Abertillery

The shafts at Llanhilleth Colliery were as follows:

            No. 1 Pit opened 1850 closed 1946
            No. 2 Pit opened 1891 closed 1969 (The estimated life of the pit was                                               50 years, and it lasted just over 78 years.)

In 1913, 99 per cent of coal was hewn by hand. (G E Jones, D Smith)

Between 1850 and 1920, 3179 miners died in South Wales.  (Thomas, Viscount Tonypandy, 1986)

According to Kellys Directory 1891, Michael McCarthy was the manager of Llanhilleth and Six Bells Collieries.

Growing Community

The Ebbw Fach was the most western valley of Monmouthshire, running from Newport to Brynmawr.   In the early nineteenth century it was mainly a farming community of low population.  The demand for coal, black diamonds, started the migration to these narrow valleys which soon turned into a proverbial Klondyke.  

Valley mining communities grew, enticing speculators and entrepreneurs to create an infrastructure of housing and shops.   This bringing together of large numbers of strangers into confined valley areas, meant they learned to embrace each other and find common interests by forming Societies, clubs, teams.   This unity meant they enjoyed each other’s company in good times, as well as the need to be there for each other in the frequent bad times.

The promise of good wages from the coal mines attracted farm workers working long hours for a meagre existence to leave home and try their hand.  When relatives returned home to the farm “flashing the cash,” and wearing new clothes, this enticed friends and family to join them in this expanding industry.   Farmland and cottages were often leased annually at Candlemass (February), a time of year which saw many families looking for a new home.   Gradually the move from country life and farm work to industry took over the valleys. The green wooded valley slopes became the site of rows of quickly built cottages shelved row above row to house the hundreds of people who moved into the area of Llanhilleth.     The valleys became thick with dirt and dust, buildings became encrusted with grime.   Gradually the clean country air became polluted with dust from the mines and tips, and smoke from the vast quantity of open coal fires constantly burning for cooking and hot water.

In winter the pollution became more noticeable as fresh fallen snow would soon be coated with a layer of the constantly falling soot.

Population numbers grew as wages increased.   They moved into tiny cottages consisting of a kitchen with a coal fire to cook and heat water, a couple of bedrooms and a front room, kept for special occasions, parties, weddings and to lay out the dead for viewing by close friends and family prior to the funeral.   With the high death rate this was quite a frequent occurrence.

As the population grew the front rooms were rented out to family or acquaintances in need of a roof over their heads.

Undocumented Heroism at Llanhilleth Pit

Several retired miners I spoke with have used the words “Of course it was not publicised because everyone was rescued” before recounting a miner’s act of heroism that saved his comrades life.    These accidents, reluctantly were accepted as a part of daily life underground.   Men knew they were going down to start their shift, but did not know whether they would be returning to the surface at the end of it.

One man was clearing debris in the tunnel so that a machine could be moved to the cutting face.   As he did so the tunnel roof started falling and knocked him to the ground.   He was being buried in front of his mate’s eyes.   Immediately, without thinking of his own safety, a man leapt over the machine and on all-fours straddled the injured man, protecting him with his own body.   Coal and stone continued falling and threatening to kill them both, but he sheltered the injured man allowing others to pull him free.  Everyone came out at the end of shift.   The tale may or may not have been related to wives on their return home, but no record was made as everyone survived.

--oo0oo-- 

A man was buried underground for three days.   When he was rescued with just cuts and bruises, he went home to bed.   The following morning his family were shocked to see his jet black hair had fallen on the pillow, and it never grew back.

Accidental Death

Mining even with modern equipment will always be a dangerous occupation.   Roof falls and accidents were daily companions, often requiring quick actions and heroism to save serious injury or death.   These incidents were hardly mentioned as the miners escaped with a few bruises and scratches or the odd broken bone.   

But many serious accidents and deaths occurred over the years in the South Wales coalfield and Llanhilleth was no exception.    Research and time could never document them all, but let these few examples stand witness:

---oo0oo---

In March 1905 in Llanhilleth Colliery a serious accident was reported in the South Wales gazette as ‘a most unusual event.’  Seven men were badly injured, one later died.    Due to their injuries, this was originally thought to have been an explosion.  It was later revealed there was no evidence of gas present.   The official report stated a sudden roof fall had created a huge air compression, literally throwing the men several yards along the tunnel.  

--oo0oo--

An enquiry was held in 1906 into the circumstances concerning the death of Robert Henry Martin a sixteen year old with eighteen months experience of coal mining.   His landlady was called as a witness and stated that he had left her house on Monday morning in good health, and she did not see him again.

The accident happened at 9.30 am, whilst Mr Martin was filling a tram.   It was half full  when, without the least warning a large boulder of coal fell onto the fencing and then a distance of five feet on to him.   The weight was estimated to have been between four and five hundredweight. 

The fence concerned had been examined and thought perfectly safe at 7.30am.   The examiner could see nothing wrong with the fence so gave no warning of a possible danger.   He was of the opinion that the coal, had been forced out by the weight.

It was up to the local community to support the family in whatever way was needed.  

--oo0oo-- 

Disagreements

Hard work in difficult conditions with very little redress from management, often created rebellion and disagreement, leading to disputes and strikes.  Below are a few notes for anyone interested in this side of history.  Further information is available online, in books, and at Gwent Archives, Ebbw Vale, South Wales.

Strike 1910

In 1910 there was a strike at Ely Pit, caused by the question of payment for coal mined.   The coal owners not only locked out the strikers, but the whole 800 workforce.     A strike of 12,000 in Rhondda, and 11,000 in Aberdare quickly followed.    Eventually 30,000 miners were on strike or locked out in South Wales, leading to the Tonypandy Riots in the Rhondda.

12 Jan 1917

Llanhilleth Institute raised £94.13s.4d.(£94.69p), and according to Institute Accounts, £80 was handed over to the Strike Relief Fund and the difference was kept for expenses.

Great Dispute of 1921

UK Government control of the mining industry ended on 31 March 1921.   Coal owners immediately cut wages by up to 50 per cent.   Next day 1,000,000 miners in the United Kingdom were idle.   Troops moved into the coalfields and the country was declared “in a state of emergency.”

There are a few phenomena which exist today, and bring joy to hundreds if not thousands all over the world.   These owe their existence to this dispute;  the Male Voice Choir, the jazz band and character band.   The Abertillery Orpheus Choir helped celebrate the November 2009 opening of the Institute.  

1926 General Strike

During May 1926 Britain was paralysed by a General Strike.   The only men down Llanhilleth pit for nine months was the Safety Crew.   They ensured the pit did not flood, there was no accumulation of gas and the roof was well supported.   Generally, they ensured the pit was ready for the men to go back to work at a moment’s notice. 
 

A local group of singers, including Capel Thomas toured the neighbouring district raising money towards the strike fund used to support local families.

Transport and Dock Workers, as well as printers and factory workers came out in support of the miners.   After eight days, the national strike failed.   The TUC accepted the Government’s terms, but coal owners closed the doors to the miners' return.      With no wages, great hardship ensued across the country.

All the resources and funds of the mining villagers, which had been painstakingly built up over many years, such as medical schemes, chapels, football teams, the Institute and their libraries were dramatically drained to feed and clothe the community.   Poverty was the accepted state.    Extreme debt was owed to local shopkeepers and the Poor Law Unions.   According to “The Feds,” this was estimated to be at least £2,500,000 for the South Wales area alone.

A Boot fund was established using donations from sponsors and well-wishers.   Performers toured nearby towns and villages putting on shows to earn money for the cause.    With very little transport a good pair of boots were essential.   Adults and children could be housebound without adequate footwear.   The Boot Fund provided children with boots to enable them to attend school.   It was known for members of the same family to share a pair of boots or place old newspapers in the bottom to cover holes in the soles.  

The Lord Mayor of London, Sir Wm Pryke, set up a Relief Fund to raise funds for Welsh miners.

In September there was call for a hunger march, and in August 1928 hundreds of young and old men from the South Wales Coalfield were stranded and starving in London with no money to get home.

In November 1926 the miners eventually agreed terms.   Starvation and poor conditions gave them very little option.    But between May and November the terms had become much less favourable.  Of the 218,000 South Wales miners in 1926, only 194,000 remained by 1927.

A few men, some in Llanhilleth, refused to strike.   With ‘young uns’ to feed they continued at the pit, working above ground until full work resumed.

The coal market suffered a post WW1 recession

The coal market suffered a post WW1 recession due to a move by shipping to oil power.   Also overseas coal industries meant that men were being laid off: 140,000 by 1936. South Wales lost 241 mines in the same period.

Abersychan pit closed in the 1920s and rumours were rife that a “really big pit” was to be opened.   Four seams existed in the 1920s at Llanhilleth with the yearly output often exceeding 200,000 tons.   According to Malvina Clay’s manuscript:     

            “It was now official, four pits in one.   One for steam coal for strong young
            men, one for anthracite for closed fires, one for house coal with most dust
            and slag, but softer for the older men, and small coal to be washed at the
            screens for the factories.”

1920 saw the highest number of men to work in the Welsh coal mines - 271,000.   At its peak, Llanhilleth Colliery employed up to 1900 men.   Coal-mining was a “Job for Life.”   Unfortunately, by the end of the twentieth century, there were only 150 miners in the whole of South Wales.

Mining Conditions

Working conditions have changed over the years but even in the fifties were nothing like we understand today.   From the earliest days, men and boys worked underground in their normal clothes.   In the 1930s, they would have a ‘best suit’ for Sundays and funerals, and when it became tatty they would wear it ‘everyday,’ if they were lucky, before wearing it for work.   

Men could be seen underground in a three-piece suit and flat cap.   The collar would have been fastened to the shirt with collar studs.   The collar may have been left off for work, and a warm scarf would keep out the early morning and late night chill.   When the cavities became heated the clothes would be stripped until stories are told of men working naked.   In the previous century, when women and children also worked underground, due to exertion and heat, women were known to sometimes work naked to the waist.

No safety helmet, goggles or protective clothing was available.   The only safety equipment would be a caged canary to check for gas.   If the bird collapsed or died that showed the presence of poisonous gas.  This was carried by the supervisor or safety officer.  In the event of gas the men would evacuate.    

The invention of the Davey lamp was a life-saver.  Its fine mesh prevented its flame from igniting methane or firedamp in the tunnels and causing an explosion, but this attribute also encouraged men to work in gaseous conditions unsafe for men to breathe.   Improved ventilation fans and greater safety equipment came gradually over time.

In the 1930s, a young lad of 14 straight from school, starting as a collier’s mate would earn 6d. (2.5p) per week.   Most, if not all would go to his mother for his keep.