Penallta Colliery
The location of the Penallta colliery played an important part in the history of Hengoed being the major employer in the area with over 3,200 men at its peak. Penallta colliery (originally from pen+yr+alltau) means 'head or top of the incline' which like many other place names relates to the physical description of the land. As frequently occurs in South Wales, the 'u' has disappeared and the word-ending 'au' becomes 'ah' or 'eh'.
 |
|
The Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company maintained ownership of Penallta colliery until Nationalisation in 1947. The two shafts of Penallta colliery were sunk by the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company in 1905/6. The first coal was raised in 1909 from the upper six feet seam and subsequently from the lower nine and seven feet seams. The number 1 shaft (downcast) and number 2 shaft (upcast) were 783 and 750 yards deep respectively. These shafts were subsequently extended to reach 800 yards in 1960 making it the last deep mine working in the Rhymney Valley. Penallta colliery was maintained as one of the most advanced collieries using up-to-date coal cutting machinery. 1930 saw the production of 975,603 tons of coal and the European record for coal recovered in 1935. In the late 1940's one of the first power loaders to be used in British mines, the Meco-Moore Cutter Loader, was installed which helped produce the 500,000 tons of coal raised in 1954. The 1960 shaft extension scheme included electrification of the shaft winding engines. In the mid 1970's 700 men were producing 210,000 tons of coal yearly. The 291 men employed in 1908 soon swelled to 1,920 in 1909. 1913 saw a slight reduction in the workforce to 1,281 men but in 1923, 2,395 men were employed which subsequently peaked at 3,208 men in 1931. 1947 saw a reduction to 1,934 men which reduced down to a mere 700 men in the 1970’s. Despite an impressive return following the 1984/5 miners strike, Penallta colliery was scheduled for closure by British Coal in November 1990. On Friday 1st November 1991 a brass band led the last shift of coal miners leaving Penallta colliery. The pit was decommissioned and finally closed in 1992. |
|
 |
|
1996 saw the regeneration of the Penallta colliery site. 180 hectares of derelict land was transformed into a community park and subsequent enhancement programmes built on previous activity carried out within Parc Penallta and increased the profile of the park. Much of the colliery site has now been landscaped into the Penallta Community Park, but traces of its coal tips can still be seen along with the headgear of the two shafts which still stand proudly over the site as a constant reminder of its former life. |
|
View Larger Map |