The Fforestfach History Website

"William Thomas, Esq.
Dear Sir,

I hope I have not offended you by being so long before answering your
request for a report of Mynydd Bach-y-Glo Colliery.
By consulting with William David the Overman about matters I am now of
a different opinion.

The best way of working Ystrad Uchaf Coal is through the pumping slant
at Mynydd Bach-y-Glo Colliery, but the small engine there at present hauling up
the slant is not strong enough. I must call your attention to having sufficient
power for winding owing to the very steep inclination of the slant.

There is a double power engine ready in the Millbrook Works, Landore, of
16 inch Cylinders, and a winding part at Mynydd Bach-y-Glo, which I consider
strong enough to wind from 4 to 6 trams at once, and also to reach the bottom of
Ystrad Uchaf boundary. The Declivity is not so much at the bottom as it was by
1/3, and it appears to me it will improve with better coal, and better advantage to
work it.

When ready we have 140 yards to drive down the slant; this can be done
easily by driving 20 yards a month which will take 7 months time. I consider this
deep enough to work from 3 to 4 acres of Ystrad Uchaf fields situated before the
house. From this depth two levels of about 190 yards can also be done in 7
months, in all say 14 months.

The drivage will be to the east of the present pumping slant after the
machinery has been made ready but how long that will take I cannot say; but
sooner will be the better if possible, to see how the barrier is kept at Mynydd
Bach-y-Glo and Fforest-fach which has already been reported to Mr. Powell.

I should like to see this slant down to the centre of Ystrad Uchaf Farm as
I am of the opinion that there will be better top and bottom and will work larger,
and so, will coke.

THE FOUR FEET VEIN

This cannot be opened until the machinery will be ready on the pumping
slant so as to move the small engine to the Four Feet Vein to sink on the Crop at
Mynydd Bach-y-Glo nearly the centre of Ystrad Uchaf Farm, and drive a slant
across the level Icourse towards the river.

The Ystrad Uchaf stands in the centre of a basin and a circle of large
collieries which are: Worcester Colliery, Redhead Colliery Level, at Gors
Llewina, Garngoch Colliery, Cae Newydd Colliery, Ystrad Isaf Colliery, Waun-

arlwydd Old Pit and Mynydd Bach-y-Glo in the Six, Three and Five Feet Veins;
but after all I must say that the ground is unexplored as there is no communication
from any part. It is difficult to understand the fault, as the anticlinal runs from the.
east side of Redhead Colliery towards the north side boundary of Ystrad Uchaf
Farm, and keeps the line of the river to the end of the drift driven from Cefn-
gorwydd Pit.

I must say this place is full of valuable seams of coal besides what is
proved in the Waunarlwydd Old Pit 60 years ago.

There is little difference in what has been proved lately at the Ystrad Isaf
and at Redhead Colliery by Mr. Glasbrook. It is over 4 ft. at Ystrad Isaf and
2 ft. 6 ins. at Redwood Colliery, but it is improved towards the Ystrad Uchaf
Farm. Also there are different opinions about the Garngoch Colliery seam;
some say it is the 4 ft. Seam, others say it is the 5 ft. Seam, but I say it is the 4 ft.
Seam. I have never seen it, and if I am right there will be a capital coal at the
Ystrad Uchaf Farm as there is in Garncoch Colliery-over seven feet thick of
large coal.

From 20 to 30 yards of Pit on the crop of this vein would most probably
prove the value of it and about 120 yards of Slant with two levels towards the
Ystrad can be done by contract in about 21 months after the new pit is ready.

The Pit can be commenced by a wind.

I am,
Yours faithfully,
Thomas Richard (Sen.)
Mining Engineer &
Surveyor."

Norman Lewis Thomas, The Story of Swansea Districts and Villages Volume II Parts IV-VIII with Abridged Volume I Parts I - III, 1969,

Waunarlwydd, pages 111/112