cwmbwergwm
Industrial Wales - Monmouthshire's Eastern Valley
The Death of Blaenserchan Colliery
as recorded by Anthony Boucher
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The Industrial Archaeology and History of the Eastern Valley

Click on the link to go to :-     Oakfield and Henllys     Cwmbran     Pontypool     Blaendare
The Glyn Valley     Tirpentws and Cwmffrwdoer     Blaenserchan and Cwmnantddu
Abersychan and Cwmbergwm     The British and Big Arch     Talywain and Varteg
    Blaenavon Town     Forgeside to Waunavon     The Blorenge and Pwlldu

Or click on the button to go to :-

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge a photo or map and sometimes read more about it.
Then click 'Full Size' on the toolbar to see it in all its glory.

Blaenserchan Colliery

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery

Blaenserchan Colliery was opened with one shaft in 1890 by Partridge, Jones & Co, using Llanerch Colliery as the ventilation shaft. The colliery was deepened in 1899 and a second shaft sunk in 1913. The colliery sat at the head of a narrow valley and was served by a GWR branch from Pontnewynydd and the colliery's own branch from Talywain and Big Arch in Abersychan. The Talywain line was used to transport both coal and colliers to and from Big Arch. Coal windng ceased in 1969 when an underground link to Tirpentwys and Hafodyrynys was established. In 1977 the output was transferred underground to Abertllery New Mine. Blaenserchan Colliery closed in 1985 and was demolished between March and May 1988. Anthony Boucher was on hand to capture the proceedings.



The Baths

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery


The Fanhouse

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery


The Downcast Shaft

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery


The Downcast Winding House

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery


The Lamproom

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery


Machinery and Underground

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery


The Upcast Shaft

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery


The Upcast Winding House

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery


The Water Tanks and Sub-station

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery


The Compressor House

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery


The Blacksmiths and Engineers Shops

Banksman cottage, Blacksmith shop and Engineers workshop.

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery


Around the Colliery

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery


The Personalities of Blaenserchan

Quick links to :-     Baths     Fanhouse     Downcast Shaft     Downcast Winding House     Lamproom
    Machinery and Underground     Upcast Shaft     Upcast Winding House     Water and Electrics
    Compressor House     Blacksmiths Shop     Around the Colliery     The Men of the Colliery



Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

Many thanks for taking the photographs to :- Alan Boucher and to Clive Davies and Gwyn Jenkins for sharing them.


A Guide to the Website


All rights reserved - Phil Jenkins