The Industrial Archaeology and history of Forgeside, Coity, Big Pit, Milfraen and Waunavon
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Forgeside, Big Pit and the PBR, Blaentillery Colliery, Coity Quarry to Whistle Inn, Marquis and Milfraen Colliery, Waunavon.
or here to explore :-
Blaenavon Town, the Ironworks and Garn-yr-erw. or The Blorenge, Pwlldu and Tyla.
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| Blaenavon - the Google map | |
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| Forgeside | |||
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Aaron Brutes bridge - SO 2485 0880
Aaron Brutes level - SO 2480 0880 |
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| Aaron Brutes bridge is one of the oldest cast-iron bridges in the world, dating from 1812. The level just beyond it mined iron ore for the works and closed in 1843. By 2009 the bridge was unsafe but was restored and re-opened in 2013. It carried a tramroad from the level to the ironworks. Underneath the bridge is a small drainage level. | |||
 Aaron Brutes bridge restored, January 2014 |
 Aaron Brutes bridge restored, January 2014 |
 Aaron Brute's Bridge, June 2010 |
 Aaron Brute's Bridge, June 2010 |
 Aaron Brute's Bridge, June 2010 |
 Aaron Brute's Bridge, March 2011 |
 Aaron Brute's Bridge, March 2011 |
 Aaron Brute's Bridge, March 2011 |
 Aaron Brute's drainage adit, July 2011 |
 Aaron Brute's drainage adit, July 2011 |
 Aaron Brutes level, August 2010 |
 Aaron Brutes level, March 2011 |
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Johnsons Colliery - SO 2484 0786
Forgeside Powerhouse - SO 2426 0861 |
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| Johnsons Colliery was a working colliery, not in general use but the subject of exploratory work during 2010. Forgeside Powerhouse was the original powerhouse for the Forgeside complex. the brick-built building is still in industrial use and dates from the 1920s. Next to it is the Forge Pond and a lot of foundations. | |||
 Johnsons Mine, 2010 |
 Johnsons Mine, 2010 |
 Building (magazine?) near Johnson's Mine, 2011 |
 Forgeside Level, 2010 |
 Forgeside Level drainage channel, 2010 |
 Forgeside North, 2010 |
 Forgeside South, 2010 |
 Powerhouse, 2010 |
 Powerhouse, 2010 |
 Powerhouse, 2010 |
 Powerhouse, 2011 |
 Powerhouse, 2011 |
 Retaining wall, 2010 |
 LNWR bridge and 'extra' arch, 2010 |
 The ruins of Coity Ganol, 2010 |
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| Big Pit and the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway | |||
 Blaenavon Ironworks 'Nora No 5' |
 Blaenavon Ironworks 'Nora No 5' |
 Blaenavon Ironworks 'Nora No 5' |
 Powell Duffryn loco No 10 |
 Narrow gauge wagons, 2010 |
 Narrow gauge wagons, 2010 |
 Standard gauge wagons, 2010 |
 Standard gauge wagons, 2010 |
 Hunslet narrow gauge loco HE6049 of 1961, 2010 |
 Workshops, 2010 |
 Workshops, 2010 |
 Water balance, 2010 |
 Incline, 2010 |
 Dodds Slope, 2010 |
 Dodds Slope, 2010 |
 Bridge abutments, 2010 |
 Bridge abutments, 2010 |
 Bridge over LNWR, 2010 |
 PBR 71515, 2010 |
 PBR 71515, 2010 |
 PBR 71515, 2010 |
 PBR 'Brookfield', 1990 |
 PBR D4157, 2010 |
 PBR depot and washery, 2010 |
 PBR industrial locos |
 PBR depot, 2010 |
 Big Pit washery, June 2014 |
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| Blaentillery Colliery | |||
| Blaentillery No 2 Colliery - SO 2350 0818 | |||
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A derelict colliery in January 2014
Sadly, over the four years since my last visit, work has ceased, the levels have been blocked and the surface facilities have been stripped and vandalised.
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 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
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A working colliery in March 2010
Two adits and interesting selection of old drams, used in the filming of the BBC's 'Coalhouse' series.
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 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
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Below the surface in 2012
An underground visit just after work ceased and the levels sealed.
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 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
 Blaentillery Colliery |
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| Coity Quarry to Whistle Inn | |||
| Coity Quarry - SO 2330 0830 | |||
| Coity sandstone quarry was working by 1844 supplying stone for the ironworks, housing and collieries in the area and had closed by the mid-1880s. The prominent incline ran down through Coity Colliery to the Ironworks and coke ovens, the upper half closing with the quarry. The lower half continued until 1900 to serve the colliery, which was incorporated into Big Pit, becoming its upcast shaft. In the quarry are the remains of the brake wheel mechanism and other ironmongery, including a cast cog on the end of a wooden shaft. Next to the drum are a pair of rails leading from the drum to the tips and a fenced airshaft with a pulley hoist over it, which was connected to a level just below the quarry. | |||
 Coity Quarry incline January 2014 |
 Coity Quarry incline January 2014 |
 Coity Quarry incline, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry incline, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry incline, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry incline, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry incline, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry airshaft, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry winding drum, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry winding drum, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry winding drum, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry winding drum, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry winding drum, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry winding drum, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry rails, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry ironwork, March 2010 |
 Coity Quarry ironwork, March 2010 |
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Coity Farm, level and reservoir - SO 2337 0928
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Coity Farm was possibly medieval but the 'leftovers' are from C18th but considerably changed over the years. An old level is shown on OS maps next to the farm, a very small adit still exists in 2010, possibly just a drainage adit from the levels above it. A pond formed the basis of the 1861 reservoir supplying water to the Forgeside blast furnaces. |
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 Coity Farm, 2011 |
 Coity Farm, 2011 |
 Coity Farm drainage level, 2010 |
 Coity Farm drainage level, 2010 |
 Coity Farm drainage level, 2011 |
 Coity Farm drainage level, 2011 |
 Coity reservoir, 2011 |
 Coity Reservoir from Cefn Coch, 2008 |
| 'Robens Folly' or Blaentillery Drift - SO 2315 0860 | |||
| The very top of the 1966 adit, known as 'Roben's Folly' because it found no workable coal at all, that goes right through the mountain to Abertillery can be seen on the West side of the track from Milfraen. The rest is buried beneath your feet. Dennis Hopkins has sent his 1990 photo so you can see what you're standing on. Have a look at his website :- www.dchopkins.co.uk. Look for the link to 'Old industrial sites' in the first paragraph. | |||
 Big Pit 1966 drift mine entrance, Roben's Folly, 2011 |
 Big Pit 1966 drift mine entrance, Roben's Folly, 2011 |
 Big Pit 1966 drift mine entrance, Roben's Folly, taken by Dennis Hopkins in 1990 |
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| ADWB pipeline tunnel - SO 2291 0937 | |||
| The Abertillery and District Water Board (ADWB) pipeline from Grwynne Fawr Reservoir to Abertillery enters the Coity Mountain here. The tunnel was built between 1912 and 1915 and is just short of a mile long. The gated concrete entrance and tips from excavation are easily found. I'm told there's a stop valve on top of Coity Mountain and, of course, there's the other end to find somewhere near Blaentillery farm. | |||
 ADWB tunnel tips, March 2011 |
 ADWB tunnel tips, March 2011 |
 ADWB tunnel, March 2011 |
 ADWB tunnel, March 2011 |
 ADWB tunnel, March 2011 |
 Official guided tour, June 2015 Photo © Jamie Larke |
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 Official guided tour, June 2015 Photo © Jamie Larke |
 Official guided tour, June 2015 Photo © Jamie Larke |
 Official guided tour, June 2015 Photo © Jamie Larke |
 Official guided tour, June 2015 Photo © Jamie Larke |
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Whistle Inn
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Ty Rheinallt Farm - SO 2324 0960 Ty Rheinallt Farm was a c19th farmhouse, which was abandoned in 1967 due to subsidence. Next to it is a filled-in airshaft, possibly once ventilating the Garn Pits. Pwrcas Cottages - SO 2283 1022 A single cottage is shown on the 1841 tithe map. What remains is more modern, c19th. |
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 Ty Rheinallt Farm, July 2010 |
 Ty Rheinallt Farm airshaft, July 2010 |
 Field Farm, Whistle Lane, June 2014 |
 Field Farm, Whistle Lane, June 2014 |
 Waunavon Slope ironstone mine, June 2014 |
 Waunavon Slope ironstone mine, June 2014 |
 Waunavon Slope ironstone mine, June 2014 |
 Pwrcas Cottages, July 2010 |
 Coity footpath fence posts, May 2016 |
 Whistle Inn area from above, May 2016 |
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| Marquess Red Ash and Milfraen Colliery | |||
| Marquess Red Ash Colliery - SO 2084 0963 | |||
| Marquess Red Ash Colliery was opened by 1902 and shown as disused by 1922. The site consists of tips, old rails and stonework with the drainage level and the incline to Mifraen Colliery in amongst the bracken below. | |||
 Milfraen and Marquess in 1915 ©Crown Copyright reserved |
 Marquess Red Ash Colliery main levels, May 2014 |
 Marquess Red Ash Colliery tips, May 2014 |
 Marquess Red Ash Colliery tramway from Milfraen, May 2014 |
 Marquess Red Ash Colliery tramway to Milfraen, May 2014 |
 Marquess Red Ash Colliery tramway to lower level, May 2014 |
 Marquess Red Ash Colliery drainage level, May 2014 |
 Marquess Red Ash Colliery drainage level, May 2014 |
 Marquess Red Ash Colliery drainage level, May 2014 |
 Marquess Red Ash Colliery, March 2011 |
 Marquess Red Ash Colliery, March 2011 |
 Marquess Red Ash Colliery, June 2008 |
 Marquess Red Ash Colliery, June 2008 |
 Marquess Red Ash Colliery, June 2008 |
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| Milfraen Colliery - SO 2179 1010 | |||
| Milfraen Colliery opened in c1845, was rebuilt in 1865 and closed in 1933 following an explosion in 1929. It was retained for ventilation until the mid 1930s. The area has been cleared but the site of the shaft, foundations and earthworks remain. | |||
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Milfraen and Marquess in 1915 ©Crown Copyright reserved |
 Milfraen Colliery reservoir, May 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery reservoir outlet valve, May 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery foundations, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery foundations, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery foundations, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery foundations, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery headgear base, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery shafts, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery shafts, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery shafts, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery shafts, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery branch, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery branch, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery branch, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery branch, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery junction, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery junction, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery junction, January 2014 |
 Milfraen Colliery site from South, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery engine house, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery engine house, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery concrete block, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery shaft, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery shaft, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery foundations, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery foundations, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery tips, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery general view, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery ruins, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery reservoir, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery reservoir, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery branchline, March 2011 |
 Milfraen Colliery from Cefn Coch, June 2008 |
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| Waunavon | |||
 Waunavon Station dram, January 2014 |
 Waunavon Station dram, January 2014 |
 Llanmarch collieries branch trackbed, March 2011 |
 LNWR overbridge abutments, March 2011 |
 Waun Pwll Dwr level incline, March 2011 |
 Waun Pwll Dwr level incline, March 2011 |
 Waun Pwll Dwr level incline foot, March 2011 |
 Waun Pwll Dwr level site, March 2011 |
 Waun Pwll Dwr level, small section rail, March 2011 |
 Waun Pwll Dwr feeder, March 2011 |
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