Haven't seen this posted in a little while, and Penallta is definitely one of the favourite colliery explores I have done, so why not! Not sure how much longer it'll remain though, 2 of the smaller buildings have already been converted into housing, and I believe similar is planned for the Engine House.
(Photo Heavy)
The history:
Work was started by Powell Duffryn on sinking the 2 shafts of Penallta Colliery in 1905, with the first coal being raised in 1909. No.1 shaft (downcast) was 783 yards in depth, and No.2 (upcast) was 750 yards, which at the time were the deepest shafts in the South Wales Coalfield.
Coal was extracted from the Six Foot Seam, with peak production during the 1930s. 975,603 tons of coal was extracted in 1930, and in 1935 the Colliery held the European record for the most coal wound in 24 hours in 1935.
The mine was nationalised in 1947 and became owned by the National Coal Board. In 1949 a Meco-Moore cutter loader was installed, which was a first for British mines. The shafts were extended to 800 yards in 1960, along with electrification of the winding engines, however coal was becoming more difficult to reach, so output was only around 210,000 tons a year, a mere fifth of the peak production in the 30s.
The mine survived the miner's strikes of 1984-85, and was the last deep mine in the Rhymney Valley, eventually closing on the 1 November 1991.
The explore:
Explored over 3 different dates, because I enjoy the location so much, and access is relatively simple.
Lots of nice little details in the Downcast (I think?) Headstock, would have been great to get to the top of one, but I couldn't see any way up other than scrambling up one of the legs, dodging barbed wire, to reach an intact ladder, I'm not the best climber, and I like living
Of course I found some lovely gauges...
The Engine House is quite photogenic with lots of interesting things dotted around, although it was a bit of a shock when I got to the hole in the floor and saw the gaping chasm below it...
Hatch for the winding cable?
The Bath House was the best part of the explore for me, glad I made more than one trip, as we didn't attempt it the first time. I was surprised by how ornate it was inside, and there's some good Graff dotted about too if that's your thing. Can get a nice view of the headgear and engine house from some of the windows too!
A dumb waiter possibly?
Graff -
Oddities -
A permanent contraception solution from Durex...
Thanks for looking
(Photo Heavy)
The history:
Work was started by Powell Duffryn on sinking the 2 shafts of Penallta Colliery in 1905, with the first coal being raised in 1909. No.1 shaft (downcast) was 783 yards in depth, and No.2 (upcast) was 750 yards, which at the time were the deepest shafts in the South Wales Coalfield.
Coal was extracted from the Six Foot Seam, with peak production during the 1930s. 975,603 tons of coal was extracted in 1930, and in 1935 the Colliery held the European record for the most coal wound in 24 hours in 1935.
The mine was nationalised in 1947 and became owned by the National Coal Board. In 1949 a Meco-Moore cutter loader was installed, which was a first for British mines. The shafts were extended to 800 yards in 1960, along with electrification of the winding engines, however coal was becoming more difficult to reach, so output was only around 210,000 tons a year, a mere fifth of the peak production in the 30s.
The mine survived the miner's strikes of 1984-85, and was the last deep mine in the Rhymney Valley, eventually closing on the 1 November 1991.
The explore:
Explored over 3 different dates, because I enjoy the location so much, and access is relatively simple.
Lots of nice little details in the Downcast (I think?) Headstock, would have been great to get to the top of one, but I couldn't see any way up other than scrambling up one of the legs, dodging barbed wire, to reach an intact ladder, I'm not the best climber, and I like living
Of course I found some lovely gauges...
The Engine House is quite photogenic with lots of interesting things dotted around, although it was a bit of a shock when I got to the hole in the floor and saw the gaping chasm below it...
Hatch for the winding cable?
The Bath House was the best part of the explore for me, glad I made more than one trip, as we didn't attempt it the first time. I was surprised by how ornate it was inside, and there's some good Graff dotted about too if that's your thing. Can get a nice view of the headgear and engine house from some of the windows too!
A dumb waiter possibly?
Graff -
Oddities -
A permanent contraception solution from Durex...
Thanks for looking
