The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Glyn Pits

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 02335g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Pontymoile
Unitary authority : Torfaen
NGR : ST265998
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL Engine house
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
Glyn Pits, situated on the northern slope of the Golynos Mountain, south west of Pontypool (also known as Glyn Collieries, Nos. 1 and 2 Pits, or Race Colliery) was sunk by Capel Hanbury Leigh in the 1840s to provide coal to fuel the Pontypool Tin and Ironworks. The remains also consist of an engine house.

Description :
Glyn Pits, situated on the northern slope of the Golynos Mountain, south west of Pontypool (also known as Glyn Collieries, Nos. 1 and 2 Pits, or Race Colliery) was sunk by Capel Hanbury Leigh in the 1840s to provide coal to fuel the Pontypool Tin and Ironworks. Two adjacent shafts were sunk (NPRN: 405691) and in 1845 an engine house was
erected to the west for both winding and pumping (NPRN: 33729). Between 1852 and 1865 a second engine house was erected to the east and took over the winding function (NPRN: 33730).

The extant remains consist of the 1845 engine house, which contains its original beam engine, probably built by the Neath Abbey Ironworks; the 1852-1865 engine house which contains a vertical engine of unknown make, of the house-built type (i.e. integral with the structure); the two shafts; a C20th electricity transformer house built on the site of the original boiler house and used to power electric
winders and pumps employed in later years; and to the south a reservoir contained by an earth and masonry dam and supplied by leats running in from the west and the east (NPRN: 405690). The area between the beam engine house and the upcast shaft is occupied by machinery pits containing the flywheel, reduction gearing and the pump rods; most of this is still in situ. To the south is a brick-built ventilation duct connecting with the shaft and still retaining the centrifugal ventilation fan.

The colliery was served by the Park Estate tramway which ran east-west to the north of the colliery and which connected with the Pontypool-Neath line of the Great Western Railway at ST24539908. The colliery screens were situated to the east of the pit at ST26449985 and were served by sidings off the tramway. They were connected to the pit by an inclined plane. East of the colliery, the tramway
connected with the G.W.R. at SO26480016 via a reversing spur, the tramway proper continuing to the Upper Race Ironworks at ST27509953. Towards the end of the C19th new shafts were sunk in the valley bottom at SO26740018 and were designated Glyn Collieries, Nos.3 and 4 Pits; they were connected underground with the original Race Colliery
pits which became Glyn Collieries, Nos.1 and 2 Pits. An inclined tramway was laid between the two collieries but had become disused by about 1904 (Fogarty 2007).


Sources :
Fogarty, L. , 2007 , Pontypool Park Estate. Better Woodlands for Wales Management Plan. Heritage Management Information (WHE1)
PM desc text//Palmer;Neaverson/M;P/1990/IAR 13 no 1 1-35
02/Desc Text/Cadw/Application for Scheduled Monument Consent/2007 Copy in further information file.
Desc Text/Cadw/Full Management Report/2003/ Copy in further information file.

Events :
E006354 : Pontypool Park Estate. Better Woodlands for Wales (year : 2007)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 33730 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/33730/details
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 04431g
National Monuments Record NPRN 33566 https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/33566/details/glyn-pitsglyn-collieries-nos-1-2-pits-race-co
National Monuments Record NPRN 33729 https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/33729/details/glyn-pits-beam-pumping-engine-house-and-engin

Compiled date : 17-02-1988


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