|
The Rhymney Valley at 'Industrial Monmouthshire - The Leftovers'
Including Bedwas, Rudry, Llanbradach, Maes-y-cwmmer and New Tredegar.
Quite a lot on Machen and Draethen plus reasonable coverage of Rudry and notes on the Caerphilly and the Darran Valley. Other parts of the Rhymney Valley will follow as I get there.
MACHEN and DRAETHEN
Machen Village
| Machen Quarry |
ST 2245 8895 |
This very large active quarry with regular rail traffic was established before 1875 serving limekilns. By 1880 the limekilns
were big enough to have a rail siding. The rapid expansion of the quarry appears to be post-war. The railway headshunt ends not far from the church with a traditional
red bufferstop. |
| Pandy Woollen Mill |
ST 2217 8841 |
The crumbling buildings are on private land and the site is slowly returning to nature. |
| Sun Vein Level |
ST 2205 8919 |
This level was shown as disused on the 1875 OS map. The tips and adit are hidden in the valley and a very even track
downhill could have been a tramway. As Reg Malpass said "It was a two man and a dog operation".
|
| Oak Lane bridge, B&MR |
ST 2200 8895 |
A 7' 3" high stone-built bridge under the B&MR provided the access to Bovil Farm and Sun Vein Level and other properties.
No double-decker buses in those days. Duck!
|
| Bovil Farm and Bovil Slant |
ST 2188 8924 |
An airshaft existed here before 1880 but a small level was open between 1901 and 1920 next to an equally small quarry.
The approach to the adit and tips remain in 2010 and worth a scramble. The derelict farmhouse and barns just above have suberb views up the valley - surprised no-one has
'rebuilt' them into an 'executive residence'. |
| Machen Corn Mill |
ST 2174 8871 |
The derelict buildings and mill house remain but have been used for other agricultural purposes. The route of the millrace to
and from the river is traceable and parts of the culvert on the site can be seen. There is a primitive iron cauldron with brick chimney plus a winch and a vicious-looking crusher but
no obvious mill machinery. |
| Chatham tramway |
ST 2145 8915 |
The original Machen collieries were South of the river from here,
disused by the 1860s, and linked to the Rumney Tramroad by a bridge over the road and river. The abutments survive on the North side of the main road plus a short length of the
trackbed on private property. Also the river bridge abutments exist below the modern steel footbridge. Equally modern 'bijou' residences have been built over the Southern route,
but some very slight remains can be found at ........ |
| Machen's original collieries |
ST 2113 8900 |
...the site of levels, airshafts and watercourses on a scrap of land that hasn't been built on. The obvious
remaining feature is the watercourse at the back of the site, shown on the 1875 OS map, and heading for the forge at Rhyd-y-gwern. The tramway crossed the watercourse
immediately behind the new housing estate at ST 2121 8898. A resident told me that about 10 years ago a stone-built airshaft could be found here. |
| Old Pit and Cae Quarry |
ST 2088 8898 |
Little remains of Old Pit except a rather fine stone retaining wall, suitably signposted by the Council. To the West is the loading
bank for Coed Cefn-pwll-du Colliery tramway (q.v.) and just above it are the walls and foundations of buildings including one called 'Twyn-sych' which may have been connected with
Old Pit or the later colliery tramway. Cae Quarry, next door, was working by 1875, disused by 1920 and now quietly reverting to nature. |
| Machen Forge |
ST 2038 8887 |
There's little to find of Machen Forge and Tinplate Works these days. There is one drainage tunnel near the road from the forge
branchline coming out on the riverbank with a double arch, brick in front and stone inside. The branchline itself ran behind the forge on a low embankment and a smaller drain can
be found further on, along with odd fenced-off pits. |
| B&MR viaduct, the Forge stables, river bridge and tramway |
ST 2013 8894 |
The impressive B&MR viaduct dominates the area, rather dwarfing the ruined stables just beside it. These served the original
Forge tramway as it crossed the river and wound its way up to the Rumney Tramroad. You can see the river bridge abutments under the new metal footbridge and the tramway
course is obvious under the BMR and past Cae-bach. Two stone culverts here pass under the B&MR and the tramway and an interesting large iron pipe lies beside the stream
between the two lines. |
Sun Vein Level, 2010
|
Oak Lane B&MR Bridge, 2010
|
Bovil Slant tips, 2010
|
Back to the top
Coed Cefn-pwll-du
| Coed Cefn-pwll-du Colliery loading bank |
ST 2069 8889 |
The loading bank is well-preserved in the undergrowth at the West end of Old Pit. A solid stone-built retaining wall is behind
the colliery branch trackbed with a supporting wall in front, complete with protruding iron rods for the tipping frame. Further up the tramway are the walls and foundations of buildings
including one called 'Twyn-sych' which may have been connected with the colliery or Old Pit. The tramway up to the colliery is very difficult to trace in the woodland. |
| Coed Cefn-pwll-du Colliery |
ST 2083 8840 |
There appear to be two sets of workings here, the original site at the head of the tramway from Machen Old Pit dates from
the 1880s and was disused in the 1920s. The possibly later working are just above and seem to encroach on the earlier workings. The tramway, adit entrances and tips of both
visible but the area has been forested and harvested and is covered in some of the worst brambles I've come across! This is an area of many old workings, airshafts and tip, the
photo showing just one old water-filled airshaft just off the forest track to the East. Have a wander....
|
| Pentwyn Colliery |
ST 2039 8810 |
Pentwyn Colliery was working from 1875 to around 1923, latterly owned by the Ashburnham Steamship Co. The site has
been roughly cleared, possibly by the landowner or to extract shale to build Llanwern Steelworks. The colliery and engine house were beside the small lake and there were
many other shafts and pits in the area just behind it. |
| Pentwyn Incline |
ST 2033 8815 |
The incline from the colliery crosses the lane here on solid stone abutments and is prominent running down the hillside to
sidings at the site of New Pit at ST 2008 8874 on the Machen Forge branch. (very marshy, virtually a pond, I haven't got big enough wellies to explore this area yet) |
| Garn level |
ST 2059 8777 |
There were two periods of working here, from 1920 to 1923 by the Ashburnham Steamship Co, then in the 1950s to 1964.
The 1965 OS map shows a very interesting small mine operation with tramways, engine houses, shafts and adits. Sadly the whole area has been landscaped leaving just some
flat and broken areas, possibly following shale extraction for the building of Llanwern steelworks. Would have loved to have seen this working.... |
Pentwyn Colliery airshaft, 2010
|
Pentwyn Colliery and
Garn Level site, 2010
|
Pentwyn Colliery incline, 2010
|
Back to the top
Draethen and Cwm Leyshon - Quarries and ancient lead mines
| Eastern lead mines |
ST 2173 8770 |
A string of very old pits run up the hillside from the lane between Draethen and Machen. These are probably the oldest of the
Draethen mines, dating back to Roman times. (I'm told they've found Roman credit card receipts down there) They are all fenced off as they are quite dangerous to the unwary but
one is used by a caving club so carefully cross the stile to peer in to the depths, complete with access ladder. |
| Western lead mines |
ST 2130 8743 |
Another string of very old pits but most have collapsed into shallow depressions. Some may be Victorian as there appears to
be the route of a tramway or track leading down to a small quarry and limekilns in Draethen village at ST 2183 8728. |
| Cwm Leyshon mines |
ST 2112 8712 |
Lots of remains in the undergrowth around here. Just after the quarry entrance, on the left, the tramway from the Clive mines
comes in on a low embankment as it reaches a pair of limekilns and an adit beside the path. On the right are the walls and foundations of a couple of buildings. Another small adit
is off on the left further up the hill and an open adit is at the bottom of a pit where the paths split. Further up the left hand path the site of the airshaft is fenced off and another
collapsed airshaft can be seen behind the quarry fence. There are lots of other earthworks dotted all over this area that need more exploration. |
| Cwm Leyshon Quarry |
ST 2100 8685 |
A small quarry was in operation here by 1875 but today's massive quarry stems from the roadbuilding of the 1920s. The quarry
is dormant rather than closed, leaving the very solid remains of tipping docks, storage bins and buildings, a playground for mountain bikers. Opposite the entrance are two large
limekilns which ceased work when the quarry expanded around 1927. Cwm Leyshon Cottage was the site of the Clive mines washery and also the Ruperra Estates Police Station.
The cottage is private but a tunnel and other earthworks are believed to still exist |
| Clive lead mines |
ST 2080 8700 |
Clive, West Clive and Clive United were Victorian mines right on the edge of Cwm Leyshon Quarry so don't step back for a
photo! However, they are well worth a careful look, with a shaft and an adit at the end of a narrow, deep canyon. The canyon was the start of the tramway down to the washery at
Cwm Leyshon Cottage, the route has now been quarried away. |
| Coed Llwyn Hir |
ST 2060 8700 |
A large number of very old lead mines and collapses in this area, some again dating back to Roman times,
but re-worked in the 19th Century. |
Locations that have gone (but not forgotten)
| Machen, Bovil Colliery |
ST 2186 8905 |
Opened before 1847 and closed in 1894. Machen Brickworks was adjacent to the West. The site has been cleared and
is now a housing estate. |
| Machen, B&MR Locomotive Works |
ST 2182 8916 |
In existence before 1868 and closed by the GWR in 1927. Used by the Ministry of Supply until c1949.
Site cleared. |
Back to the top
RUDRY and WATERLOO
| Mynydd-y-bwlch |
ST 2014 8770 |
A couple of old levels and tips beisde the lane can be traced, dating from around the 1870s. Th hillside behind has been the
site of a great many trial pits and shafts but has been thoroughly landscaped. |
| Craig-y-llan and Coed Cefn-Onn |
ST 1979 8641 |
A very decrepid pair of limekilns beside the steep footpath from the 'Maen Llwyd' with a small quarry below them. Further West
along the ridge footpath at ST 1922 8622 is a collapsed airshaft, prossibly from the Rudry iron mines. |
| Waterloo Tinplate Works |
ST 1924 8807 |
Some ruined buildings in the woods behind the reservoir appear to be the last remains of the Tinplate Works. |
| Coates Paintworks |
ST 1922 8831 |
Opened in 1952 and closed c2008. Site cleared by 2010. Expect more housing soon.... |
Mynydd-y-bwlch levels, 2010
|
Llwyn Hir leadmine shaft, 2010
|
Llwyn Hir leadmine collapse, 2010
|
Bedwas and Trethomas
| Bryngwyn Colliery |
ST 1614 8941 |
An old colliery engine house now partially conserved. These photos were taken in 1975 before conservation. |
Bryngwyn Colliery
engine house, 1975
|
Bryngwyn Colliery, 1975
|
Bryngwyn Colliery, 1975
|
Back to the top
DARRAN VALLEY
| Groes-faen Colliery |
SO 1346 0057 |
The colliery halt platform survives and a short length of track remains embedded in concrete. |
| Deri Station |
SO 1296 0145 |
The subway at the South end of the station is a public footpath. |
| Deri overbridge |
SO 1254 0247 |
The wooden overbridge spanning the B&MR main line and the Ogilvie Colliery branch is now a listed structure
and being restored in 2010. |
| Ogilvie Colliery |
SO 1202 0298 |
Preserved drams, winding wheels and an airshaft are within the Country Park grounds but not a lot of explanation of what
they were for. |
| levels opposite Pentwyn |
SO 1130 0440 |
A line of small levels and tramway exist on the opposite side of the valley from Pentwyn. Only seen from a distance
so must have a closer look. |
Groes-faen Colliery halt
platform, 2010
|
Groes-faen Colliery halt
rails, 2010
|
Groes-faen Colliery halt
platform, 2010
|
Ogilvie Colliery airshaft, 2010
|
levels opposite Pentwyn, 2010
|
|
Back to the top
Photo Gallery
All my photos of Industrial Monmouthshire are on my photo gallery website :-
'Transport and Industry - The Leftovers'
The Rhymney Valley gallery is here :- The Rhymney Valley gallery.
Back to the top
Other Locations
A comprehensive sortable 'Excel' spreadsheet of all known sites is on The Home Page
Back to the top
|
|
|
