IRON
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COAL
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COAL
Meanwhile, many men are reported successfully to have gone as far as the Vale of Neath in search of employment.
No official statement has been issued as to whether the abandonment of the three collieries is in the nature of a permanent or temporary measure, but it is understood that the step taken by the Dowlais Company is due to economic reasons.
When the decision of the directors of Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds’ became known, the Dowlais miners’ agent, in conjunction with Mr. R.C. Wallhead, Labour M.P. for the Merthyr Borough, approached the Ministry of Mines with an application for an inquiry into the position, on the grounds that the coal resources of the Fochriw district were such as did not justify the closure of these collieries.”
Realisation that the end had really occurred was reported in the 5 July 1924 edition of the same newspaper
“Collieries Stopped Feelings of sadness could be observed throughout the village on Monday last when it became known that the Cornish pumps and fan engines of both Fochriw and South Tunnel pits had been stopped, and practically all the remaining men who had been kept on for the past two months were stopped. The collieries have been working for over 60 years and have been the source of employment for local inhabitants and large numbers from Dowlais, Pontlottyn, etc.. Needless to say, it is a severe blow to Fochriw which is one of the most industrious villages to be found. About 70 to 80 per cent of the people own their own houses. The majority were purchased from Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds, Ltd., a few years ago, when they were disposing of their property. Let us hope that the clouds of darkness will soon disappear and that Fochriw will become, once again, what it has been in the past, a happy, prosperous village.”
An auction took place between 27/29 October 1925 for the sale of all plant and materials at the same time as that of South Tunnel and Bedlinog pits.
Following the closure of the colliery, the following was reported in the 16 January 1926 edition of the Merthyr Express
“Colliery Stack Collapsed On Sunday night quite an unusual sound was heard in the village. It transpired that one of the high