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COAL
Until the mines were nationalised in 1947 the Powell Duffryn Company dominated coal mining in the area. The important collieries at Bargoed, Ogilvie and Penallta were achievements of the Powell Duffryn Company.
Thomas Powell entered the area in 1830 and by 1863 had built up a coal empire in the Aberdare and Rhymney Valleys. In 1864 he sold all his mining concerns to the newly established Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company. The day of the great individual colliery proprietor was passing with the need for more and more capital in the business. Until 1882 the chief concern of the Company was with their mines in the Aberdare Valley and at New Tredegar, but the demand for coal continued to increase with the development of railways and steamships all over the world.
In 1920 the Powell Duffryn Company extended its activities by taking over the control of the Rhymney Iron Company with their pits at Groesfaen, Rhymney and Pontlottyn and, in 1920, they sank their last great mine at Ogilvie, near Deri.
The following are pages from “A Story of Mining Life and a Colliery Company” by George Greeves who was a Ventilation Officer at McClaren Colliery. His researches culminated in a typed document which he produced in 1961, parts of which are reproduced below. Please click on each plate to facilitate reading.
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