Tunnel Collieries (Grid refs SO095062 and SO095061)
Hyperlink to www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamEast/tunnel_pits_merthyr.htm
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The Tunnel Pits were originally started in 1859 but after some months the work was suspended in order to concentrate on the Fochriw Pits. However, as a result of the high demand for steam coal and the exhaustion of other Dowlais Iron Company pits, particularly at Aberdare, the management decided to restart the Tunnel Pits in 1869. Sinking was finally completed in 1877.

The photograph above is not of Tunnel Colliery but has now been identified as the North Duffryn Colliery which was sunk by the Plymouth Iron Company during the first half of the 19th century

FOR FOCHRIW MURDER
Hyperlink to www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/htmpoems?Tunnel%20Pit%20Mystery.htm

Coal was raised from the Brithdir Seam of the downcast South Pit (338 yards) in August 1874 and the upcast North Pit (324 yards) in April 1876. The total cost of the collieries being £62,000. This information was obtained from the History of Dowlais Iron Works but, from a report by His Majesties Inspectorate of Mines (HMIM) in 1891, the depth of the North Pit was stated as being 753 feet (251 yds) and that of the South Pit as 1,021 feet (340 yds)

South Tunnel colliery mined the Little Vein, Top Coal and Lower Four Feet seams. The North Pit intersected the Rhas Las seam at 253 yards (nine feet) and all coal seams were worked using the Longwall Stall method. It was abandoned for coal raising on 1 March 1890 due to the difficulty in obtaining coal, and a large Waddle ventilation fan had been installed to ventilate the South Pit workings and ultimately the Long-Work Pit workings at Cwm Bargoed.

A report dated 1894 stated that “much had been done to convert the North Tunnel winding engine to an air compressor. The Waddle fan has been started and works well, ventilating South Tunnel workings only. I hope to complete arrangements for ventilation of the Longwork Pit by the fan at an early date”. This information was obtained from National Monuments Record for Wales, Aberystwyth.

The pit closed on 30 April 1924 and an accident to the winding plant caused a complete stoppage during the previous week. Most of the 132 South Tunnel colliers who received notices a month ago because of difficulties working the top coal seams have found work at other collieries by Mr Stuart Martin Manager.