The South Rhonnda Colliery sits in the small hamlet of Llanbad just down the hill from St Peter’s Church. although Llanbad borders Tonyrefail its in Brynna.
In 1910 a rich find was to expand the collieryeven further with a huge deposit of fire clay found in the coal seams. this gave rise to the establishment of the South Rhondda Brickwork’s on the site. The high quality clay gave some of the countries best quality bricks which where sent all over the country
photographs taken on 22nd may 2010
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coal was discovered at Llanbad Fach Farm, Llanbad in 1886 by Daniel Owen of Ash Hall, Cowbridge who was at the time the owner of the Western Mail Newspaper. his team of engineers took eleven months to find the number 3 Rhondda Seam just a few hundred yards from the farm house. The Colliery was built over several years starting in 1893. it was completed and opened in 1886
Unfortunately difficulties with the engineering constraints of securing the safety within the mines the Colliery closed in 1927. the brickwork’s also closed as their supply of clay ended with the collieries closure.Today more than 80 years after the colliery closure a quite a large amount of ruins survive as can be seen in the photographs below.
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