125:
17:
737:
249:
749:
581:
698:. Just after the winding engine commenced, the 3.5 inches (89 mm) wide braided steel flat rope broke, sending four to their deaths at the bottom of the shaft 700 yards (640 m) below. Thomas John Dobbs, who had been guiding the bowk down a guide rope, managed to slowly lowered himself to within hailing distance of pit bottom, and was rescued with nothing more than cuts and bruises. Following an accident investigation by
159:, with a kitchen and parlour on the ground floor, and two bedrooms upstairs. Heating came from a coal fire placed under a stone or brick chimney stack, and the huts were completed with slate roofs. All materials for the huts' construction came from locally obtained resources within the bounds of the mineral lease, including the development of a firestone quarry to the north of the colliery site. The new development was called
171:
high levels of ingress. The 167 men of the construction crew were not paid on time on a number of occasions, with final construction costs in May 1878 running to over ÂŁ300,000, and seven men having lost their lives. The two shafts were built 180 feet (55 m) apart: North to a depth of 649 yards (593 m); South to 760 yards (690 m). This was 200 yards (180 m) deeper than any other colliery in the
264:, became interested in the Harris mine as early as 1890. By this time, almost one million tonnes of coal had been raised, but by 1892 there was a dip in production. With debts rising, Harris allowed an inspection of the mine by Davies, whose engineers reported that were good reserves of coal in a mine that required relatively little additional investment.
170:
Construction of the main shafts began in
October 1872, with sinking commencing in February 1873. Due to the required depth of the shafts to access the coal seams, the operation would prove to be both expensive and dangerous, and create the lifelong operational need to continually extract water due to
294:
Davies invested in the colliery, including repairing the bases of the shafts. From 1897 onwards, the colliery was producing over 590,000 tons per year with a workforce of 2,500 miners. Ocean
Company invested a further ÂŁ500,000 in 1900 to make the colliery's production more economic, so that by 1902,
196:
The first commercial coal was raised at North pit from 1879, and by 1881 both shafts were raising coal. But by this point the colliery company was deep in debt. The only reason that funding had been forthcoming from the shareholders, commercial backers and banks was due to the potential high quality
501:
Now
British Coal were warned that output was at least 5,000 tonnes below target, and that further disputes would financially jeopardise the future of the colliery. By 1989, Deep Navigation stood alone in the Taff Bargoed valley, making a profit and with coal production rising. But closure occurred
497:
in 1987, but this was on the back of ÂŁ2 million investment in the colliery in new machinery. An industrial dispute over required new work practices, resulted in a single pit strike that cost the company ÂŁ150,000. Production resumed, but faltered again in
November with a week-long strike which lost
489:
government. But the miners still hoped that the 1983 report that concluded there were at least 11 million tons of coal reserves accessible to the colliery, would keep them open. The report further suggested that development of the new “Gellideg” seams at a depth of 2,500 feet (760 m), would
540:
The Dosco machine was one of the few items retrieved from pit bottom to the surface. On Sunday 23 March, each miner was allowed to take two guests for a tour of the pit bottom circuit, where they were all presented with a commemorative medal. Deep
Navigation NUM lodge provided each working and
682:
Due to its depth, Deep
Navigation suffered various fatalities from its start of construction, with seven men dying in the six years from 1873 to 1879. But these were just 7 out of over 110 miners, who died in accidents underground at Deep Navigation between 1873 and the start of
348:
In 1913, Davies sent a party of 15 men to the continent to investigate
European systems of working practice. As a result of their report, a sum of ÂŁ8,000 was authorised to build new baths for the miners. The new Treharris baths were constructed by Nicholls & Nicholls of
144:, began negotiations for the rights to the mineral lease, which was eventually acquired in 1872. Nothing existed in the area at the time, except for the three farms and their outbuildings, plus the quiet River Taff Bargoed and a small forest on the slopes above the valley.
92:
wound by electricity, it was the first colliery in South Wales to have pit head baths for its miners. Profitable due to the quality of its coal, but financially degraded by huge volumes of water ingress throughout its working life, it was closed by
209:
Due to shaft depth, the major problem with the mine throughout its life was water ingress, with a reported maximum ingress during its operational life of 1,000 imperial gallons (4,500 L; 1,200 US gal) entering the pit every minute.
364:, the facility was electrically lit, and included an early electric shoe cleaner. The baths were reconstructed in 1933, by which time Ocean had provided baths at Risca, Wattstown, Lady Windsor, Garw, Nantymeol and Nine mile point collieries.
764:
After all three collieries closed, the combined site was extensively redeveloped, with the former slag heaps removed. As a result, the brick tunnel in which the Taff
Bargoed river had been redirected in 1873 was removed, and a landscaped
235:
hewn by hand from solid rock, it was built to store water for removal. Located adjacent to the North pit shaft, it was 70 yards (64 m) long, 30 yards (27 m) wide and 5 yards (4.6 m) high. Inside was installed an electric
151:, development commenced with the construction a row of temporary small houses, built for the families and men who were to be employed to sink the pit. Named the Twyn-y-Garreg huts, they all had wooden frames covered by whitewashed
571:
stayed open for another nine months, so that a stockpile of 370,000 tonnes could be prepared for market. In 1995 it took a week, working 12 hours a day, to fill the three shafts with rubble from the demolished pit head buildings.
353:, that could accommodate 1,824 men at a time, who were each provided with two lockers: one for clean and the other for dirty clothes. Officially opened on 1 November 1933 by Ocean Coal Company director Thomas Evans O.B.E. of
528:
However, a geological report issued in the autumn concluded that, due to structural problems in the surrounding substrata, coal reserves would only last until 1994. After a period of consultation with the greatly weakened
442:
government, made industrial relations smoother. Investments included the demolition in the mid-1950s of the original 1870 Twyn-y-Garreg huts, but the site remained dormant almost until the colliery closed, when the new
395:
group to raise funds. But by the new year the families were running short of funds, food and fuel, and the workers quickly returned to work. By 1935, the colliery employed 363 men on the surface and 1,875 underground.
275:
There was great competition at the time between colliery owners, with most trying to prove to potential purchasers that their coal was of the best quality. At the time this was signified by being selected by the
1123:
454:
on Friday 21 October 1966, sending all available manpower to the recovery effort. As a result, a few children were pulled out alive in the first hour, but no survivors were found after 11 a.m. that day.
189:. Finally, the River Taff Bargoed was enclosed in a 0.3 miles (0.48 km) tunnel constructed of bricks made from the collieries quarry, enabling water ingress to the mine to be significantly reduced, and
407:
introduced a new law that tied the miners to their reserved occupation. Bevin also ordered one in ten young men of eighteen years of age to be employed in the coal industry, with some of the
724:
On 11 November 1902, five men lost their lives and two others were injured in No.2 South pit. A water extraction pipe fell away from the shaft wall, crashing onto an ascending double-decker
510:, amongst a host of closures in the South Wales Coalfield. The colliery probably survived, as despite the 1984 Miners Strike, average output that decade had reached 375,000 tons per year.
713:, the corrosion had gone undetected. The sheave wheels on both the No.1 and No.2 shafts at Deep Navigation were unusual, in that they were constructed of different parts that had been
549:
140:
In the early 1800s, a mineral lease was granted over 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) of land, owned by three farms: Twyn-y Garreg; Pantanas; Cefn Forest. A group of businessmen, led by
324:
had occurred to improve miners' incomes and working conditions. By 1913, the workforce had shrunk to 1,846 men and boys. At this time Deep
Navigation had an extensive underground
155:
for walls. House No.1 was specially created for the
Minnett family of two adults and ten children, and had four bedrooms. The remainder were classical 2 up/2 down room formation
548:
On the last working day, the Salvation Army band under the direction of Bandmaster Thomas Fredrick Willetts marched with the last shift to the town hall, accompanied by the
518:
In 1990, Deep Navigation was not added to British Coal's list of mines for closure, with a reported profit of ÂŁ1 million to August 1990. The colliery received a single new
124:
736:
644:
530:
16:
825:
655:
1076:
940:
372:
After supplying the Royal Navy during World War I, by 1920 the colliery was using the “Barry of Nottingham” system of coal cutting, a forerunner of
557:
1084:
848:
228:, water was lifted in stages to different levels, until it reached the surface and was dispersed into pit pond located north of the colliery.
248:
1023:
1133:
748:
519:
1128:
466:. The centenary celebrations of 1979 saw over 2,000 people descend to pit bottom, with weekly production at around 8,500 tonnes/week.
295:
annual output was 327,000 tons by 2,000 men. The steam coal produced during this period was purchased for use by the Cunard steamers
181:
Before coal could be extracted commercially, surface buildings were required to be completed. This included the installation of two
317:
580:
1052:
833:
603:
257:
201:
extracted hence earned the colliery two nicknames in the South Wales coalfield: "Deep Navigation" and "Ocean Colliery".
88:
have shown that most of the coal on board originated in South Wales. One of the first collieries in South Wales to have
728:. Carrying 32 men at the time of the accident, the dead and injured were travelling in the upper deck of the cage.
629:
419:
By 1945 there were 1,826 men working at the complex. After nationalisation in 1947, the colliery was finally named
474:
After an investment in a new canteen in 1982, and a confirmed ÂŁ6 million investment in 1983 in a new high-speed
699:
377:
220:, capable of extracting over 200 imperial gallons (910 L; 240 US gal) a stroke. Supplied by the
85:
479:
141:
486:
503:
671:
463:
431:
380:, there were 2,328 men employed, working the Seven Feet, Yard and Nine Feet seams. But by the time of the
281:
133:
944:
756:. Built on the site of the former Taff Merthyr and Deep Navigation collieries, works involved moving the
640:
507:
109:
691:
659:
651:
611:
587:
361:
296:
268:
172:
59:
47:
447:
was built. By 1960, this investment had resulted in the workforce dropping to just over 1,000 miners.
197:
of the coal that could be extracted, and so it proved. The depth of the shafts and the quality of the
782:
667:
591:
182:
721:. The sheaves were not replaced at Deep Navigation until 1961 (No.2 South), and 1963 (No.1 North).
424:
381:
1138:
80:
passage. The mine is also thought to have been one of several locally that provided coal to the
1027:
564:, formally NUM South Wales research officer. Deep Navigation closed with 766 men on the books.
1061:
774:
753:
741:
633:
614:
439:
132:, from the entrance gate to the Deep Navigation Colliery. The photograph was taken during the
113:
648:
584:
462:
was retired in 1973, at the time when the colliery won the first of its contracts to supply
451:
240:, which connected to a surface pipe that spilled into the same pit pond as the beam engine.
213:
After the first commercial coal was extracted in 1879, the colliery started construction of
1011:
621:
618:
373:
321:
152:
1066:
695:
435:
221:
214:
164:
156:
77:
43:
1117:
718:
607:
384:, industrial relations had again broken down. The village of Treharris was staunchly
303:
231:
Later, mine engineer Castell created the famous Deep Navigation “Castle.” A man-made
66:
568:
553:
494:
490:
guarantee that the colliery could operate in profit for at least another 20 years.
404:
400:
333:
105:
94:
1071:
990:
702:, it was found that the rope had corroded, where it had been in contact with the
778:
684:
561:
534:
310:
288:
284:
217:
98:
81:
73:
32:
770:
663:
595:
533:, in January 1991, British Coal announced the closure of Deep Navigation from
522:
408:
389:
350:
340:
were being used at the colliery, mostly underground, but some on the surface.
337:
277:
198:
89:
51:
1099:
1086:
863:
850:
1056:
829:
757:
725:
703:
542:
385:
261:
237:
190:
160:
129:
39:
28:
20:
The entrance to the former Deep Navigation Colliery, Treharris, in July 1984
475:
459:
450:
Being located close, the colliery stopped working on announcement of the
354:
186:
430:
The NCB made various investments in the colliery, and the fact that the
706:
625:
232:
185:
winding machines, and the forest fully cleared, with wood stored for
55:
747:
735:
714:
690:
On 12 December 1884, five men descended the No.2 South shaft in a
579:
271:
took ownership of the colliery on 17 January 1893, and renamed it
247:
225:
123:
104:
Today the wider local site, which was also occupied by the nearby
15:
766:
360:
Having constructed a new power house, which was also supplying
336:, with 10 miles (16 km) of underground railways. Over 100
710:
647:, which considerably reduced transport costs. In later years,
50:
by some 200 yards (180 m). Producing the highest quality
1012:
Iain McLean & Martin Johnes: The Aberfan Disaster website
769:
created either side of two new lakes. Opened in time for the
709:. But as the rope was covered with a protective coating of
567:
The site was cleared from 1993 onwards, but the associated
112:, has been redeveloped into the wildlife and leisure park,
598:, freshly loaded from Deep Navigation Colliery, April 1987
388:, and was innovative in using the colliery band and local
1124:
Buildings and structures in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough
357:, the baths were the first such facility in South Wales.
252:
Treharris One winding house, Deep Navigation in July 1987
485:
At the end of the dispute, reform was the agenda of the
760:
tips that had formerly buried the Taff Bargoed river
320:had been formed in 1894, and in 1910 and 1911 the
624:. The Rhymney Railway also gave access north to
84:; tests carried out on coal found in the ship's
46:, on development it was the deepest coalmine in
717:together, not a singular wheel that had been
645:Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
8:
985:
983:
981:
979:
977:
975:
973:
971:
309:, used in their successful attempts for the
38:Located next to the co-developed village of
541:recently retired miner with a presentation
935:
933:
931:
929:
927:
925:
923:
921:
919:
917:
915:
913:
911:
909:
907:
905:
903:
901:
899:
897:
895:
893:
891:
889:
887:
885:
883:
881:
193:to be placed on the resultant new land.
1077:History and pictures of Deep Navigation
794:
740:Commemorative stone at the entrance to
482:could not have been more poorly timed.
820:
818:
632:, and onwards to the Midlands via the
35:, that operated from 1872 until 1991.
816:
814:
812:
810:
808:
806:
804:
802:
800:
798:
313:for the most rapid Atlantic passage.
7:
1026:. Treharris District. Archived from
943:. Treharris District. Archived from
752:Footbridge between the two lakes in
291:; hence the choice of the renaming.
149:Harris Navigation Steam Coal Company
72:in their successful attempts at the
832:. 15 September 2011. Archived from
545:, with over 800 lamps distributed.
14:
1062:Deep Navigation @ Welsh Coalmines
662:depots, were placed in charge of
550:MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
478:extraction system installed, the
175:at the time, to allow access the
744:, for the three local collieries
1067:Deep Navigation @ Miners Advice
493:The NCB became the privatised
470:A decade of industrial decline
411:coming to the Treharris area.
318:South Wales Miners' Federation
1:
606:, the colliery had access to
531:National Union of Mineworkers
498:10,000 tonnes of production.
1024:"Dates in Treharris History"
604:Quakers Yard railway station
120:Harris Navigation: 1872–1893
1072:Pictures of Deep Navigation
1155:
1134:Underground mines in Wales
991:"Deep Navigation Colliery"
941:"Deep Navigation Colliery"
826:"Deep Navigation Colliery"
654:locomotives rostered from
630:Brecon and Merthyr Railway
415:Deep Navigation: 1947–1991
256:Industrialist businessman
1129:Collieries in South Wales
777:, now home to many local
244:Ocean Colliery: 1893–1947
76:prize for the most rapid
1100:51.6678043°N 3.3007479°W
864:51.6872837°N 3.2996964°W
700:HM Inspectorate of Mines
378:HM Inspectorate of Mines
376:. From a 1923 report by
147:With a proposed name of
128:The view up Fox Street,
25:Deep Navigation Colliery
670:, to transport coal to
639:Harris had a series of
1105:51.6678043; -3.3007479
869:51.6872837; -3.2996964
761:
745:
672:Aberthaw power station
599:
502:that year of both the
464:Aberthaw power station
432:Westminster government
253:
137:
54:, it powered both the
21:
965:Thomas (1979), pg 27.
773:, the park was named
751:
739:
583:
504:Taff Merthyr Colliery
362:Lady Windsor Colliery
251:
183:John Fowler & Co.
173:South Wales Coalfield
157:terraced-style houses
127:
106:Taff Merthyr Colliery
48:South Wales Coalfield
19:
1030:on 21 September 2011
668:Merry-go-round train
641:private owner wagons
602:Located adjacent to
592:Merry-go-round train
525:in March that year.
1096: /
860: /
508:Trelewis Drift Mine
480:1984 Miners’ Strike
425:National Coal Board
382:1926 General Strike
142:Frederick W. Harris
134:1984 miners' strike
110:Trelewis Drift Mine
58:passenger steamers
762:
746:
600:
280:, and the various
269:Ocean Coal Company
254:
163:('Harris town' in
138:
42:in the borough of
22:
836:on 19 April 2013.
775:Parc Taff Bargoed
754:Parc Taff Bargoed
742:Parc Taff Bargoed
634:Mid-Wales Railway
619:Midland Railway's
615:Taff Vale Railway
558:MP for Pontypridd
537:, 29 March 1991.
445:Navigation Street
368:After World War I
114:Parc Taff Bargoed
1146:
1111:
1110:
1108:
1107:
1106:
1101:
1097:
1094:
1093:
1092:
1089:
1040:
1039:
1037:
1035:
1020:
1014:
1009:
1003:
1002:
1000:
998:
987:
966:
963:
957:
956:
954:
952:
947:on 23 March 2012
937:
876:
875:
874:
872:
871:
870:
865:
861:
858:
857:
856:
853:
844:
838:
837:
822:
694:to replace some
649:British Railways
585:British Railways
452:Aberfan disaster
399:At the start of
331:
327:
287:, including the
1154:
1153:
1149:
1148:
1147:
1145:
1144:
1143:
1114:
1113:
1104:
1102:
1098:
1095:
1090:
1087:
1085:
1083:
1082:
1053:Deep Navigation
1049:
1044:
1043:
1033:
1031:
1022:
1021:
1017:
1010:
1006:
996:
994:
989:
988:
969:
964:
960:
950:
948:
939:
938:
879:
868:
866:
862:
859:
854:
851:
849:
847:
846:
845:
841:
824:
823:
796:
791:
734:
680:
622:Rhymney Railway
612:Great Western's
590:in charge of a
578:
516:
472:
421:Deep Navigation
417:
393:Treharris Zulus
374:longwall mining
370:
346:
329:
325:
322:Tonypandy riots
273:Ocean Colliery.
246:
207:
177:Nine Feet Seam.
122:
12:
11:
5:
1152:
1150:
1142:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1116:
1115:
1080:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1064:
1059:
1048:
1047:External links
1045:
1042:
1041:
1015:
1004:
967:
958:
877:
839:
793:
792:
790:
787:
733:
730:
679:
676:
656:Cardiff Canton
577:
574:
562:Dr Kim Howells
515:
512:
471:
468:
436:Clement Attlee
416:
413:
369:
366:
345:
344:Pit head baths
342:
245:
242:
222:Perran Foundry
206:
203:
136:, in July 1984
121:
118:
78:Atlantic Ocean
44:Merthyr Tydfil
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1151:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1121:
1119:
1112:
1109:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1060:
1058:
1054:
1051:
1050:
1046:
1029:
1025:
1019:
1016:
1013:
1008:
1005:
993:. Alan George
992:
986:
984:
982:
980:
978:
976:
974:
972:
968:
962:
959:
946:
942:
936:
934:
932:
930:
928:
926:
924:
922:
920:
918:
916:
914:
912:
910:
908:
906:
904:
902:
900:
898:
896:
894:
892:
890:
888:
886:
884:
882:
878:
873:
843:
840:
835:
831:
827:
821:
819:
817:
815:
813:
811:
809:
807:
805:
803:
801:
799:
795:
788:
786:
784:
780:
776:
772:
768:
759:
755:
750:
743:
738:
731:
729:
727:
722:
720:
716:
712:
708:
705:
701:
697:
693:
688:
686:
677:
675:
673:
669:
665:
661:
657:
653:
650:
646:
643:built by the
642:
637:
635:
631:
627:
623:
620:
616:
613:
610:via both the
609:
608:Cardiff Docks
605:
597:
593:
589:
586:
582:
575:
573:
570:
565:
563:
559:
555:
551:
546:
544:
538:
536:
532:
526:
524:
521:
513:
511:
509:
505:
499:
496:
491:
488:
483:
481:
477:
469:
467:
465:
461:
456:
453:
448:
446:
441:
437:
433:
428:
426:
422:
414:
412:
410:
406:
402:
397:
394:
391:
387:
383:
379:
375:
367:
365:
363:
358:
356:
352:
343:
341:
339:
335:
323:
319:
314:
312:
308:
307:
301:
300:
292:
290:
286:
283:
282:transatlantic
279:
274:
270:
265:
263:
259:
250:
243:
241:
239:
234:
229:
227:
223:
219:
216:
211:
205:Water ingress
204:
202:
200:
194:
192:
188:
184:
179:
178:
174:
168:
166:
162:
158:
154:
150:
145:
143:
135:
131:
126:
119:
117:
115:
111:
107:
102:
100:
96:
91:
87:
83:
79:
75:
71:
70:
64:
63:
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
36:
34:
30:
26:
18:
1081:
1034:16 September
1032:. Retrieved
1028:the original
1018:
1007:
997:16 September
995:. Retrieved
961:
951:16 September
949:. Retrieved
945:the original
842:
834:the original
763:
723:
707:sheave wheel
689:
681:
664:coal hoppers
638:
601:
596:coal hoppers
569:coal washery
566:
554:Ted Rowlands
547:
539:
527:
517:
500:
495:British Coal
492:
487:Conservative
484:
473:
457:
449:
444:
429:
420:
418:
405:Ernest Bevin
401:World War II
398:
392:
371:
359:
347:
334:mine railway
315:
305:
298:
293:
285:ocean liners
272:
266:
258:David Davies
255:
230:
212:
208:
195:
180:
176:
169:
148:
146:
139:
103:
95:British Coal
68:
61:
37:
24:
23:
1103: /
867: /
685:World War I
535:Good Friday
330:610 mm
311:Blue Riband
289:Cunard Line
218:Beam engine
99:Good Friday
82:RMS Titanic
74:Blue Riband
33:South Wales
1118:Categories
1088:51°40′04″N
852:51°41′14″N
789:References
771:Millennium
617:, and the
556:, and the
523:roadheader
409:Bevin boys
390:jazz music
351:Gloucester
338:pit ponies
299:Mauretania
278:Royal Navy
199:steam coal
191:slag heaps
62:Mauretania
52:steam coal
1139:Treharris
1091:3°18′03″W
1057:BBC Wales
855:3°17′59″W
830:BBC Wales
758:slag heap
726:mine cage
704:headframe
687:in 1914.
678:Disasters
594:group of
576:Transport
543:Davy lamp
458:The last
386:socialist
326:2 ft
306:Lusitania
267:Davies's
262:Llandinam
238:sump pump
187:pit props
161:Treharris
130:Treharris
69:Lusitania
40:Treharris
29:coal mine
783:football
767:parkland
652:Class 37
628:via the
588:Class 37
506:and the
476:conveyor
460:pit pony
355:Pentyrch
108:and the
101:, 1991.
785:teams.
715:riveted
514:Closure
423:by the
215:Cornish
153:hessian
626:Brecon
440:Labour
434:was a
233:cavern
90:shafts
56:Cunard
27:was a
779:rugby
732:Today
696:byats
666:on a
660:Barry
520:Dosco
438:-led
226:Truro
165:Welsh
86:wreck
1036:2011
999:2011
953:2011
781:and
719:cast
692:bowk
658:and
316:The
304:RMS
302:and
297:RMS
67:RMS
65:and
60:RMS
711:tar
260:of
224:of
167:).
97:on
31:in
1120::
1055:@
970:^
880:^
828:.
797:^
674:.
636:.
560:,
552:,
427:.
403:,
332:)
116:.
1038:.
1001:.
955:.
328:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
