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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Glamorganshire => Topic started by: glyna on Sunday 09 January 11 17:48 GMT (UK)

Title: which pits
Post by: glyna on Sunday 09 January 11 17:48 GMT (UK)
I wonder if anyone could help  I'm trying to find out which pits my gt grandad could of worked at , in the 1911 census  the family where living in margam st caerau near maesteg ,his occupation is down as collier hewer. also was it usual for them to go from a stone quaryman to coalminer as when he married in 1898 that is what is written in his wedding ceft .
his name was Robert Brown married to matilda frances(Taylor)
thank you
Title: Re: which pits
Post by: Redroger on Sunday 09 January 11 18:11 GMT (UK)
Can't speak for South Wales, but it was by no means unusual elsewhere.
Title: Re: which pits
Post by: jwls on Sunday 09 January 11 18:20 GMT (UK)
My Gt Grandfather worked in St Johns Colliery that was near to Caerau, Maesteg :)
Title: Re: which pits
Post by: hanes teulu on Sunday 09 January 11 18:32 GMT (UK)
Try this link    www.cmhrc.co.uk   

You can check the mines around the Caerau area

regards
Title: Re: which pits
Post by: west on Sunday 09 January 11 18:51 GMT (UK)
The two closest pits to Margam St would be Caerau Colliery and Coegnant Colliery, both are situatated in Caerau.

West.
Title: Re: which pits
Post by: ozlady on Sunday 09 January 11 19:15 GMT (UK)
Try www.welshcoalmines.co.uk
Title: Re: which pits
Post by: halfasheep on Monday 10 January 11 10:03 GMT (UK)
My family, who all lived (and still do) in the Maesteg /Caerau area did not necessarily work in the pits nearest their homes unfortunately.

My gt gt uncle James worked over the hill in Bryn until he died in 1914 following a falling rock fracturing his skull.

The entire Llynfi Valley was peppered with mines from Blaencaerau all the way down to Garth. Some of the miners would have moved colliery to colliery as well dependent on whether the seams were working well or not.

Whilst Coegnant and Caerau pits would have been the closest, there would still have been more in the area

Chris
Title: Re: which pits
Post by: Dannemois on Monday 10 January 11 14:37 GMT (UK)
Not everyone had the pleasure to work in a mine near to his place of resident and it was quite common for a miner to walk several miles to the pit in which he was employed, and then walk several more miles underground to reach his place of work.  A journey he would then repeat at the end of his shift in the opposite direction to his home.  Traversing local mountains was very often the most direct route; no wonder our forebears were fit and lean.   
Title: Re: which pits
Post by: Redroger on Monday 10 January 11 16:18 GMT (UK)
Not everyone had the pleasure to work in a mine near to his place of resident and it was quite common for a miner to walk several miles to the pit in which he was employed, and then walk several more miles underground to reach his place of work.  A journey he would then repeat at the end of his shift in the opposite direction to his home.  Traversing local mountains was very often the most direct route; no wonder our forebears were fit and lean.   

No doubt some miners landed up almost directly beneath their own homes, if only they could have had a personal shaft.
Title: Re: which pits
Post by: glyna on Monday 10 January 11 18:12 GMT (UK)
thank you for you help i thought that might be the case . but I'm coming to south wales in feb and thought i see if there was any near i know there is one in Abercregan as when i was a little girl my Gran took me to stay there but that was in the late 60s
Title: Re: which pits
Post by: halfasheep on Tuesday 11 January 11 16:18 GMT (UK)
Abercregan is long gone (as are all the deep mines in South Wales, bar one in Glynneath where my father works).

If you want to visit one, then The Big Pit is probably your best option, although it is a bit of a distance from the Maesteg area
Title: Re: which pits
Post by: baycas on Sunday 16 January 11 16:17 GMT (UK)
Hi
  I have relatives who were coal miners and lived in Michealstone lower in the 18's early 1900s.
 Is there a record of employees of the local mines anywhere to view?
Thanks