Abercrave, Ystradgynlais and the Coal and Metal Industries

The Level Fawr, Gwaun-y-Clawdd, International ( Candy) and Abercrave collieries on the Drum Mountain, across the valley from Abercrave, exploited both the upper and lower coal measures. The lower measures, which are much older and more compressed,  contain some of the hardest anthracite in Wales. This is known locally as "blue diamond" as it has a blue sheen and is so hard that it has been used to make decorative ornaments. It can also be handled without leaving traces on the hands. 

The upper coal measures, are less compressed and softer but are still a form of anthracite, which is low in volatile matter and consists mainly of carbon.  

In 1820 "The Iron Master" David Thomas, working at Ynyscedwyn Ironworks in Ystradgynlais, developed a method for using local anthracite, instead of coke, for smelting iron. Anthracite  remains solid when burnt, thus allowing the essential airflow to be maintained through the "charge" in an iron furnace.

The early iron industry also relied on a supply of limestone, which was mixed with the charge in the blast furnace to act as a "flux" for the unwanted minerals and ash. These could then be "run off" from the bottom of the furnace during the smelting process. 

Only one deep mine still operates in Wales today and that is the "Tower Colliery" at Hirwaun near Aberdare.
The Western side of the Upper Swansea Valley between Abercrave and the National Showcaves for Wales is known as The Cribarth. This was the main source of limestone for the local iron industries and it shows ample evidence of working in the past. The Swansea Valley Canal extended as far as Henneuadd Dock in Abercrave and was used to transport coal,  limestone and iron ore. It is still in evidence lower down the valley towards Pontardawe.

In Abercrave itself, School Rd is an extension of the old "dram- way", an "inclined plane" who's cutting runs up the Cribarth to the old limestone quarries. Drams (steel wagons) of limestone were lowered down the long incline to the canal for off loading into boats. The descending loaded drams pulled the lighter, empty drams, back up to the top.

The Sleeping Giant

Today the Cribarth is best known for it's skyline, which seen from the A4067 road, just South of Abercrave is that of a reclining man. Local people often refer to this part of the Swansea Valley as "The Valley of the Sleeping Giant".

 

 Swansea Valley Canal

The Old Dram-way
The Swansea Valley was also renowned for "tin and copper production" and a part of the rather ornate old tin works in Ystradgynlais is preserved as a monument to its metal industries. The tin ores were shipped across the Bristol channel from Cornwall to Swansea where the coal was available to convert it into metal.  Copper, lead and silver were also smelted locally and the valley became a major source of these metals and their numerous alloys, such as spelter, bronze and pewter.
The combination of natural materials, an economical bulk transport system of rail and canals, and technology developed in the area made South Wales the powerhouse of British industry in the 1800's and 1900's.

It was however the legacy of much earlier times which made all this possible, and most of the valley's mineral deposits had been formed by the time Dinosaurs first walked on the Earth.

The more recent forces which also shaped the region are described on the next page.......

Home Page Time
Scale		 Lime
stone
and
coal		 Later
Periods

Plate
Tec-
tonics

 The Ice
Ages		 Present
Day
The Geology of the Swansea Valley web-site is produced by Cefn-yr-Erw Field Study Centre and Primate Sanctuary, Caehopkin, Abercrave, Swansea SA9 1UD. South Wales UK. Tel 01639 730276.

www.cefn-yr-erw.co.uk

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