PENALLTA COLLIERY, YSTRAD MYNACH
Site Details
- NPRN
- 80439
- Map Reference
- ST19NW
- Grid Reference
- ST1393595801
- Unitary (Local) Authority
- Caerphilly
- Old County
- Glamorgan
- Community
- Gelligaer
- Type of Site
- COAL MINE
- Broad Class
- Industrial
- Period
- MODERN;20th Century
Site Description
Penallta Colliery was built by the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company in 1906-09 and was one of the last steam-powered collieries constructed, although it did also generate its own electricity. Its layout was the model for subsequent collieries, with one common engine-hall (nprn 85090) to replace the previous separate engine-houses that adjoined each shaft. A large workshops building (nprn 85284) in similar style lies alongside. The large engine-hall retained its art-nouveau-style tiling although it was largely re-equipped in the 1960s. Adjacent to the engine-hall are twin headframes (nprns 85295, 85296) built in 1906 using steel joist construction and nearby are 1930s baths (nprn 85292) built by the Baths Welfare Committee Architects in an early version of one of their standard designs. By the early 1930s the colliery employed over 3,000 and was achieving an annual production figure of over 860,000 tons. The pit closed in 1990 but the buildings and headframes have been retained.
B.A.Malaws, RCAHMW, 11 February 2009.
