THE OGMORE VALLEY

LOCAL HISTORY & HERITAGE SOCIETY

Tel: 01656 842 258

EMAIL: ovlhs@ovlhs.co.uk

Timeline 1801 – 1900

From the coming of the railways and the sinking of the first coal mines to the industrialisation of the Ogmore Valley.

 

1805

Coal Mining on an indutsrial begins in the Ogmore Valley
Mountainside Outcrops and Pockets worked on the Rhondda No1, No2 and No. 3 seams.

25th May 1819

Paran Chapel, Blackmill established.
Welsh Baptists.

24th Oct 1819

Capel Newydd, Glynogwr, established
Welsh Methodists.

1820

Rev. Wm. Williams, Paran Chapel set up a Mutual Benefits Club in Blackmill.

1840

Post Office established in Blackmill, serving Ogmore, Garw and Glynogwr.

1844

Tithe Map.
Llangeinor Parish Farms: Nant Moel, Nant Dyris (1580), Fronwen, Ty Newydd, Cae Dddu[sic].
Llandyfodwg Parish Farms: Blaen Ogwr.

1846

Bethania Welsh Independant Chapel, Ogmore Vale, established.
Now the home of the Ogmore Valley Silver Prize Band

1848

The “Graig” Cottage built, only place of worship for many years in the valley.

c.1858 -1865

Early working of coal from the outcrops of the No.2 and No.3 Rhondda seams for sale. Early prospecting for coal by Trial levels and shallow pits.

1863

Act of Parliament for the construction of a railway from Tondu to Nantymoel promoted by J. Brogden & Sons and Others.

1865

Nantymoel “Klondyke” Collieries (a series of drift mines) opened in Nantymoel.
Closed in 1872.

1st Aug 1865

The railway was opened for mineral traffic from Nantymoel to Porthcawl Harbour.
Tynewydd [Ogmore Vale] and Nantymoel railway stations opened.

1865

J. Brogden & Sons opened Caedu Colliery, (No.2 Rhondda seam).
Caedu Colliery closed in 1891. The “Two Wheels” are the remains of the Endless haulage System for taking coal down to the valley floor and returning emoty drams to the colliery.

1865

J. Brogden & Sons opened Tynewydd Colliery, (No.3 Rhondda seam).
The Tynewydd (No. 3 Rhondda) Colliery was closed in 1905.

1865

J. Brogden & Sons commenced the sinking of Wyndham Colliery No. 1 and No. 2 Pits.

1865

Nicholson and Taylor – Aber Coal Company opened the Aber (No. 2. Rhondda Seam) Drift Mine on Mynydd Aber near Aber House.
Aber (Rhondda N0. 2 Seam) colliery closed in 1894.

1866

The Aber (No. 2. Rhondda Seam) Drift Mine taken over by the Aber and
Ynysawdre Coal & Coke Company.

28th Jun 1866

The Ogmore Valley Railway Act was passed by Parliament to construct a Branch line from Brynmenin to Blaengarw.

1867

Sinking of Wyndham Colliery No. 1 and No. 2 Pits completed to the Nine Feet seam at 272 Yards.

3rd Apr 1867

The first recorded fatal accident in the collieries of the Ogmore Valley; at Aber (No. 2 Rhondda Seam) Colliery John James, a collier 40 years old was killed by a fall of coal.

1869

Permanent Winding Engine installed in the Wydnham Colliery. Date stamped in stone on face of Winding House.
This remianed in use until 1945 when the colliery was electrified.

1870

The first “Rhondda Main” Colliery opened. This was a drift mine located at the rear of Caedu Road, Ogmore Vale, driving into Craig Caedu on the Western side of the valley.
This 1st Rhondda Main Colliery closed in 1876.

1870

A Boys and Girls school was established at Nos. 1 and 2 Long Row, [Nantymoel Row]. At about this time a mixed school was established at Tynewydd [Ogmore Vale] in the “Oxford University Buildings” near the northern end of Tynewydd Row.
These were originally “Company Schools”, the fees for which were 1d/2d per child per week. The Education Act made education compulsory for all children aged 4 years to 14 years.

1870

Police Station opened [in the northern end house of Llewellyn Street] Ogmore Vale.

1870

David Davies, Llandinam and his Ocean Coal Company commenced the sinking of Ocean Western Colliery at Blaenogwr, “Nantymole”.

1871

John Williams established his house and shops “Aberdare House”, Commercial Street, Ogmore Vale.

1872

A school was built at Ogmore Vale by Mrs. Blandy Jenkins; it was known as “AberCraigrhiwglyn Board School” which later became Aber Boys School

1872

Bethel Chapel Nantymoel opened.

1872

Nantymoel “Klondyke” Collieries closed.
These were a series of Drift Mines. The “Three Wheels” in Nantymoel are the remains of the endless haulage drums theses drift mines used to get the coal to the valley floor.

1872

Fronwen Colliery (drift mine) opened.
Fronwen Colliery closed c.1876.

1873

1st Winding Engine installed at the Ocean Western Colliery.
This engine remained until 1951 when the Ocean Western Colliery was converted from Steam Power to Electric Power.

1874

Police Station at Northern end house of Llewellyn Street, Ogmore Vale.

1874

Dinam Welsh Calvanistic Methodists Chapel opened in Nantymoel.

7th Dec 1874

An explosion of Methane Gas occurred during the sinking of “Edward’s” Pit at Ocean Western Colliery at Nant mole[sic]. This would be the joint worst loss of life in the Ogmore Valley Collieries from 1865 – 1984.
Lewis Davies, aged 43 yrs.
Thomas Davies, aged 27 yrs.
Thomas Watkins, aged 27 yrs.
Thomas Morris, aged 28 yrs.
Rowland Pugh, aged 25 yrs.

Before 1875

The first Rhondda Main Colliery shaft was opened to the rear of the present-day Walters Road, Ogmore Vale; there was a row of “huts” near by.

3rd Feb 1875

An explosion occurred at Wyndham Colliery in a cabin near pit bottom; the colliery carpenter was killed by falling into the sump at the bottom of the shaft.

1875

Llandyfodwg School Board founded.

1876

Blackmill to Gilfach Goch Railway opened.

1876

Fronwen Colliery Closed.

1876

The 1st Rhondda Main Colliery closed.
This was a drift mine located at the rear of Caedu Road, Ogmore Vale, driving into Craig Caedu on the Western side of the valley.

15th Sep 1876

The foundation stone of Bethlehem Welsh Baptist Chapel (Capel Y Bedyddwyr) was laid by Alex. Brogden Esq. MP

2nd October 1873

The Cardiff and Ogmore Railway was incorporated on 21 July 1873 to build a line from C&O Junction on the Ogmore Valley line north of Blackmill, to Llanharan on the South Wales Main Line.
For mineral traffic only.

25th Oct 1876

A Branch Railway line was opened from Brynmenin [sic] to Blaengarw.

1876

The building of the Corbett Hotel.
First headquarters of Ogmore Vale Rugby Football Club

1877

Saron Welsh Baptists Chapel opened in Nantymoel.

1877

The Ogmore Valley to Barry Railway was opened.

1878

Gilead Chapel, Nantymoel, opened.

1878

Caedu Colliery opened. Owned by Llynfi, Tondu, Ogmore Coal & Iron Co.

1878

A new church was completed in Station Road.

1878

Nantymoel to Barry Railway line opened.

1878

Bethlehem Welsh Baptist Chapel, Ogmore Vale, opened.

1879

Horeb English Baptist Church was established in the then day school for Nantymoel in Nantymoel Row.

1880

The Gwalia Stores opened in Commercial Street by the Llewellyn Family of Gorwyl House.

1880

Glynogwr school opened by Llandyfodwg School Board.

1880

Calvary Chapel, Ogmore Vale opened.

1880

Llangeinor School Board founded.

1882

Mount Zion Chapel, Nantymoel Opened.

1883

Nantymoel Railway Station taken over by GWR.

9th Jan 1884

Samuel Edge, aged 12 years of age, a door boy, was injured at Caedu Colliery.
He was “knocked down by trams”. He is one of the youngest recorded fatality in the collieries of the Ogmore Valley.

1884

Three schools were built in Dinam Street, Nantymoel by the Llandyfodwg School Board;
Nantymoel Boys School, Nantymoel Girls School and Nantymoel Infants School.

1884

Police Station opened in Bethania Row, Ogmore Vale.

8th Aug 1884

“Tynewydd” railway station on the Llynfi and Ogmore section to be changed to “Tynewydd, Ogmore Vale” by GWR .

1885

Wesley Methodist Chapel, Ogmore Vale opened.

1885

The Nantymoel Industrial Co-operative Society was established.

1886

Aber Colliery (Rhonnda No. 3 Seam) opened. This was the large Colliery immediately below Aber Cwm-y-Fuwch farm.
Aber Colliery (Rhondda No. 3 Seam) closed in 1914.

1886

Llangeinor School Board established.

1886

The Tynewydd (No. 2 Rhondda Rider Seam) Colliery was opened.

1887

Llangeinor School Board opened a mixed school for 250 pupils on the Black Road, south of Nantymoel Row.
It was known as the Wyndham School probably because of its proximity to the Wyndham Colliery.

15th Sep 1887

James Jones, Manager of the Wyndham Colliery dies on this day.
He would later be the first person interred at Pwll-y-pant cemetery, Ogmore Vale.

14th May 1888

An explosion occurred at Aber (No. 2 Rhondda Seam) Colliery. With 5 men killed by an explosion of Methane gas, this equalled the worst loss of life in a single accident in the Ogmore valley Collieries. (see 1874, Edwards Pit).
Rees Joseph, aged 62 yrs.
Evan Jones, aged 18 yrs.
Jenkin Stanford, aged 27 yrs.
David Williams, aged 30 yrs.
Edward Gibbon, aged 24 yrs.

10th Jul 1888

Isaac Devonald, Engine Stoker (trains) aged 34, was the first person interred at Blaenogwr Cemetery, Nantymoel.
Born in Narberth, Pembrokeshire lodging in Long Row (now Nantymoel Row).

1889

North’s Navigation Collieries (1889) Co. Ltd. bought all of J. Brogden and Sons Co. Ltd. Colliery properties in the Ogmore Valley.

1889

St. Peter’s Church, Nantymoel opened.

1889

Hope Chapel, Nantymoel opened

1891

North’s Navigation Collieries Co. Ltd. deepened the Wyndham Colliery shafts by 80 yards to 352 yards just below the Five Feet seam.

Apr 1891

Caedu Colliery was abandoned
[No. 2. Rhondda seam].

1891

The Aber (No. 2. Rhondda Seam) Drift Mine taken over by the Aber and
Ynysawdre Coal & Coke Company

1891

Salvation Army Barracks built in Nantymoel.

17th Dec 1892

The Ogmore Vale Electric Light & Power Supply Company provided electricity for lighting in the Ogmore Valley. Power House built at Court Colman, Nantymoel.
First electric street lighting in Wales and first Domestic electric supply (at 110 volts, not today`s 230 Volts).

1st Aug 1893

Underground hauliers at Wyndham Colliery went on strike over low wages; the strike quickly spread throughout the South Wales Coalfield.

1893

The “new” Tynewydd School built at Ogmore Vale, to accommodate 800 pupils,to replace the old school at the Oxford University Buildings.
The “Old” wooden school were then converted to colliery offices and became known as Aber Offices.

Aug 1893

The Nantymoel Male Voice Party was formed in Bethel Chapel Vestry.

1893

Typhoid outbreak

4th Jan 1894

The Inaugural Meeting of the Ogmore and Garw Urban District Council was held.
Mr. Blandy Jenkins was elected Chairman.

1894

The No. 2 Rhondda seam workings at Aber Colliery were abandoned.

1894

Bethany Chapel, Nantymoel opened.

1894

Nantymoel Infants School Built.
Mr Gaylard was the building contractor, school cost £3,000.

1894

Horeb Chapel, Nantymoel opened.

7th Dec 1894

Nantymoel Male Voice Choir wins competition at Aberdare.

8th Feb 1895

Ogmore Valley Temperance Society founded.

6th Apr 1895

“Drop Tools” in collieries.

6th May 1895

Soup kitchens opened in Valley.

May 1895

The foundation stone of Philadelphia Chapel was laid by Mr. H. Dawkin Williams, Blackmill.

1895

Mr Blandy Jenkins offered land for the building of public halls in Nantymoel and Ogmore Vale.
Donated £200 to Nantymoel. Offered £100 to Ogmore Vale if Ocean Colliery Company gives £100.

1897

The Ogmore Vale Hotel purchased by Mr. Conibear
At Auction

8th Apr 1898

Nantymoel miners hold mass meeting at “Federation Stone”.
5 Months National Miners Strike.

3rd Sep 1898

Miners return to work.

7th Oct 1898

Nantymoel workmen formed a lodge in the West District of the Association of Miners.

1900

North’s Navigation Collieries installed new steam boilers and plant at Wyndham Colliery to drive a new steam powered ventilation fan to replace a furnace system of ventilation.

17th Nov 1900

Lease was signed for the land to build the Nantymoel Workmen’s Hall.

1900

The “Tin Temple” Church was built at the end of Railway Terrace, Ogmore Vale.
St Johns Church closed in 2004.

Other Timelines

Timeline 2001 – Present Day​

From the beginning of the new millennium up the the present day the Ogmore Valley has seen continued to see investment creating a better, more prosperous and healthy future. 07th Jan 2003 Unveiling and Dedication service

Timeline 1901 – 2000

From the prosperous days of the beginning of the 20th C. to the decline and eventual closure of the coal industry leading to high unemployment.   11th May 1901 The foundation stone of Nantymoel Workmen`s Hall

Timeline 1801 – 1900

From the coming of the railways and the sinking of the first coal mines to the industrialisation of the Ogmore Valley.   1805 Coal Mining on an indutsrial begins in the Ogmore Valley Mountainside Outcrops and

Timeline Pre 1800

From the end of the last ice when the Ogmore Valley was formed by glacier action to Iolo Morganwg’s Eisteddfod. 10,000 BC The end of the last Ice Age. Ogmore Valley formed by Glacier action. c.

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