![British](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/British.coalfields.19th.century.jpg)
The Pembrokeshire Coalfield in West
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
is one of the smallest
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
coalfields, but continuously worked from the 14th to 20th centuries. The main coalfield extends across south
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire ( ; cy, Sir Benfro ) is a Local government in Wales#Principal areas, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and the rest by sea. The count ...
from
Saundersfoot
Saundersfoot ( cy, Llanusyllt; Old Welsh: ''Llanussyllt'') is a large village and community (and former electoral ward) in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is near Tenby, both being holiday destinations. Saundersfoot lies in the Pembrokeshire Coast Nat ...
on
Carmarthen Bay
Carmarthen Bay ( cy, Bae Caerfyrddin) is an inlet of the South Wales coast, including notable beaches such as Pendine Sands and Cefn Sidan sands. Carmarthen Bay is partially within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The Joint Nature Conserva ...
westwards to
Broad Haven
Broad Haven ( cy, Aberllydan) is a village and seaside resort in the south east corner of St Bride's Bay at the western terminus of the B4341 road in south Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Broad Haven and Little Haven together form the Havens community an ...
on
St Brides Bay. A small detached portion of the field is centred on
Newgale on St Brides Bay.
The coalfield is in effect the westernmost extension of the
South Wales Coalfield
The South Wales Coalfield ( cy, Maes glo De Cymru) extends across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen. It is rich in coal deposits, espec ...
though it is separated from the main body of that field by Carmarthen Bay.
Seams
Coal seam
Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron fro ...
s within the Pembrokeshire Coalfield are traditionally referred to as veins. The following sequence is recognised in the west of the district:
The Stonepit and Quarry Veins are collectively referred to as the Sibbernock Veins. The sequence from the Three Quarter to the Foot Vein constitutes the Newgale, Simpson and Eweston Coals.
In contrast in the centre and east of the district, there are fewer veins in what is a more compressed sequence:
* Rock Vein
* Timber Vein
* Lower Level Vein
*
Kilgetty Vein
* Tan Pits Vein
History
Coal mining in Pembrokeshire dates back at least to the early 14th century. The coal was used locally or exported by sea from local ports. It was generally high-quality anthracite, but seams were mostly thin, with the best coal only available at some depth. In 1603
George Owen of Henllys
George Owen of Henllys (1552 – 26 August 1613) was a Welsh antiquarian, author, and naturalist.
Early life
George Owen was the eldest son born to Elizabeth Herbert and William Owen in Henllys of the parish of Nevern, near Newport, Pembrokesh ...
described a typical colliery as employing 16 people working from 6am to 6pm. In the 1700s collieries were employing men, women and boys for a few pence a day, rising to a shilling (for men) by 1806. By the 19th century coal mining had become an important local industry with many farmers operating mines or carting as a supplement to their income. By 1865 the coalfield was employing nearly 1,000 people. Decline began in the 19th century, with many collieries closing after 1900, but others retained a strong link between mining and agriculture. Some collieries continued into the 20th century until the
industry was nationalised in 1947, when the last colliery, at
Kilgetty, closed.
See also
*
Coal in the United Kingdom
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Coal is formed when de ...
*
History of coal mining in Great Britain
References
External links
UK Government Development Risk MapUK Government Specific Risk MapUK Government Surface Coal Resource Map
{{Coord, 51, 42, N, 4, 42, W, display=title
Coal mining in Wales
Geography of Pembrokeshire
Coal mining regions in Wales