Main Content Area
Clydach Coal Level
On the left hand side of the Heads of the Valleys Road on the final approach to Brynmawr are a pair of well-preserved and dated coal levels with a tramroad connection to the Clydach Railroad, which originally ran down the Clydach Gorge to Gilwern.
The levels were owned and operated by the Brecon Boat Company, the principal trader on the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal, and the Clydach Railroad was built to link the top of the Ironworks along the heads of the Blaenau Gwent valleys with the canal in 1795. The Brecon Boat Company was granted permission to build a branch from Clydach Bridge to their new colliery nearby on 19 November 1812, at a cost of £75. The line was built across part of the River Clydach, which was diverted through a tunnel to allow free access to two level mouths.
The tunnel for the river, the tramroad embankment, and the two levels are still clearly visible. Both levels are open and can be seen to be rock cut and unlined, but the level further to the east was refronted as part of the retaining wall of the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway in 1862.
The site is a scheduled ancient monument and is regarded as being of national importance as well preserved examples of early coal levels dated to 1812 with an associated tramroad and river tunnel.
Clydach Coal Level
On the left hand side of the Heads of the Valleys Road on the final approach to Brynmawr are a pair of well-preserved and dated coal levels with a tramroad connection to the Clydach Railroad, which originally ran down the Clydach Gorge to Gilwern.
The levels were owned and operated by the Brecon Boat Company, the principal trader on the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal, and the Clydach Railroad was built to link the top of the Ironworks along the heads of the Blaenau Gwent valleys with the canal in 1795. The Brecon Boat Company was granted permission to build a branch from Clydach Bridge to their new colliery nearby on 19 November 1812, at a cost of £75. The line was built across part of the River Clydach, which was diverted through a tunnel to allow free access to two level mouths.
The tunnel for the river, the tramroad embankment, and the two levels are still clearly visible. Both levels are open and can be seen to be rock cut and unlined, but the level further to the east was refronted as part of the retaining wall of the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway in 1862.
The site is a scheduled ancient monument and is regarded as being of national importance as well preserved examples of early coal levels dated to 1812 with an associated tramroad and river tunnel.
