Situated near the Cardiff - Merthyr canal at Abercanaid, near Merthyr, it was sunk in
1849 by William Crawshay. It had two winding shafts, Upper and Lower pits, Nos. 1 and 2 respectively,
both about 120 yards deep. There was also a shallower shaft use for ventilation, which was by
furnace. Yet another shaft was kept for pumping only. The colliery produced
coking coal, which supplied Crawshay's furnaces at Cyfartha.
On February 19th 1862, an explosion occurred here in the four feet seam killing 47 men and boys.
Naked lights were in general use with safety lamps issued to men working in stalls where gas had been found.
At the inquest doubt was cast on the adequacy of the ventilation and the jury held John Moody, the
general manager responsible. He was bailed to appear at the Assizes on a charge
of Manslaughter, but the Grand jury at the Assizes declared there was no case to
answer and he was freed with no restrictions. Another explosion on the 20th of December 1865, this time
killing 36 men and boys. At the inquest the jury found John Moody, to have been culpably negligent in
discharging his duties. Once again he was summoned to appear before the Grand jury at the
Assizes. On this occasion he was indicted, but on the order of the Judge he was
acquitted, although he was obliged to mount a defence. He was found not guilty.
From the Inspector
of Mines list 1896, Gethin No. 2 was then owned by the Crayshaw Brothers, producing steam coal and employing
308 men. By 1908 the employment number had risen to 500. Coal production ceased in the 1920's and it was used
as a pumping station until its closure in 1947.
Death Roll
Gethin Colliery
19th February 1862
Name Age Of Beynon, Edward 37 Rhydycar Davies, Evan - Twynyrodyn Davies, Herbert 20 Rhydycar Davies, Isaiah 41, Abercanaid Davies, William 21 Wyndham Street, Troedyrhiw Edwards, Edward 44 Nantygwenith Street Edwards, John 52 Nantygwenith Street Edwards, William J. 37 George Street Evans, Morgan 13 Grawen Terrace Evans, Thomas 14 George Street Evans, Thomas 30 Penydarren Evans, Thomas 38 Cefncoedycymmer Evans,William 24 Upper Colliers Row Griffiths, Daniel 48 Howell Street Father
Griffiths, Griffith 13 Howell Street Son Griffiths, Griffith 17 Nantygwenith Street Griffiths, Morgan 26 Mount Street Griffiths, Silvanus 43 Cefncoed Griffiths, Thomas 17 Troedyrhiw Gwynne, James 32 Cyfarthfa Lane Hughes, William 11 Witty's Court, Glebeland Humphries, William 13 Coffin's Court Jenkins, David 21 Tramroad-Side South Brother Jenkins, William 29 Tramroad-Side South.Brother Jones, Ebenezer 44 Tranch Vach Father
Jones, Titus 16 Tranch Vach Son Jones, Jenkin 39 Park Square Jones, John 23 Heolgerrig Jones, John 31 Gethin Jones, Samuel 38 Ynysfach Jones, Thomas 20 Lower Colliers Row Lewis, John 62 Nantygwenith Lane Lewis, Richard 56 Twynyrodyn Lewis, William 18 Abercanaid Morgan, Rees 35 Swansea Road Morgan, Samuel 27 Heolgerrig Morris, Thomas 13 White Street Powell, Griffith 56 Chapel Street Rees, Daniel 33 Tramroad-Side North Rees, George 20 Tramroad-Side South Rees, Lewis 22 Picton Square Richards, Benjamin 30 Iron Lane,Georgetown Richards, William 42 Wern
Thomas, Thomas - - Turner, James 36 Tydfil's Well Road Walters, Thomas 21 Bethel Street Williams, William 32 Heolgerrig
Death Roll
Gethin Colliery
20th December 1865
Name Age Of Beddoe, David 49 Nantygwenith Bowen, Thomas 42 8 Temperance Street Daniel, John 47 10 David Street,Morgantown Davies, David 18, 79 Ynysgau Davies, Rees 11 5 Aberdare Road Davies, Rees 75 31 Ynysfach Ellis, David 41 3 Newton Street, Abercanaid Ellis, Griffith 48 Newton Street, Abercanaid
Griffiths, Evan` 12 Iron Lane, Georgetown Harris, Samuel 28 11 George Street James, John 22 Parrot Public House, Quarry Street Lewis, Harding 35 7 George Street Lewis, Henry 13 9 Pond Row, Abercanaid Lewis, John 16 20 Brecon Road Luke, David 12 26 Tramroadside, Pontmorlais, Son Luke, John 34 26 Tramroadside, Pontmorlais, Father Morgan, Griffith 42 2 Sunny Bank, Brecon Road Morgan, John 33 13 Cyfarthfa Row Morgan, John 21 Ynysfach Morgan, Joseph 23 23 Garden Street, Son Morgan, Thomas 46 23 Garden Street, Father Morris, Thomas 35 Cwmglo Morris, William 42 26 Brewery Street Phelps, John 13 23 Garden Street, Rees, Joseph 29 Yew Street Rees, Vavasour 51 Park View.Grawen Terrace, Father Rees, William 16 Park View, Grawen Terrace, Son Richards, Alex. 23 Back Waterloo Street, Caepantywyll Stephens, Ayliffe 15 75 John St.Georgetown Thomas, Daniel P. 20 Brother Lewis
Thomas,Lewis Price 25 Cefn Isaf, Brother Daniel
Thomas, David 24 3 Tabernacle Row, Brother Roderick
Thomas, Roderick 20 3 Tabernacle Row, Brother David Thomas, James 22 23 Back Heolgerrig Thomas, Morgan 16 72 Cyfarthfa Lane Thomas, Morgan 16 27 Cyfarthfa Row
Information on individual collieries kindly supplied by www.welshcoalmines.co.uk