History

 

The colliery was opened by John Wilkinson in the 18th Century and a pumping engine house was erected at Penrhos about 1794.  It was probably of the Hornblower type and is believed to be the earliest surviving engine house in Wales.  The building was later converted into a cottage and you can still see traces of the old fireplaces, bread oven and pigsty.

 

Two associated collieries are Bye/Blast and Smelt although in the late 19th/early 20th centuries it was said that records showed around 90 areas of working; coal was close to the surface and thus easily extracted.