WYNNSTAY COLLIERY
(a.k.a. The Green)
The Wynnstay Colliery, Ruabon, (also known as "The Green") was initially owned by the New British Iron Company who had works at Acrefair; this is shown on the OS map which was surveyed in 1872/3 and published in 1879.
Click on any image to see a larger one in a pop-up.
It was sunk in 1856, with two shafts and a depth of 1,244 feet. Wynnstay Collieries Ltd., was a company formed in order to acquire the colliery when the New Briish Iron Company ceased operation in 1886.
The colliery was eventually abandoned in September 1927, production having ceased in July.
Queen Victoria and some of her family visited Pale Hall in 1889; during this stay a party, including Princess Beatrice and husband Prince Henry of Battenburg, travelled by train from Llanderfel to Ruabon where they were met and escorted to the Colliery.
There had been a number of fatal accidents during the pit's working life (see text of the former webpage about this colliery for some of the reports).
Helmets and dustcoats were donned and after an extensive underground tour the Princess activated a shot-firing button (a certificate had been completed to cover this).
Royal Visit to Wynnstay Colliery
At her request a holiday was granted in honour of the visit by the princess, who kept the pick which she had used and a lump of coal as souvenirs.
The above photo can be found in a few places on the internet and would seem to have been taken not long after the colliery closed (info re any other photos would be appreciated).
Royal Visit to Wynnstay Colliery
General Information
Various journals and newspapers carried articles regarding this unusual visit.
Listed remains of the colliery