History in Structure

Penallta Colliery Pit-top Offices

A Grade II Listed Building in Gelligaer, Caerphilly

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.6537 / 51°39'13"N

Longitude: -3.2455 / 3°14'43"W

OS Eastings: 313932

OS Northings: 195719

OS Grid: ST139957

Mapcode National: GBR HV.72C4

Mapcode Global: VH6DD.PPLP

Plus Code: 9C3RMQ33+FQ

Entry Name: Penallta Colliery Pit-top Offices

Listing Date: 5 November 1991

Last Amended: 18 July 2001

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 13584

Building Class: Industrial

ID on this website: 300013584

Location: Situated between Ystrad Mynach and Gelligaer, on the east side of Penalltau Road. The Pit Top Offices are to the east of the baths building.

County: Caerphilly

Town: Ystrad Mynach

Community: Gelligaer

Community: Gelligaer

Locality: Penalltau

Built-Up Area: Ystrad Mynach

Traditional County: Glamorgan

Tagged with: Office building

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History

Penallta Colliery was built between 1905 and 1909, at the height of the South Wales coal trade. It was established by the Powell Dyffryn Steam Coal Company, the region’s largest mining company, on the most modern principles as the ‘super-pit’ of its day. The surface buildings were laid out in matching architectural style in a spacious, artificially levelled area, on a rectilinear plan giving the ideal spatial arrangement of activities. The design of the enormous engine hall in particular was an important innovation copied at many later collieries. The colliery became one of the largest in Wales with 3,200 miners and a high output of top-quality steam coal. By 1935, Penallta held the European record for coal produced in a single week.

Exterior

Pit Top Offices built to provide ‘dirty’ offices for officials concerned with regular visits underground. They are of the same style as the original colliery buildings, of Pennant sandstone here rendered, with red brick dressings, comprising dentilled window and door surrounds incorporating keystone, pilasters, plinth and cornice. Roof formerly of slate with ridge tiles, now stripped. The building is gabled on a N/S axis and is single-storey, 5 bays long and 2 bays wide: 4 segmental arched windows and central door, all now blocked, to main E-facing elevation. Gable end has 2 similar windows and a door.

Interior

Divided into offices.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as an integral part of this exceptionally fine colliery complex. Group value with other listed items.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

  • II Penallta Colliery Lamp Room
    Situated between Ystrad Mynach and Gelligaer, on the east side of Penalltau Road. The Lamproom is immediately to the south of the Workshops.
  • II Penallta Colliery Electricity Building
    Situated between the Baths building and the Lamp room, close to the rear of the latter and set slightly higher in the slope.
  • II* Penallta Colliery Baths Building
    Situated between Ystrad Mynach and Gelligaer, on the east side of Penalltau Road. The Baths Building faces Penalltau Road, on the west of the complex.
  • II* Penallta Colliery No.1 Headframe
    Situated between Ystrad Mynach and Gelligaer, on the east side of Penalltau Road. The western of the two headframes, at the centre of the complex.
  • II Penallta Colliery Workshops
    Situated between Ystrad Mynach and Gelligaer, on the east side of Penalltau Road. The Workshops are at centre of the colliery complex, west of the Engine Hall.
  • II Penallta Colliery Old Stores
    Situated between Ystrad Mynach and Gelligaer, on the east side of Penalltau Road. The Old Stores are to the west of the main workshops.
  • II* Penallta Colliery No.2 Headframe
    Situated between Ystrad Mynach and Gelligaer, on the east side of Penalltau Road. The eastern of the two headframes, at the east of the complex.
  • II* Penallta Colliery Engine Hall and Fan House
    Situated between Ystrad Mynach and Gelligaer, on the east side of Penalltau Road. The Engine Hall is at the north side of the colliery complex.

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