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Latitude: 51.6542 / 51°39'15"N
Longitude: -3.2451 / 3°14'42"W
OS Eastings: 313962
OS Northings: 195778
OS Grid: ST139957
Mapcode National: GBR HV.6VXC
Mapcode Global: VH6DD.PPT8
Plus Code: 9C3RMQ33+MX
Entry Name: Penallta Colliery No.1 Headframe
Listing Date: 5 November 1991
Last Amended: 18 July 2001
Grade: II*
Source: Cadw
Source ID: 13585
Building Class: Industrial
ID on this website: 300013585
Location: 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.
County: Caerphilly
Town: Ystrad Mynach
Community: Gelligaer
Community: Gelligaer
Locality: Penalltau
Built-Up Area: Ystrad Mynach
Traditional County: Glamorgan
Tagged with: Headframe
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. The rolled steel construction of the headframe was still rare at this date.
The No. 1 Headframe (the westernmost) is one of the two original headframes for the colliery, Of rolled steel, it consists of a four-legged tower with two shear legs to the winder side and a series of cross braces. There are two sheaves, with a railed access platform around them supported by curving braces.
Listed II* for its value as a landscape feature and its rarity as one of very few headframes left in South Wales. Group value with other items within this exceptionally fine colliery complex.
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.
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