DOWNCAST PIT

A 'Downcast pit' was so-called because the fresh air for mine ventilation entered the mine down it. In the case of Glyn Pits, this was the smaller of the two shafts being just nine feet in diameter. Because this was one of the first deep mines in Wales, the system of winding was one cage to each shaft. Both men and coal were wound in both shafts.

Bolted to the sides of the shaft were timber runners, or 'Guides'; These were to guide the cage in the shaft and prevent it from coming into contact with the shaft brick-work. These engaged with 'shoes', which were angle iron brackets riveted on the sides of the cage, this was standard practice then. In later years, however, most mines used rope guides suspended from the headgear, and these were tensioned by a heavyweight hung on the bottom.

It was said recently by a man who had been one of the last 'Firemen' at the Glyn that there were bends in both shafts probably caused by subsidence.

Pontypool Glyn pits 1905

The two men in oilskins standing on top of the cage are carrying out a shaft inspection.

The coal was taken by rope haulage up an incline to the screens, some one hundred yards to the West of the pithead, where it was then loaded into wagons for transport.

The trams were taken to an elevated point where they would be tipped down a grid, where the small coal passed through into a waiting railway wagon, while the lump coal rolled off into a wagon at the end of the grid.

Sinking a shaft

Inserting a garland

The pits or shafts themselves were sunk by men called 'Sinkers'. Depending on the type of ground, these men would sink a pit mainly by hand, using a bucket, called a 'Bowk' or 'Skip', on a sinking hoist as in the above 1912 photograph. After the pit was at a certain depth, a wood or metal ring would be fitted around the rim of the hole and wedged into place, and on this, the first brickwork would be laid. In some cases a 'Water Garland' would be inserted, this would collect any water running down the walls and direct it to one place for removal. This process would continue until the shaft was at the required depth. It was said that this was a very dangerous business with fatalities and injuries being very high.