Newbridge Colliery

Calvert's Engine or the Newbridge Colliery Engine is a beam engine of 1845, now preserved on the campus of the University of Glamorgan, South Wales.

Newbridge Colliery in Gelliwion, Pontypridd was sunk in 1844. Its owner was John Calvert (1812–1890), a Yorkshireman, who would give his name to this engine. Calvert had previously been a railway contractor, the major contractor of the Taff Vale Railway, but after his initial distrust of Wales he remained in the area once the line opened and switched to mining. The winding engine was installed in 1845, in which year production began from the 55 yard No.3 Rhondda seam.

The winding engine also powered the water pump for draining the mine. Ventilation was by the bratticed split-shaft furnace method and so there was no fan engine for ventilation.

The original engine was built in 1845 by the Varteg Ironworks of Cwmavon, near Blaenavon. This was the first steam winding engine to be installed in the Rhondda valley.

The cylinder was replaced in 1861 by Brown, Lenox and Co. of Newbridge Works, Pontypridd. This new cylinder was of 26.5 inches (670 mm) bore, 5 feet (1.5 m) stroke. Although the original bore is unknown, the stroke remained the same, as the crank was unchanged. Reversing is by slip eccentric and gab valve gear.

By 1869, ownership of the mine had passed to the Fowler Brothers. In 1880 it was owned by the Newbridge and Rhondda Coal Company. Later the Crawshay family owned it.

At the end of the colliery's working, the Inspector of Mines' list of 1896 shows 489 employed there. The colliery closed in 1897 and the shaft was abandoned.

...
Wikipedia