Welsh Journals

Industrial Development in Clyne Valley by MICHAEL WILLIAMS IN AN ENDEAVOUR TO FACILITATE the further exploitation of the coal in Clyne valley, together with the existing limestone quarries in Mumbles, proposals were put forward in 1803 to link these two areas with Swansea by means of a canal. Protracted arguments on the merits of such a scheme led to it being abandoned and ultimately a scheme for a tramroad was agreed upon instead. Thus Clyne Valley Tramway. (l) The line ran alongside Swansea bay, between the town harbour and Blackpill, and was laid over the sand dunes and the marshy ground that had formed behind them. The dunes and the marsh proved to be unstable and the tramway company was soon in financial difficulties over the maintenance of the track. The dunes shifted continually and covered the line, while during a storm in 1820 the sea broke through the dunes and inundated the area behind. Eventually the line was taken up and relaid further inland. In spite of these difficulties the promoters of the tramway persisted in their plans. They felt that there were inexhaustible quantities" of coal of "the best quality" in the valley,(2) and this justified the expenditure on the maintenance of the tramway. The optimism expressed over the quality of the coal in the valley was somewhat exaggerated, yet in essence it was true and applicable to some areas, for the coal was of a semi-bituminous to sub-anthracitic variety. The extent of the coal was a different matter, however, for once the more accessible coals were worked out mining became increasingly difficult. The lower and often richer portions of the seams were hard to reach because the strata dipped steeply and plunged to great depths quickly. Moreover, disturbances had resulted in the shattering of the softer shales and, with overfolds, thrusts and faults, many seams became lost underground and acted as conduits for water which was likely to flood the workings. (3) These adverse natural factors added to the difficulty of working conditions and increased the costs of pumping and ventilation, all of which limited the amount of coal that could be extracted. Typical of the early optimism which prevailed over the extent of the coal reserves of the valley was an advertisement in the Cambrian news- paper of 17 January, 1837, which proudly announced the sale of fifteen veins of coal all of which have been proved within Clyne Forest and which are estimated to amount to 50 feet and upwards In fact the only sizeable vein in the Forest was the Froglane (4 feet thick), together with five veins of very thin coal (i.e. below 18 inches in thickness).