The Rhondda Valleys
..............we know the price of coal
Rhondda Valleys Information and History
High Resolution
Old Photos of the Coal Mines / Pits / Collieries in Ton Pentre in the Rhondda
Valleys, Glamorgan, South Wales.
Rhondda Valleys, Ton Pentre, Maindy Colliery |
Rhondda Valleys, Ton Pentre, Maindy Level - Roger Paul, ex Deputy Parc and Dare Colliery - photo by Greg Castling |
Rhondda Valleys, Ton Pentre, Maindy Ocean Colliery 1904 |
Rhondda Valleys, Ton Pentre, Maindy Colliery - far left standing is David Griffiths born 1853 - retired aged 73 |
The story of David Griffiths - a Ton Pentre Miner.
David Griffiths - back row left with a group of other Maindy Colliery workers.
David Griffiths was born in Trefeglwys, near Llanidloes in the county
of Montgomeryshire in around 1853. At an early age he worked in the lead
mines of Trefeglwys, a dangerous occupation with a life expectancy of
no more than 40 years. He married Mary in Gleiniant C.M. Chapel in Trefeglwys
on the 25th March 1880.
Montgomeryshire, Gleiniant C.M. Chapel Trefeglwys, Copyright John Lucas
On the 1881 census David and Mary are living at a property named Tan y Fron, in Llanidloes, and they have a young daughter named Sarah, and David's occupation is a lead ore miner. In 1882 they moved to the Rhondda Valleys and he began work in the Maindy Colliery in Ton Pentre. The lead mines throughout Wales were becoming less profitable and this was the possible reason they had made the move to the Rhondda.
On the 1891 census David and Mary Griffiths are living at 12, Incline Row in Ton Pentre, and David is a coal miner. Their daughter Sarah is now aged 11, and they have two further daughters - Mary aged 9, and Elizabeth aged 7.
In a media article in 1930 dedicated to David and Mary's golden wedding
anniversary, it states that David had worked at the Maindy colliery in
Ton Pentre until his retirement in 1946 - aged 73. They certainly do
not make men like him any more!!
There is an excellent new website with high resolution old photos of
the United Kingdom (including the Rhondda Valleys) at
www.oldukphotos.com
If you have any old family photos or pictures of
the towns and villages please scan them in at least 1280 pixels width
and email them here.
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