CHAPTER XVII 
THE SOUTH WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE COALFIELD 
PART I 
Oniy since the advent of ocean-going steamers and 
the development of modern ships of war has the coal of 
Glamorganshire, Monmouthshire and Carmarthenshire, 
usually referred to as * South Wales ” coal, attained its 
present importance. In the early part of the last century 
and during the century before, South Wales was regarded 
less as a coalfield than as an iron-producing centre. The 
coal to smelt the ore found in the valleys that run down to 
the sea was worked easily from the outcrops, and used 
freely for that purpose. In 1839 there were no fewer 
than forty iron plants, comprising 132 furnaces, the 
property of as many owners—coal-miners only because 
they were iron-smelters—operating in South Wales and 
Monmouthshire. Scanning these names, it is easy to 
recognise in many among them the founders of some of 
the largest and most prosperous collieries of later times, 
whose tips and sidings now probably occupy the sites of 
ancient furnaces and forges. The early importance of 
Welsh iron-making has, however, been since eclipsed by 
the Scottish, Cleveland and Derbyshire districts. On the 
other hand, the steam-raising qualities of Welsh coal, 
which are superior to those of any other known fuel, have 
developed Welsh collieries to such an extent as to utilise 
a huge capital and afford employment at high wages for a 
large and constantly increasing number of men. 
The early output of Welsh coal was scanty. In 1854, 
including the anthracite mines of Breconshire and Pem- 
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