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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