Former Navigation Colliery Power House and Pump House

Cadw's description

Location

Located on a lane N from Kendon Road near the centre of Crumlin. At the N end of the colliery complex at road level, paired in position with the Fan House on the other side of the Heapstead.

History

Navigation Colliery Crumlin was built by the firm of Partridge Jones and Company between 1907 and 1911. The firm was one of the largest coal combines in S Wales, owning 9 collieries in the Gwent valleys. Navigation Colliery was a show-pit of the period with high quality buildings and up-to-date machinery. One of the earliest collieries in S Wales to be built in brick rather than local stone with brick dressings. Closed 1967 and disused since.

Exterior

A long rectangular symmetrical single-storey Power House. Of high quality red and yellow engineering brick, the yellow brick slightly projecting and partly stepped to quoins, pilasters, plinth and cornice, forming a grid pattern; Welsh slate roof with overhanging eaves and 2 gabled ridge ventilators; 3 gables each over 2 bays to centre and ends separated by two 3 bay ranges. Range of 12 deep round-arched openings with multipane metal-framed fixed glazing, 2 of which are doorways with similar glazed heads, all with narrow keystones and shallow sills to windows; roundels to the 3 gables. 3 bays wide; gable end to S has single roundel; gable end to N has doorway, now altered, occupying central bay. Steep pitched lean-to wing to rear has low round-arched windows similar to front. Most windows now blocked inside though most glazing bars are retained and visible.

Reason for designation

Listed II* as an important building in this nearly complete colliery complex of national importance. Group value with other listed former colliery buildings.