Former Llanbradach Colliery engine hall

Cadw's description

Location

Llanbradach Colliery is on the steep hillside to the W of the village. The engine hall is on the uppermost level at the NW end of the colliery.

History

Llanbradach Colliery was opened in 1894 by Cardiff Steam Coal Collieries Ltd. Although one of the smaller coal companies, it became one of the largest collieries in South Wales, employing 3000 colliers at its peak in 1913. It continued in operation after nationalisation but was closed in 1961. Ordnance Survey maps suggest 2 main phases of development, the extant structures mostly belonging to the second phase, of the early C20, when most of the original buildings appear to have been replaced. Most of the colliery buildings have survived and have been in use for a variety of light industrial purposes. They form an unusually complete and impressive colliery complex prominently sited overlooking the Rhymney Valley.

The engine hall is first shown on the 1915 Ordnance Survey, replacing an earlier engine hall shown here on the 1898 Ordnance Survey and in a contemporary photograph. The engine hall contained electricity generators, compressors and a winding engine.

Exterior

A long single-storey gabled structure consisting of 3 parallel ranges oriented N-S, the W range shorter, but forming a 3-bay facade to the N. The N and W walls are of rubble sandstone with rock-faced dressings, the E and S walls are of snecked, rock-faced sandstone. The roof is replaced with corrugated metal sheets behind coped gables and with raised ridges. On the N side, the central bay is buttressed and has an oriel window with iron-frame glazing (blocked behind the glazing bars), below which is an inserted door for vehicular access. The L and R bays each have 3 stepped round-headed windows with iron-frame glazing, with lately added projections below in the L bay, and an inserted doorway and blocked segmental headed window below in the R bay.

The E elevation is buttressed and has 2 tiers of windows, grouped 3:4:4:4:3 at the lower level and 1:2:2:2:1 at the upper level, the upper windows having a continuous sill band. The windows are segmental-headed, and retain original iron-frame glazing at the S end but are mostly replaced at the N end, corresponding with the recent internal division of the building. Near the S end is an additional buttressed bay with a square window above the former opening for the winding cables, now blocked.

In the S elevation the central and E bays have oriels above an inserted wide doorway with blocked segmental headed windows to their R. The W range is set well back and has an oriel above an added lean-to.

Interior

The building has been subdivided into one large unit at the N end and 2 smaller units at the S end. Otherwise it is open to the roof and has wrought iron trusses, the valleys of the roofs carried on rows of steel uprights. The walls have a dado of brown tiles above which the walls are plastered with panelled pilasters and a moulded cornice. The central range retains, at the N end, a travelling crane on wrought iron columns and girders.

Reason for designation

Listed as one of the best preserved and accomplished of colliery engine halls and for group value with other associated items at Llanbradach Colliery.