Waun y Coed Colliery Branch Canal and Tramroad Incline

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of the remains of a 300m long branch of canal, associated docks, colliery and tramroad. The canal was built in 1828 by George Crane, owner of the Ynyscedwyn Ironworks. The stretch of canal linked the main Swansea canal with the colliery. A long narrow dock is situated c. 2m above the level of the River Tawe. In the southern corner of the dock basin is a dry dock with stop grooves. The main wharf appears to have been on the north-east side of the dock which was fed by a tram road carried over the river on a trestle bridge, and then upon the incline to the level on the scarp above.

The colliery adjacent to the base of the tramroad has excellent remains of a level mouth, chimney and haulage engine bed, and tippling wall to the Swansea Vale Railway of 1863. The remains of the drum house at the incline top held an important dual winder designed by William Brunton Senior which hauled waggons along the level track to the south as well as up the incline.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of the early nineteenth century coal mining industry and transport systems. The structures may be expected to contain archaeological information in regard to chronology, building techniques and functional detail. A colliery may be part of a larger cluster of industrial monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.