Thomas Powell sunk the first deep mine at Cwmbach, Aberdare
in 1840, between then and 1863 he opened many further deep
mines both in Aberdare (Cwmdare, Abernant, Abergwawr, Middle
Duffryn and Cwmpennar) and in the Rhymney Valley. At their
peak these collieries produced over 400,000 tons of coal
each per annum.
In 1863 Thomas Powell instructed T. E. Forster, William
Armstrong and George Elliott (Later to become Sir. George)
to put a valuation on all his collieries; as a result Mr.
George Elliott formed the ‘Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company
Limited' in 1864 for the purpose of working the whole of
Thomas Powell's collieries. At this time the wealth of
the South Wales Coalfield was only just being realised.
Middle Duffryn Colliery In 1867 the P.D.S.C. Co bought
the Aberaman Estate off the iron master Crawshay Bailey
this included Aberaman Colliery, Ironworks, Brickworks,
the Mansion and all adjoining land. The acquisition of
the Aberaman Estate was an important purchase, as underneath
lay some of the best ‘steam coal' in the world and all
within easy access to the ports. Aberaman became the headquarters
of the company. P.D. coal reached markets worldwide including
the railways of India, Argentine, Uruguayan and Brazil.
The market in France was so large in 1914 they registered
as ‘Compagnie Francaise des Mines Powell Duffryn' with
their main offices at Rouen.
An able businessman, E.M Hann who had started his career
in the company in 1879 was made director of the P.D.S.C.Co
in 1916, he enabled the company to become the greatest
coal-producing company in the world. Hann acquired all
the adjoining collieries (Aberaman, Lletysiencyn, Abernant,
Gadlys and Blaengwawr); He succeeded in sinking every one
of the company's collieries in the Aberdare Valley to the
lowest seam. Hann also saw the erection of the Coal Washery
and Electric Generation Station at Middle Duffryn, Aberdare
introducing electric power for lighting, haulage, winding,
pumping, coal cutting machines etc. Hann's activities also
influenced the social welfare and local government of Aberdare,
he was elected the first President of Aberdare General
Hospital in 1918 where today we still have a ward named
after him and a tablet to his memory Hann died in 1931
and his sons continued his work.
The Company registered as ‘Powell Duffryn Associated Collieries'
in 1935 with the amalgamation of the P.D.S.C.Co Ltd and
Welsh Associated Collieries Ltd. A later amalgamation was
witnessed with ‘Messrs. Cory Brothers and Co. Ltd' towards
the end of 1942, the name then changed to ‘Powell Duffryn
Ltd.'
The National Coal Board took over all ‘Powell Duffryn
Ltd's' interests in 1947, but they indirectly retained
a considerable influence on the management of the coal
industry with many of their management retaining senior
level posts with the N.C.B. particularly in the South Wales
area.
After 1947 with their coal interests being divested, ‘Powell
Duffryn Co.' diversed and expanded in other directions
and by the early 1980s, they had worldwide recognition
in the field of engineering, shipping (travel), bulk liquid
storage, fuel distribution, construction, wagon manufacture
to name but a few. In 1980/81 the turnover reached £456m.
Their commercial interests in South Wales include: -
Powell Duffryn Engineering (Llantrisant)
Powell Duffryn Travel (Cardiff)
Cory Brothers (Cardiff)
Powell Duffryn Timber (Barry)
Powell Duffryn Quarries (Merthyr, Machen
Caerffili, Penhow and Newport)
The Dan-y-Graig Brick Co. (Risca)
Powell Duffryn Wagon Co. Ltd., Cardiff)
Powell Duffryn Oil and Chemical storage Co. (Barry)
With all this achievement it is quite unbelievable to think
that this multi-million, multi-national company's origins
can be traced back to Cwmbach, Aberdare 1840.
