Coal industry in Wales

The industry had reached large proportions by the end of that century, and then further expanded to supply steam-coal for the steam vessels that were beginning to trade around the world.

[1] The supply of coal dwindled[citation needed], and pits closed in spite of a UK-wide strike against closures.

[1] The South Wales Coalfield extends from parts of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire in the west, through Swansea, Llanelli, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend County Borough, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly County Borough and Blaenau Gwent to Torfaen in the east.

At that time warm seas invaded much of southern and northeastern Wales, and coral reefs flourished and were laid down as limestone deposits.

Archaeological evidence shows that it was burned in funeral pyres in Wales during the Bronze Age and cinders have been found in Roman settlements in Britain.

John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute was a large landowner in south Wales and developed the coal and iron industries in Glamorganshire in the 19th century.

He sold some outlying parts of his estate in order to purchase other potentially more productive areas, and claimed rights to minerals under certain common lands through his feudal titles.

[9] Lord Bute was one of the main forces behind the development of Cardiff Docks for the export of coal and iron from south Wales.