Trimsaran
Encyclopedia
Trimsaran is a former mining village
which lies on the B4308 between Llanelli
and Kidwelly
, in the Welsh
county of Carmarthenshire
.
Trimsaran is six miles (10 km) from Llanelli
, and 13 miles (20.9 km) from Carmarthen
. It is close to Burry Port
harbour, Pembrey Country Park
and the Millennium Coastal Park
.
taking place in the Trimsaran area dating back hundreds of years. By 1896, the Inspector of Mines noted that Trimsaran employed 144 men, producing coal
, anthracite, and fireclay.
By the early 1900s, three drift mines made up Trimsaran colliery: Caedean (deepest), Waunhir and the Upper slant; all connected underground and on the surface by a tramway. By 1908, Waunhir and Cadean employed 198 men, while by 1918 the workforce had grown to 435. By 1923 352 men employed at Caedean Slant, Upper Slant employed 63 men and Waunhir 126 men.
There were three notable mining accident
s:
By 1931 the mine was owned by Amalgamated Anthracite Ltd. and employed 700 men on the existing working. These drifts closed in 1934 and was replaced by the Waunffynhonnau drift (new drift or Wimpey drift), which employed over 300 men in 1945. The mine was closed by the National Coal Board
in April 1954, with most of the workforce going to Carway or Pentremawr Colliery
.
The site was later opened up as part of Celtic Energy's move into opencast mining, called Ffos Las, but was closed in 1997.
As part of the redevelopment of the site, it has been approved to become a coarse fishing
lake, quad bike
and mountain biking
centre, before proposed redevelopment of the site as a £16 million/1000m horse racing course
, training centre and a grandstand for 1,000 spectators. A hotel and up to 250 houses would also be built on the site of the 608 acres (2.5 km²) site.
involvement, and is a sport that plays a part in the local community. Rugby was first played in Trimsaran in 1910 but the first recorded captain was Bill Bailey in 1927. Players who have graduated from Trimsaran RFC
onto represent Wales included Jonathan Davies and Garan Evans
.
Pit village
A pit village is a term used in the UK for the village serving a deep coal mine.Many of the workers lived in houses that were provided by the colliery. Many villages have experienced depopulation after colliery closures forced people to move to other towns and cities where there are jobs for them...
which lies on the B4308 between Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
and Kidwelly
Kidwelly
Kidwelly is a town in Carmarthenshire, west Wales, approximately north-west of the main town of Llanelli.It lies on the River Gwendraeth Fach above Carmarthen Bay. The town is twinned with French village St Jacut de la Mer.-History:...
, in the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
county of Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
.
Trimsaran is six miles (10 km) from Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
, and 13 miles (20.9 km) from Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
. It is close to Burry Port
Burry Port
Burry Port is a small town five miles outside the larger centre of Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the Loughor estuary. The town's population is roughly 8,000 although in the 2001 census there were 4209 residents....
harbour, Pembrey Country Park
Pembrey Country Park
Pembrey Country Park is a country park in Britain. It is on the coast of south Wales, near the village of Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, and the town of Llanelli....
and the Millennium Coastal Park
Millennium Coastal Park
The Millennium Coastal Park was originally a project undertaken by Llanelli Borough Council to transform a 20 km stretch of industrial wasteland on the south Carmarthenshire coast in to green parkland...
.
Trimsaran Colliery
There are historical reports of mining activitiesMining in Wales
Mining in Wales provided a significant source of income to the economy of Wales throughout the nineteenth century and early twentieth century....
taking place in the Trimsaran area dating back hundreds of years. By 1896, the Inspector of Mines noted that Trimsaran employed 144 men, producing coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, anthracite, and fireclay.
By the early 1900s, three drift mines made up Trimsaran colliery: Caedean (deepest), Waunhir and the Upper slant; all connected underground and on the surface by a tramway. By 1908, Waunhir and Cadean employed 198 men, while by 1918 the workforce had grown to 435. By 1923 352 men employed at Caedean Slant, Upper Slant employed 63 men and Waunhir 126 men.
There were three notable mining accident
Mining accident
A mining accident is an accident that occurs during the process of mining minerals.Thousands of miners die from mining accidents each year, especially in the processes of coal mining and hard rock mining...
s:
- February 1907, Waunhir slant - 6 men died when a coupling plate broke and full mine-cars ran down the drift - the men had no chance.
- 1909 - an explosion in the Caedean Slant killed 4 men, possibly caused by firedampFiredampFiredamp is a flammable gas found in coal mines. It is the name given to a number of flammable gases, especially methane. It is particularly commonly found in areas where the coal is bituminous...
. - 26 April 1923- 12 men died whilst travelling out of the mine the end of the day shift, when part of the journey of drams, in which they were riding suddenly careered back down the slope after a connecting shackle broke.
By 1931 the mine was owned by Amalgamated Anthracite Ltd. and employed 700 men on the existing working. These drifts closed in 1934 and was replaced by the Waunffynhonnau drift (new drift or Wimpey drift), which employed over 300 men in 1945. The mine was closed by the National Coal Board
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
in April 1954, with most of the workforce going to Carway or Pentremawr Colliery
Pentremawr Colliery
Pentremawr Colliery was a coal mine, located in the Gwendraeth valley in Carmarthenshire, South Wales.Due to the angle and depth of the anthracite in this part of Wales, Pentremawr was a slant mine, and hence access and extraction of the coal did not need a shaft...
.
The site was later opened up as part of Celtic Energy's move into opencast mining, called Ffos Las, but was closed in 1997.
As part of the redevelopment of the site, it has been approved to become a coarse fishing
Coarse fishing
Coarse fishing is a term used in the United Kingdom and Ireland for angling for coarse fish, which are those types of freshwater fish other than game fish . The sport and the techniques used are particularly popular in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe.-History:The term "coarse fishing"...
lake, quad bike
Quad bike
A Quad bike is recognised by UK law as a vehicle with four wheels and a mass of less than 550 kg.To drive a quad bike on a public road, in the UK, requires a B1 licence as well as tax, insurance and registration.-19th century:...
and mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
centre, before proposed redevelopment of the site as a £16 million/1000m horse racing course
Ffos Las racecourse
The Ffos Las racecourse is a horse racing, equestrian sports and conferencing venue situated just off the B4317 road, opposite the Glyn Abbey Golf Club, in a rural area called Ffos Las between Trimsaran and Carway and is about north of Llanelli...
, training centre and a grandstand for 1,000 spectators. A hotel and up to 250 houses would also be built on the site of the 608 acres (2.5 km²) site.
Trimsaran Rugby Club
Trimsaran is known for its rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
involvement, and is a sport that plays a part in the local community. Rugby was first played in Trimsaran in 1910 but the first recorded captain was Bill Bailey in 1927. Players who have graduated from Trimsaran RFC
Trimsaran RFC
Trimsaran United Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from the village of Trimsaran in South Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets.-Club badge:...
onto represent Wales included Jonathan Davies and Garan Evans
Garan Evans
Garan Rhys Evans is a former Welsh rugby union footballer, who plays for the Llanelli Scarlets in the Magners League. Evans has also played for Wales. He is a fullback....
.