This photograph was taken from the old Crumlin road, overlooking the Pontypool - Crumlin railway, about a half mile past the village of Old Furnace. In the background can be seen the Lower Glyn ponds, which we knew as the fishponds, where people would spend long summer days. A fire would be lit and dozens of families would be gathered around enjoying pic - nics swimming and playing games which went on until late evening. Water -cress was to be found growing in the water channels and rainbow trout use to jump for the flies, while bullrushes would gently waver in the wind, so all in all it was a peaceful and very beautiful place. On this picture, Glyn Pits cannot be seen, but they are situated on top of the high ground to the top right of the photograph.
Sadly, all that is now gone, for it has all been replaced by thousands upon thousands of tons of colliery waste spread from Hafodyrynys to the Old Furnace, covering up the lower Glyn Pond, seen here, and also the Upper Glyn Pond, which was farther up the valley. The tips, although green at times due to a liberal coating of pig manure, occasionally slips and exposes the underlying muck, reminding us that the stain on that lovely valley was man made, a product of the mining industry, but people should ask themselves why should all this waste be above ground? Dumping like this was quite unnecessary, as the technology - called 'Stowing' existed then to replace it in the mine
Engine known as The Llewellyn
Photograph with kind permission of Brian Jones
This photograph, taken on Oct 27th 1972 shows the valley and two fishponds being filled in and covered with mine waste.
Stowing machines and all the equipment needed were available more than half a century ago, long before a great deal of this waste came above ground in the first place. In a book on pneumatic stowing of mine waste, dated 1953, it stipulates that when taking out 100 tubs of coal, the area could be refilled with 60 tubs of waste. But after the 1984-1985 miners strike had ended, any chance of that was lost due to the speed each pit was closed and filled in. What a fine chance was missed here to clean up our land.
