Powell Duffryn

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Powell Duffryn was a United Kingdom coal mining and engineering company.

The beginnings of the company were based around the efforts of Thomas Powell, who sunk the first deep coal mine at Cwmbach, Aberdare in 1840. Between then and 1863, he opened further deep mines in Aberdare (Cwmdare, Abernant, Abergwawr, Middle Duffryn and Cwmpennar) and also in the Rhymney Valley. At their peak, these collieries each produced over 400,000 tons of coal per annum.

In 1864, George Elliott formed the ‘Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company Limited' 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. In 1867 the company bought the Aberaman Estate from iron master Crawshay Bailey. This estate 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 reach of the ports.

Aberaman became the headquarters of the company and it's coal reached markets worldwide, including the railways of India, Argentine, Uruguay and Brazil. The market in France was so large in 1914 that they registered as ‘Compagnie Francaise des Mines Powell Duffryn' with their main offices at Rouen.

E.M Hann, who had started his career with the company in 1879, was made director of the company 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. 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 the company 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.' 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 and wagon manufacture. In 1980/81, their turnover reached £456m.

Their commercial interests in South Wales include: -