timeline Aidan 1 - Timeline

5th century First mineshafts called adits created

15th century small coal mines being worked across Wales

1750 The first pit ponies are used in a mine in Durham

1760 Start of the industrial revolution leads to a great expansion in coal mining

1816 the newly invented davy safety lamp was used for the first time it reduced the risk of explosions improving safety underground

1842 Mines act of 1842 made it illegal for all women and girls to work underground. boys under 10 years old were also not allowed to work underground

16th and 17th century coal started being exported from Swansea, Pembrokeshire and flintshire this led to an increase in production

1860 Explosion at risca black vein colliery kills 146 men

1861 coal workers from all over the world start to come to south wales and settle

1873 south wales coal owners association was formed and started a pay scale for miners that was linked to world coal prices

63 people killed at dinas colliery

1898 the south wales miners federation was formed

1910 Electric lamps are gradually introduced underground ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pit owners accused miners at the ely pit in penygraig if not working fast enough. Miners went on strike. replacement workers were brought in leading to the tonypandy riots.

1913 620 mines across britain produced 287 million tons of coal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Miners start taking caged canaries into mines to alert them to the presence of poisonous gas. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Explosion at universal colliery in senghenydd near caerphilly killed 439 miners- the worst mining accident in history.

1914-1918 Mines taken over by the government to support britaing during world war one

1920 271,000 men working in coal mines in wales, but demand for coal is falling.

1921-1926 Prime minister, david lloyd george puts the mining industry back in the hands of private owners who cut wages and increase working hours. miners told to accept new conditions or lose their jobs, causing many strikes and dusputes

1924 65,000 pit ponies employed underground in british collieries

1925 pithead baths and canteens came into general use in british collieries.

1933 the great depression. mining industry starts to collapse due to competition from other coal-producing countries

1939-1945 world war two. coal from wales became more important to the war effort after coal mining areas in france and belgium are taken by germany. mining is made a reserved occupation which means that all miners could not join the forces

1944 100,000 welsh miners went on strike over a dispute about wages

1945 national union of minerworkers is formed to protect miners pay and working conditions

1947 national cal board was created to run the coal industry 'on behalf of the people'

1957 britain producing cheapest coal in europe

1960 increasing demand for less pollution and cheaper fuel starts the beginning of a gradual decline in the use of coal

1966 the aberfan disaster. 144 people including 116 children are killed when a coal spoil heap slides down a mountainside into the village of aberfan

1984-1985 the government decides to close down the mining industry in wales and the rest of the uk because it no longer makes a profit. miners go on strike to try to prevent mines closing

1986 coal mine canaries phased out.

1995 coal miners buy the tower colliery in the cynon valley to keep the mine open.

1999 last working pit ponies retired from a colliery in pantygasseg, south wales.

2008 tower colliery the last deep coal mine in south wales, closes.

2015 kellingley colliery the last deep coal mine in britain, closes.