The first shaft of this pit was sunk in 1841 by John Russel. An explosion which occured
on 1st December 1860 claimed the lives of 142 men and boys. This was the worst mining
 disaster in Gwent until it was overshadowed by the disaster at the Prince of Wales Colliery
 at Abercarn 18 years later (268 killed) .
The colliery worked in full production from 1841 to 1888 and spasmodically until the 1920's