your comments
Glyn Edwards, Cardiff
Message for Julie Jones. I began as a Pupil Surveyor at Llay Main Colliery in 1942. I remenber Mr Peter Hughes, a senior surveyor colleague, telling me that when Edward German was found he was sitting down with his "snap-box" and he still had a half-eaten apple in his mouth. Very sad, but possibly an indication that he passed away very quickly.
Fri Jun 5 07:39:32 2009
Dave Evans, Abernant, Acrefair
My grandfather Robert Davies worked for 51 years under ground at Llay Main colliery. Do any family members or friends recall stories about a great man better known as Bob The (Collier) from Cefn Mawr?
Fri Apr 24 08:16:43 2009
Sandi Lawrence from Guildford
My grandfather was a surface miner at Main (I believe) his name Fred Lawrence, my grandmother was Florence and they had 4 children and lived at 9 Victory Place, Llay, all their lives. Has anyone any information on Fred?Thank you.
Fri Mar 20 09:05:35 2009
Danny from Buckley
I am looking for anybody who knew or heard of my great-grandfather Bertie Jones (1914-1985), he was also known as Bertie Barracks around Summerhill and surround I am told. This is important to me as I am doing some research and my family don't know an awful lot about him. I know he worked Llay Hall and Llay Main but haven't got dates sorry.
Tue Feb 24 08:11:16 2009
Gail Cartwright
My descendant, Thomas John Roberts, died in the 1924 explosion at the mine in Llay leaving wife Annie and children John and Amy from Nercwys, near Mold, we think. Can anyone help any further?
Mon Feb 23 08:17:17 2009
Ryan, Llay
Hello there, could anyone tell me the name of the house that used to be where Acacia Court now is? I've been told that it was associated with the mines in Llay and I remember staring at it through my break times while I was at Llay Park infants school. It has become a little obsession of mine and the internet has let me down for the first time ever as I cannot find any information on it, your help will be much appreciated.
Mon Feb 16 16:01:39 2009
Eifion Griffiths, Llay
I have been reading the Llay Main Colliery page for the first time, and having worked in the electrical dept. in 1958-1960 found it very interesting. My father Emlyn Griffiths known as (big em) also worked at Llay underground as a coal cutter, as did two of my uncles, Harold & Idwal Davies, both face workers from Coedpoeth.
Tue Jan 27 09:03:58 2009
Anthony Rowland, Llay
Have just been reading the Llay Main Colliery page for the first time - very interesting. My grandfather William ( Bill ) Rowland and father Ken Rowland, both worked at the colliery. My grandfather worked underground, whilst my father was a blacksmith / rope splicer in the Area Workshops ( along with Bill Williams, Bradley, and Harold Ankers, 2nd Ave, Llay, etc ). Sometimes, during school holidays I would take my father's "snapping" to the workshops for him, and under supervision, would be allowed to operate one of the steam hammers for one of the 'smiths, a great thing for a junior school boy.Many Llay people will remember my grandfather as a very keen gardener, and especially the competition between him and his next door neighbour in Shone's Lane, George Smith -- especially leading up to the Annual "Rose" Show held on the Miner's Welfare grounds. Another interesting point after reading this page, was to read messages from Beryl Jones Baigent. I was a close friend of her brother, Colin, throughout our Llay schooldays.
Mon Jan 26 08:11:32 2009
Elizabeth Paterson, Lancashire
My mother and her brother were from around Corwen but adopted into a family in Llay. This was in the mid 1920s when they were about 8 and 5 years old respectively. Her name was Margaret and her brother's name was Leslie, Williams, and her adopted family was LLoyd. The head of the family worked at Denbigh Mental Hospital but many of her adopted family worked down the mine and my earliest memories were of visiting people who had lost fingers or worse which I found facinating. I remember that in the 1960s there were outbreaks of TB in the family which were made worse by the coal dust. We never knew why mum was adopted, or whether she had any other family over and above the Lloyds. One abiding memory that my mother had about the miners was the whistling sound that the heavy duty cord trousers made as they walked.
Fri Jan 16 09:22:21 2009
Aubrey Williams
Harold used to entertain with my dad in clubs and pubs (my dad went last year). They went by the name of Harold Night and Denny Day (Night and Day) - funniest thing I ever saw.
Mon Dec 22 09:02:40 2008
Glynis Stratford
My grandfather died in the Gresford disaster. Does anyone have any information about him or even photos? He was called Stanley Stratford and lived at 5 Ninth Ave, Llay.
Mon Dec 1 08:38:52 2008
Beryl Jones Baigent, Ontario, Canada
In case anyone in Llay, or especially in the Llay History Society might be interested, my husband Al and I have recently returned from Y Wladfa, the Welsh Colony in Patagonia, Argentina. We spent the first week in Beunos Aires which gave me an opportunity to bone up on some SA history and politics, so that I could understand some, at least, of what we were seeing in this city of great contrasts (riches and poverty, being only one of the paradoxes). Al was singing with the North American Welsh Choir, under the baton of Mari Morgan from Llanelli (originally) and who I met at the Ontario Gymanfa Ganu last April when I was reading my poetry and giving, a workshop on "Welsh Mythologicval Women." Mari was also giving a workshop and leading the hymn singing. In Patagonia, the choir gave three concerts and participated in the eisteddfod in Trelew, all of which were well received. There were about 120 of us on the tour including a few people who had joined us from Wales. We visited the landing place of the first Welsh settlers who came to the Argentina in 1865, on the barque, the Mimosa, and all the small Welsh originated towns near the Atlantic coast (Gaiman, Trelew, Dolanon, and the original Porto Madryn). Out trip from Buenos Aires to the border of Patagonia in the west was by air from BA to Bariloche in the foothills of the Andes. Then we travelled by coach to Welsh communities in Esquel and Trevelin, and then across the desert for 400 miles, retracing the original pioneers' footsteps but from west to east rather than from east to west. It was an awesome trip especially when one has the interest to dig out the Welsh history and influence at the museums, eisteddfod, chapels, and Gorsedd. The Welsh inhabitants that we met were all warm and proud of their Welsh heritage, although life has been, and still is a struggle for these hardy souls. I would be interested to speak about this trip and show my photographs to any group who is interested in Wales when I make my annual pilgrimage over from Canada next summer. By that time I hope also to have some poems written towards the project that I have in mind, which is to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the landing of the Mimosa in New Bay (Porto Madryn) with a new book of poems dedicated to the people of Y Wladfa. Let me know if anyone is interested please.
Thu Nov 27 16:12:18 2008
Beryl Jones Baigent, Ontario, Canada.
Regarding Eileen Dunnico's posting about her paper on Llay colliery. I remember Sam and Len Dunnico well and I think her father was also one of the people on the rescue team when my father, Eddie Ivor Jones, had the accident in which the major part of his right hand was severed. Len was in the lamp room when I worked for a couple of years at the Wages Office when I first left Grove Park. I would love to have a copy of your paper Eileen as I am always very interested in local history.
Thu Nov 27 09:27:00 2008
David Lloyd, Wrexham
I'm trying to find where the old Abenbury school in Wrexham was. My father was a pupil there 1927-1928, his name was Albert Lloyd, his brother Ernest was there as well. I wonder if anyone remembers them?
Wed Oct 22 10:19:54 2008
Michael Holden now Ewloe
I have some info for Glyn Griffiths regarding Bernie Fisher (Pentre Street). When I see him I will tell him of your interest.
Mon Oct 20 08:08:44 2008
Trish Reid, Rhyl
Re Wynne. I was in the same year as your mother at school. My maiden name was Williams, and at school I was called Pat (which I hated!).
Wed Sep 17 15:17:32 2008
Steve Tamburello, Manchester
Re Wynne. Yes, Mary Wynne would be my mum. Although Wynne is, of course, her maiden name. She says hello but wondered if Reid was your maiden name?
Tue Sep 16 08:31:41 2008
Trish Reid, Rhyl
Re the Wynne family. I went to Grove Park Girls' with a Mary Wynne, who lived in Nant y Gaer Road. Is she a relation?
Fri Sep 12 15:24:00 2008
Vic Tyler-Jones, Llai Local History Society
I'm keen to finish the next book to be published by Llai Local History Society. This will be on Llay Main Colliery and our intention is to produce this early in 2009.
Anyone who has a story of how they or their relative lived and worked during the colliery years (1922-66) are invited to give me the information by the end of November. As there are now many folk around who don't know how a colliery worked, we particularly need stories of how the men worked together, what their jobs involved and any associated tales - amusing or otherwise.
We also need to borrow any objects to photograph and use in the book. There must still be items associated with Llay Main in people's possession - photographs, bits of equipment - I know of people who still have pieces of Llay coal!
There are many excellent stories out there. We need to record them for posterity. Anyone who can help is invited to contact me via the webteam.
Thu Sep 4 08:48:15 2008
Steve Tamburello
My granddad, David Wynne, grew up in Llay and worked in one of the Llay pits. He was very involved with the Calvary Holiness Church, later Nazarene on the same road. Anyone remember the family?
Thu Aug 28 06:55:01 2008
R Lloyd, Llay
I still have had no replies to my reqests for information to my reports on people I am after information on.
Wed Jul 30 12:09:06 2008
Eleanor Williams, Hope
My grandfather John Price Davies who died in 1931 and was known as Jack natcher, worked at Llay Main. My dad Caradoc (Crad) Davies worked there from a youngster until Llay closed then he went to Gresford, he was a bellman. Some of his brothers worked there too, as did my uncles Owen Hughes (killed 1959) and Bert Crewe. I have a photo taken outside the Flintshire Mines Central Rescue Station in about the 1920s. Has anyone any information? I think my taid may be one of those in the photo.
Wed Jul 30 11:53:25 2008
Carol, Crewe
Does anyone know if the secondary school that opened roughly 1935 in Llay was a brand new school. Is it still there and what was its name?
Wed Jul 23 09:07:57 2008
R Lloyd, Llay
To Paul Hughes, did you get my request for information about Gorden Hughes?
Tue Jul 22 14:32:27 2008
Sarah Powell, Llay
For Glyn Griffiths, Machynlleth. My dad is Glynne Powell, he is now 67 and retired also, struggled to remember so far back but is very pleased to hear from you. He thinks it may be Tom Blaze you are thinking about and says he is well and still living in Llay.
Wed Jul 9 11:20:29 2008
R Lloyd, Llay
To Glyn Griffiths, I will convey your request to our Leader reporter, Grev Williams, who will put it in our Wednesday report. I will give him a copy off our website.
Mon Jun 30 10:33:00 2008
Randel Lloyd, Llay
To Paul Hughes. I was with Noel Rogers last night, he had a photo of the air force cadets with Gordon's photo on it. He would like to know where Gordon is at present.
Fri Jun 27 17:01:04 2008
Glyn Griffiths, Machynlleth
My father Wilfred Griffiths (little Toss) worked down Llay Main. We lived in Nantygaer Rd in the colliery houses where I was born. He and my mother Miriam (Mim) Griffiths were divorced in 1946. I left Llay aged 11 with my mother in 1953. I am now in my 60s and retired. I would love to find out what happened to Glyn Powell and Alan Blazer of Nantygaer Rd., The Whites of Fourth Ave and Bernard Fisher, of Pentre St.
Mon Jun 23 09:28:22 2008
Nia Holmes, LLay
To Andy Gibson. Sorry to hear about the death of your uncle Harold. I remember him very well from when he worked on the door of Llay Welfare, especially in the years 1997-2000. He used to join us for a sneaky game of pool. He would have been there when my grandparents on both parents' sides worked there. Trevor Floyd & Alwena Floyd on my mother's side and Rob Holmes on my dad's side. Harold was friends with my great grandad George Pryddych.
Thu Jun 19 14:52:24 2008
Grace Hanson, Holywell
My grandfather worked at Llay main between 1901-1926. He was a hewer. My granddad's name was William Crawford. He lived in Chapel Street, Mold. His wife's name in Esther Ann Griffiths. I would be pleased to receive any information, thank you.
Fri Jun 13 08:37:35 2008
Andy Gibson
My uncle, Harold Bent, has just passed away. Harold worked at Llay Main but, more importantly, he was, we understand, the last surviving member of the Llay rescue team that went to the great Gresford disaster of September 1934. Without regard to his own safety, the Llay team went down the Gresford pit which was ablaze at the time. Mr Bent was a very brave man and passed away yesterday at the age of 95.
Thu Jun 12 08:17:31 2008
Nick, Web Team
Hi, we're interested in accounts from Bevan boys sent to work in the mines such as Llay Main during the war years. Can you help?
Thu Jun 12 08:14:14 2008
Lisa Jones from Llay
My grandfather Ken Salisbury worked in the boiler room and I have recently found pictures. Two are of inside the boiler room and the other is a miners who attended a course in Sheffield during the '40s. If anyone wants to see them I will be bringing them to next Llay history society meeting.
Thu Jun 12 08:13:08 2008
Karen Stubbs from Gresford
My grandfather worked at Llay Main Collery. Desperately trying to get hold of any photos anyone may have of him - John Roberts and Rebecca Roberts (Beccalad) of 4 Oak Tree Avenue, Llay - circa 1940 -1950's. My dad is Ron Roberts, a Llay lad who played for Wrexham FC in the '50s.
Wed Jun 11 09:05:55 2008
Vic Tyler-Jones, Chester
Message for Ron Walker:
Llai Local History Group is gathering information for its next publication which will be on the history of Llay Main Colliery. If you could please allow this website to give me your email address perhaps I could get in touch with you?
Mon Jun 9 07:51:23 2008
Ron Walker (Bradley)
It was good to read all the comments above. I was an apprentice electrician at Llay Main from 1962 until my transfer to the pretend pit at Gresford in December 1965 but managed to get into the drawing office for 12 month working with people such as Eddy Hughes and Peter Roscoe. The main people I remember with fond memories are Mr Frank Lloyd and Archie Hitchcock, the engineers at my time there, also, Ken Rowlands, Billy Lewis, Cliff Garston, Bill Holly (I worked with Bill at Fibreglass for 15 years). I started down the pit 1964 on days and nights in 33 district under the wing of Peter Catherall - all good times. My grandfather Ben Walker came from Leeds with the company that sank the shafts as an engineer and married my grandmother Ruth Roberts who lived at Gresford (for Llay Halt) railway station. Although I have lived in Bradley 35 years, I am still a Llay person with many wonderful memories of the old colliery.
Wed Jun 4 09:15:17 2008
Howarth (John) Jones. Leeswood
To Randel Lloyd. I worked at Llay Main as an electrican from 1960 - 3 months before closure.
Mon Jun 2 12:31:22 2008
Randel Lloyd, Llay
I am interested in getting information from men who worked in Llay Main Colliery. The information would be used by Grenville Williams in the Wednesday Leader report for Llay.
Fri May 30 08:44:16 2008
Eileen Dunnico, Broxbourne, Herts
Eileen and Ernest Dunnico would like to thank Terry Griffiths for his comments about their father. Thank you Terry - you have bought back many memories about the first aid competitions from 1930s to 1950s.
Tue May 27 09:05:58 2008
Clive Adams from Holywell
My Dad, Colin Adams, was born at Caer Estyn in 1917, and died in December last year (2007). He was one of the Bevin boys, being conscripted to work at Llay Main Colliery in the early '40s after working at Vickers Armstrong in Broughton; he had moved to Saltney and used his motorcycle when it was going and his pushbike when it wasn't. He stayed there until about 1952, I think. He always spoke fondly of his time there, and of his workmates with whom he shared a close cameraderie. Most of them were known by nicknames - e.g. Dai Rhondda, Percy Pigeon and many others I can't remember off-hand. His own Taid, John Davies from Caer Estyn, worked down Llay Hall Colliery sometime in the dim and distant past.
Wed Apr 16 09:23:03 2008
Ken Love, Cefn-y-Bedd
Hi my dad worked in Llay Main in 1952-53 born in Caergwrle. If you know him please email me.
Fri Apr 4 09:15:31 2008
C Lloyd, Llay
To Paul Hughes. I knew your grandad Jack as I lived at No 31 Eighth Ave and used to go to the house.
Tue Apr 1 10:51:46 2008
Terry Griffiths, Market Harborough, Leics
I was interested to see the comments about Harold Dunnico. I remember him well, he was one of my teenage heroes. In 1953 I was part of his First Aid Team who won the Area Cup. We were coached by Harold and I always rememder him as a man who had infinite patience when we made elementary mistakes. His watchword(s) was "OK this is a competition but one day you may have to deal with it in reality". A man among men.
Mon Mar 31 10:54:53 2008
Charles Lloyd, Wrexham
I have worked with the co-cutter fitters and with Raymond Crewe, Cliff Darwell, Eric Edwards. And then I went to work in area workshops with the joiners Gordon Macdonald, Ted Lloyd, Ronnie Leech, Bill Rowlands. (I worked at the colliery in 1950.)
Wed Mar 19 13:44:51 2008
Terry Lloyd, Wrexham
I'm interested in anyone who knew Thomas Evan Lloyd from Worthenbury who drowned in the river Dee 1941. He was married to Martha Ann Slawson and they had 2 sons, Albert and Ernest, and a daughter, Kate, and they lived at Brook Wern Bridge House, the Meadows.
Wed Mar 19 09:59:19 2008
Eileen Dunnico from Broxbourne, Herts Ctd
Re Harold Dunnico, head ambulance man Llay Main Colliery. During the first years of working at the coal mine, he was perturbed that the coal miners were going home from work covered with coal dust on their working clothes. He had protracted negotiations with the owners to build pithead baths so that the coal miners could go home clean to their families. The baths were eventually built a few years later. Another of his worries was that injured coal miners and the family of fatalities were not giving compensation but finally after many meetings with the owners he won compensation for the injured miners. Maybe these comments will be of interest.
Mon Mar 17 09:53:02 2008
Eileen Dunnico
My father Harold Dunnico, worked as head ambulance man at Llay Main from 1925-1956. He worked alongside Leslie Crewe and Sam Dingley. He was part of the rescue teams at the Llay Main 1925 disaster, and also went down with his rescue team in the Gresford disaster. I recognise many of the aforementioned names and knew many personally. I have written a paper entitled "The Rise And Fall Of A North Wales Coal Mine" (Unpublished) and if ayone is interested would gladly send them a copy on request.
Mon Mar 10 09:02:47 2008
RAY CHALLONER, MINERA
My dad was killed in Llay main in 1953 due to roof fall. I wonder if there is anybody alive today who worked there with him. It would be good to know.
Fri Mar 7 08:42:34 2008
Alan Parry, Wolverhampton
My dad, Joe Parry, worked in Llay pit from 1929 to the end and then onto Gresford to the end. In 1953 he was awarded the Queen's Award for Bravery when trapped with and rescuing men in a very bad fall (mining families understand a fall). Three of my five brothers worked in Llay Main, Malcolm (Deputy), Gren (Mech. Engineering) and John(Electrician). We all played football and cricket for Llay Welfare. Edmund Ivor Jones (better known as Eddie Ivor) was the 1st XI umpire - when he started to raise his hand you were out without doubt. What a playground the pitbank was, the Alps in winter (we sledged it dry the rest of the year) and Paddy Davies's land was the 'moving wallpaper' background to many theatres of war, including Romans, Robin Hood, Roundheads and Rats of the Desert variety. Those were the days my friends, hard times with many happy memories, with village events you do not see the like of nowadays.
Tue Mar 4 09:18:49 2008
Gill Roberts from Wrexham
I too have just begun to research my family tree on my mother's side, and didn't know until only last week that my great grandfather was one of the nine killed. He was William Ernest Williams. From my initial research, it seems that William's brother Charles also worked at the pit, having been in charge of the day shift immediately before the fated night shift. William's son (my maternal grandfather) George Alfred Williams (known as Alf) later of Caergwrle, also worked at Llay as well as Gresford (I think maybe as an electrician?). My mother's mother's family also worked at Llay. On my father's side my grandfather (John William Dudds of Cefn-y-Bedd) and my great grandfathers also worked at Llay. If anyone has any stories or information about anyone I have mentioned, please get in touch through this site.
Tue Feb 26 09:22:44 2008
Michael Bray from Llay
I have enjoyed reading everybody's stories about Llay Main. My dad, Gerald Bray, worked in Llay Main, Gresford and Bersham pits and he has told me lots of stories about the different pits. Both my grandfathers worked at Llay Main, their names were Herbert Bray and Jim Worthington.
Wed Feb 20 10:16:18 2008
Terry Griffiths, Market Harborough, Leics
I think the Main in Llay Main was to differentiate between it and Llay Hall. I worked in Llay Main for just two years from 1952 to 1954. My first job was a very cushy one as pit bottom clerk where I had to check on the "tub" figures every hour and report them to the Under Manager. From that I went as tea lad and general dogsbody on the sinking of the extension to the pit shaft. The highlight of this was being sent every shift to get hot tea from the canteen for the guys who actually did the work. This meant that I had to go down in the bucket, an unforgettable experience. Later I went onto haulage duties which I hated. Left in April 1954 to join the RAF as a regular. I lived in Dingle Place (209) & went to the infants and junior schools and then to Grove Park.
Mon Feb 11 09:36:58 2008
Beryl Jones Baigent
I am in touch with many people in Llay as I visit pretty well every year from my home of 44 years in Canada. In all the familly research that I have been able to do, I have never yet been able to find out the date of the accident which my father, Edmund Ivor Jones (Eddie Jones) sustained in around 1926-29 at Llay Main. The story is that he was working on the endless rope at the pit bottom when it snapped and took most of his right hand with it. I understand that Leslie Crew, who was an ambulance man at the time (and later became my god-father) was credited for saving Dad's life, as he almost died from loss of blood. If anyone can help me with this query I would be very glad to have an accident report, and particularly to discover the date of the accident. Dad was given no compensation at the time, but was guaranteed a job at the collier for his life time. He worked his way up to Chief Time Keeper and retired just before his death in 1966. One might say that he died with the closing of the pit.
Mon Jan 28 08:13:07 2008
Wil, Wrexham.
For Chris from Connah's Quay. Wrexham C.B.C. Planning Dept. Queen's Square/Lambpit Street, Wrexham, should have what you want, otherwise the reference department staff at the nearby library are very helpful, these details do exist. Wil.
Tue Jan 15 07:55:58 2008
Chris from Connah's Quay
I'm thinking of buying a house in Acacia Court just over the road from the pit head, and I'm worried about subsidence from old mine shafts. Does anyone know where I could get a map of where the mine shafts are, and how they are positioned in relation to modern buildings and roads?
Mon Jan 14 08:47:09 2008
Hayden Ellsum, Bundaberg, Aussie
My wife Sheila (nee Hartley) from Llay say and I agree that the Llay Main comes from this being the "main" shaft at the colliery. Hope this helps. Regards to old friends from the now gone for ever Sam's cafe at Acton Gate, and the great milk shakes and the football machines, and of course the Bikes, and Castrol "R". Hayden (Aitch).
Mon Jan 7 11:52:14 2008
Karina Clark from Worksop Notts.
Can anyone tell me what the 'main' means in the name of collieries? My dad worked all his life in the mines and is curious to know. Many thanks in anticipation.
Fri Jan 4 09:58:53 2008
Alyn Owen, formerly of Llay
My dad, Tommy Owen, worked at Llay main before WW2, with his dad, John. After a "bust up" with one of the managers he left to join the regular army, pausing only to get a clean shirt and kiss his mum, Hannah, goodbye. (If his dad had got hold of him he would have been for it!) He returned to Llay in 1947 and rejoined the pit. He lost his leg in an accident at the pit very soon afterwards. He then worked as a storeman in the powder store until the mine closed. His brothers, Dai (a deputy and I suspect, head pitman), Jack, Bill and Frank all worked at the pit. We used to live in Bryn Place.
Mon Dec 10 14:46:41 2007
Vic Tyler-Jones
Message for Julie Jones. Please get in touch. I have a family bible which will interest you. This website has my email address which you may use. Regards, Vic Tyler-Jones (Llai Local History Society).
Fri Nov 23 08:23:36 2007
Julie Jones, Wrexham
I have just started to compile my family tree and was very interested to read the comments regarding the Llay disaster of 1925. My uncle was Edward German who was aged 15 when he died at the colliery. If anyone has any knowledge which has been passed down to them I would be grateful to hear from you.
Tue Oct 9 08:30:16 2007
John Hughes, Penyffordd, Holywell
Hi Dave Foulkes, just to say I was born in Llay, New House Ave. Later moved to Pentre Street. I used to play with you when I was small. We used to watch old cowboy films on your parents' television. My Mam and Dad were Jack and Dora Hughes and we lived next door to the Hennesey's. We left when I was six and came here to live.
Mon Oct 1 08:39:27 2007
Helen Whitfield, Tasmania, Australia
My great grandfather (James) Jones was the pay foreman (working) at Llay Hall and Llay Main Collieries around the turn of the century (and on). He lived in Cefn-y-Bedd with his wife Maud and 4 children.
Mon Sep 24 09:53:11 2007
Vic Tyler-Jones
Message for Clive Holt; I would be pleased to receive any information and photographs you have if the website could pass on my email adddress to you. Vic Tyler-Jones (Llai Local History Society).
Fri Sep 14 14:49:19 2007
Janet, Wrexham
My father's maternal grandfather, William Ernest Williams, was one of the men killed in the 1925 disaster. He left a family of seven children. His daughter Loelia Pattie married my grandfather Robert Ernest Ditchfield, also a miner and they lived in First Avenue, Llay.
Wed Aug 29 08:21:34 2007
Clive Holt, Tamworth (Caergwrle)
I have read with interest seeing the names above brings back fond memories. I was an apprentice electrician, with Gwylim Hughes, J.C. Parry, Roy Salisbury. I was apprenticed to Joe Tilston, a smashing bloke. Billy Lewis (Billie Sixpence). I remember him losing his finger when Abby Bray kicked a gas bottle which was stuck on a hand rail in the power house. Frank Guest, in charge of the new underground locos. Morgan Jones, chargehand. Bert Lewis, also a chargehand electrician. Dave Jenkins and Terry Whitley, who both moved to - I think - Rhodesia. I could go on and on, Cliff Garston, Bob "Hafod", Frank LLoyd Engineer and Archie Hitchcock assistant engineer. I have very fond memories. I have a photograph of Bille Lewis, Ernie Lewis, Tom Williams, Clem? and self posing outside of the electric shop. Anyone interested, please email me, I will gladly send them a copy.
Thu Aug 23 11:27:30 2007
Eric Davies, Vancouver Canada
Joan Colwell, Northwich. I lived in the Moss and knew the Wynnes family very well. Jackie was one of my school friends and he had a shock full of curly red hair. There were Danny, Desmond, a sister, Betty, and a couple more brothers but can't recall their names. And Mr Wynne did keep the Mount Pleasant pub for many years but lost touch with Jackie when I left for Canada in 1956.
Fri Jun 22 09:11:16 2007
Dave Foulkes
Hi everybody, I'm an ex-Llay lad - went to all the three schools and Glanaber Chapel. My Dad Jack Foulkes worked down the pit and I was wondering if anyone out there remembers my Dad working down there in the 1960s as I can't find any records, and I know for a fact that he did. My Mum and Dad lived in Pentre Street all their lives.
Mon Jun 18 08:53:18 2007
Mary Fleet, Gwersyllt
Does anyone remember my dad Ben Strange? He was a winding engineer at Llay Main Colliery for many years. He was a big man with a big heart. He went on to work at Gresford when Llay Main closed, and stayed working the winder there until that pit also closed. He, like many other men at the time, biked to work in all weathers.
Mon Jun 11 09:09:34 2007
Paul Hughes
My grandfather, John (Jack) Hughes 8th Ave, worked at Llay Main, he was a member of Rhos Choir. He was involved in the Gresford disaster and often recalled to me the warmth and friendship of his colleagues. He also recalled the harsh working conditions and handing over his wage to his wife Gladys. The Lloyd family lived next door. Grandad had three children, Gordon, Betty and Doreen.
Thu May 24 16:37:16 2007
Steve Price, Marford
My dad, Johney Price, and his brothers, Ted and Alf, worked in Llay main, and my grandads Bill (William) Price (Summerhill) and Howell Hayes Edwards (Llandegla) worked there, moving from Llay Hall pit when the new pit opened, and moved into the new houses when they were built. My mum Glenys still lives in Council Street, where she was born. My grandad used to walk from Treuddyn to Llay Hall pit before the houses were built, some day he must have had, and my great grandad was head mining egineer in the Ffrith pit and built the Red Lion pub now the Ffrith pub. His name was John Elias Tudor but I now know that was a given name for a census, from Bedlwyn farm Rhydtalog, and I know he learnt his trade in Merthyr, South Wales, some guy him.
Wed May 9 14:31:45 2007
Joan Colwell, Northwich, Cheshire
I am currently researching my mother's side of our family history and have found out that my grandad worked at Llay Main. Mum, who is 91 years old, remembers him being trapped in the mine for 3 days but she is not sure if it was this mine or another local pit. My grandad's name was Danny Wynne and his family lived in the Mount Pleasant Inn, Moss. Anybody remember him or the rest of the family?
Mon Apr 16 09:53:38 2007
Dewi Davies from Wrexham
My father George Davies worked at Llay Main from about 1938 until closure. He ended up as an electrician's mate working in the same gang as Frank Guest. I can remember being taken to the pit-head to see the coal being brought to the surface and being shown around the pit head baths and lamp room. I am told that the cages would reach app. 60 mph when winding coal. y father went to Bersham from Llay for 12 months and then went to Hafod for another year before that too closed whereupon he left the industry.
Mon Apr 2 09:51:27 2007
Colin Hayes, Llay
I remember every Monday morning I had to go and pay for two bags of coal priced at 10 shillings six pence before I went to school in 1966 at the land sale in Llay. Mr Harry (Spot) William was the person working there at the time.
Thu Feb 22 09:49:33 2007
Graham Hughes from Wrexham
I was interested in seeing Christine's comment, because I also was an electrician in Llay Main, and knew her father Billy Lewis very well. Billy was a very funny man, so it was a treat to call in the Electric Shop after coming up the mine to have a chinwag with the lads there.
Mon Feb 12 11:18:18 2007
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Llay Main colliery became the deepest pit in the country in the 1950s and, in the 1930s, was the largest colliery in Wales, employing more than 3000 men, writes Vic Tyler-Jones from Llai Local History Society. 
In spite of its modern coal getting methods, the accident record at the colliery in the early years was not good. Nine men and boys were killed instantly by an explosion in the early hours of Friday December 5 1925. 
