Site of Point of Ayr Colliery

What is it? 

The Point of Ayr Colliery Company was established in 1883, located close to the village of Ffynnongroyw on the coast of the Dee Estuary. It closed in 1996 

Where is it? 

Point of Ayr, Talacre, Flintshire 

What’s there? 

The site closed in 1996. The site is on the North Wales Coast Path and close to RSPB Dee Esturary – Point of Ayr nature reserve 

Facts - 

▪ The colliery had its own brass band, welfare club, and sports team 

▪ Coal was mined along this section of the coast for centuries. Point of Ayr Colliery opened in the 1880s in an area known as Parlwr Du. Two shafts were dug to access coal seams under the sea. The coal went directly into waiting ships, for carriage to various Irish Sea ports 

▪ Railway sidings were opened in April 1909. This enabled the colliery to supply coal at competitive prices to many places, including the rest of North Wales 

▪ Until the 1960s the colliery had drawn miners from local villages but by the 1980s its workforce was very diverse. Welsh miners were complemented by men from England, Ireland, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Spain, and the Caribbean 

▪ British Coal was privatised in 1994. Point of Ayr Colliery continued for two years after privatisation and closed in 1996.