After the new methods of making iron had been shown to be a success, the Ynscedwyn Ironworks and the works at Abercrave and Ystalyfera all operated their own local collieries during the 1840's and 1850's. This was to make sure that they could control their own supplies of good quality anthracite.

But the success of the ironmaking industry in the district was not to last, because of competition from cheaper steel from the large steelmaking factories on the coast of south Wales.
Ironmaking at Ynscedwyn came to an end in 1876 and lasted only ten years more at Ystalyfera. The pages on the iron industry will tell you more about this.

Although the ironmakers had been a very important market for coal the closing of the local works did not finish off the mines in the area, and the most successful years for the coal industry were still to come.

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