tarboat's photos with the keyword: berw

The Anglesey coalfield is little known, but there are a number of interesting remains to be found. Coal has been worked on the island since at least the 15th century but the most extensive development appears to have been in the mid 19th century. In 1839 a shaft was sunk at Berw and a steam engine installed to drain the workings. Four seams were worked; the 3ft, the 4ft, the 6ft and the three quarter yard. Production levels were not high with only 2,500 tons of coal being raised here in 1849-50, indeed in 1857 the whole coalfield only yielded 4,500 tons. There appears to have been little coal worked after 1868 and the buildings at Berw were converted to agricultural purposes. The remains today include this chimney, derelict cottages, and a number of shaft mounds. The site became a scheduled ancient monument in 2005.