Emigration of coal miners - ELLEY (General)

by unknown, Monday, May 24, 2010, 02:01 (5094 days ago)

My father's family moved to Pontypridd from Newland/Coleford around 1900. There are records of the Elley family in the Forest of Dean from the 16th century and I believe they were laterly free iron ore miners. In all probability they left the Forest area encouraged by the potential for work in the huge mining industry in the South Wales valleys. Practically every town had a pithead and for most of my childhood the collieries were still in action. Now there is only one remaining, in Trehafod, and that is used as a museum/tourist venue.