The Ocean Coal Company and ‘The Barry’ – Book Review

‘The transportation of coal to customers is inseparable from its mining’ (Shore, Page 19).

From the start of the nineteenth century until around 1922 the directors and shareholders of South Wales coal mines were frequently the same people who controlled tramroads and railways. One standout example was the entrepreneur, David Davies.

Two of Davies’s biggest South Wales projects are the subject of Shore’s book ‘The Ocean Coal Company and ‘The Barry’’. To clarify, ‘The Barry’ in this case is the Barry Railway and Docks Company. It was published in March 2022 by Lightmoor Press. forming part of Shore’s history of the big South Wales mining companies.

The rise of the mighty Ocean Coal Company

Shore begins by examining the Rhondda Fawr and Fach valleys at the start of the nineteenth century along with the reasons why mining there lagged behind the Cynon Valley.

After briefly recounting the background of David Davies, the main chapters are concerned with the evolution and interaction of two main factors. Firstly the development of mines and associated communities and secondly rail transport and docks including the Barry Railway. Inevitably the social and economic problems of the inter war years are related, with nationalisation following on after the Second World War.

The author meticulously details the history of the Ocean Coal company and the Barry Railway and Docks, concerned to set the record straight where possible. For example he examines an apocryphal story about sinkers working on the Maindy Collery pit. Myth has it that to discover coal they agreed to work an extra week free of charge, such was their devotion and affection for David Davies. Shore suggests an alternative explanation involving their relationship with a sinking contractor!

Coal companies and railways – conflict of interests

Like his previous works, Shore does not ignore the social dimension. He documents a number of issues associated with rapid development in a rural setting. These include the problems of inadequate roads, lack of schools and workforce issues. At one point favouritism shown by a colliery manager towards workers who were fellow members of his Baptist church became such an issue that he had to be removed!

The standard of the photographs, maps and diagrams is impressive. Although some images date back to the 1860s there is a clarity which speaks to the quality of reproduction. The quality of the paper certainly helps in this regard. Maps are well used to support the images so that, for example, I could quickly grasp the relative geographic locations of the Park and Dare Collieries.

In Summary

While there are more detailed studies of the Barry Railway and David Davies himself, combining them into a history of the Ocean Company provides a fascinating perspective. The level of detail makes this a must have for historians of the Rhondda valleys and South Wales industrial history.

Outline Contents

• Around the Rhondda
• Railway Tracks to the Rhondda
• Rhondda Coalowner
• One Million Tones
• The Coalfield’s Leader
• Cardiff Freighters’
• Barry Dock
• The Barry’s ‘Up Lines’
• Shipping Coal Worldwide
• ‘Deep Navvy’ & A Vale’s Railway
• A Rhymney Valley Marauder
• Changes and Departures
• A Merger & Disputes
• Amalgamation
• Black Clouds
• Extraordinary Enterprises

Related reviews

The Barry Railway by D.S.M. Barry
Rails to Prosperity: The Barry and After (1884 to 1984) by Brian J. Miller
Top Sawyer: A Biography of David Davies of Llandinam by Ivor Thomas