32 



A glance at the map will show that the district generally is well provitleii 

 with railway accommodation connecting it with all the Bristol Channel ports 

 and inland communication ; the only people who complain are those of the 

 Llynfi and Ogmore Valleys, who have no direct narrow guage communication 

 with any public railway or with any port excepting Forth Cawl. Probably 

 another year will put this right as Parliamentary powers exist for doing so. 



The coal field contains some of the best beds of fire-clay known, yet it ia 

 not used as it should be ; if best fire-bricks are required Stourbridge and the 

 neighbourhood is sent to for them, and often even for building purposes ; and 

 as to gas retorts, I do not think such an article was ever made in this district. 



There is a very superior silicious fire-brick made in the Neath Valley by 

 Messrs. Frederick and Jenner, and also at Hirwaun by Messrs. N. B. Allen 

 and Co., for roofs of reverberatory furnaces, coke ovens, &c., but from its 

 composition, wiU not do where ordinary fire-brick is used. 



The Coal Field contains, too, alum shales which lie unnoticed, and which 

 can be very cheaply worked. 



There is a mineral, also, in the field which has only been worked near 

 Pontypool, and known there as the "Horn Coal," underlsring the Meadow 

 Vein Coal. It is an oil shale containing from 50 to 55 gallons of crude oil per 

 ton of shale ; by removing by distillation 12 to 15 per cent, of mineral tur- 

 pentine, which is used for machinery paint and out-door iron work, a good 

 lubricating oil is left, and by further refining, fine oil is produced ; it also con- 

 tains paraffine. 



I have no doubt but the "Japan Ware," for which Pontypool was so 

 celebrated years ago, obtained its celebrity from the varnish made from this 

 oil shale. 



In the year 1670, as before stated, Mr. Thomas Allgood came from 

 Northampton to Pontjrpool, and introduced the manufacture of Japan 

 ware ; and the manufacture of the superior quality probably ceased about 

 the beginning of the present century. 



There were nine agencies established in October of the year 1763 for its 

 sale: — In London, three, Mr. Gray, cutler. New Bond-street; Mr. Gibbs, 

 Bond-street ; Miss Pinchbeck, Pall Mall ; in Bristol, one, Mr. Swanton, 

 cutler, on the Quay, and nowhere else ; in Bath, three, Mr. Routel, Mr. Bull, 

 Mr. Speren ; in Gloucester, one, Mr. Cowcher, Westgate-street ; in Chepstow, 

 one, Mr. Cooper. And a varnish under the name of " Pontypool Varnish " 

 was sold in London in December, 1862. 



The same character of shale exists in other parts of the field, but does not 

 yet appear to have been noticed. The late Mr. William Llewellin, of Ponty- 

 pool, just before his death, showed me a large block that had been sent to him, 

 and he thought it came from the Taff or the Llynfi Valley, but his serious 

 illness .)revented his giving attention to it. 



On reference to the Geolo ,''cal Map, the Farewell Roclc is seen under- 

 lyin.' the coal measures, and '.utooppiug the whole length of the field on the 



