A treasure trove of Swansea’s mining past has surfaced after a newly launched auction house in the city was handed a rare archive dating back more than a century.
Homefront Auctions, based in Swansea, says it has been entrusted with the Lonlas Colliery Company Limited Archive — a remarkable collection of original letters, ledgers and cheques from 1912 to 1925, preserved for generations by descendants of the former colliery owner.
The documents, unseen until now, offer an intimate glimpse into the day‑to‑day running of one of the area’s historic pits at a time when coal powered Wales’ industrial boom.
The archive forms part of the company’s latest sale, which closes on Tuesday 10 February, and is already drawing interest from collectors and local history enthusiasts.
Also going under the hammer is a rare 1908 miners’ lamp made by John Jones of Pontyberem and used by a Blaengwynfi miner — a piece auctioneers say is “hugely significant” to Wales’ mining heritage.
Homefront Auctions, which has only recently opened its doors, says it is proud to be bringing such important local artefacts back into the public eye.
A spokesperson said the items “represent a vital part of Welsh industrial history” and that the business is keen to support interest in the region’s mining communities.
Alongside the historic mining pieces, the sale also includes a haul of nostalgia for sports fans — from Swansea City and Wales rugby programmes to signed Wales and Ospreys shirts and a collection of Neath RFC memorabilia.
