The Ocean Coal Company was founded by David Davies. Its collieries lay in the South Wales coalfield, where it was the major coal producer for two decades. By 1938 it controlled 14 pits, producing about 9% of the coalfield's output. In 1907 it merged with Wilson, Sons to form Ocean Wilsons. The company handed control of its collieries to the National Coal Board in 1947. Ocean Wilsons was later listed on the London Stock Exchange until Hansa Investment Company acquired it in December 2025.
After 1889 the Ocean Company overcame obstacles to transporting Rhondda coal, helped by David Davies's role as promoter of the Barry Dock and Railway Company. A private owner wagon index lists the Ocean Steam Coal Company at Treorchy, Rhondda. Museum Wales holds a seven-plank open mineral wagon built to the 1923 Railway Clearing House specification, though its former owners are unknown. It has been painted in replica colliery liveries, one reading "Ocean Coal Co Ltd". That Ocean livery is based on a 1904 record photograph.
Key facts
- Founder: David Davies
- Formed: 1887, as Ocean Coal Company Limited
- Merged: 1907, forming Ocean Wilsons
- Collieries: handed to the National Coal Board in 1947
Sources
- Ocean Wilsons , Wikipedia (accessed 2 November 2026)
- The Ocean Coal Company - Northern Mine Research Society , Northern Mine Research Society (accessed 2 November 2026)
- Lightmoor Press Books - The Ocean Coal Company and 'The Barry' , Lightmoor Press (accessed 2 November 2026)
- 1 PRIVATE OWNER WAGONS & TANKERS INDEX [MAINLY PRE , Lightmoor Press (accessed 2 November 2026)
- Coal wagon - Collections Online , Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales (accessed 2 November 2026)
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