On 11 April 1877 the Tynewydd Colliery was the scene of a mine disaster that led to a mine rescue operation following which four first-class and twenty-one second-class Albert Medals for Lifesaving were awarded. A build-up of water in old Cymmer Colliery resulted in flooding of the Tynewydd mine. Only fourteen of 100 miners employed at the mine were working underground at the time of the accident. Four of the trapped miners were rescued after eighteen hours.