Tophill Colliery is shown on the First Edition Ordnance Survey 25in map of 1875; it consisted at that time of a level entrance, a smithy, a small mine building and a spoil tip and was connected to the Great Western Railway's Taff Vale Extension line at Llancaiach. On the Second Edition map of 1900, a new, rail-connected, level is shown some 600m to the north and on the Third Edition map of 1920 all had closed except 'Tophill Coal Level' some 450m north of the original mine. It is believed that Tophill was one of the collieries in the area served by SIr William Smith's Llanfabon Tramroad (nprn 407032) of 1810.
RCAHMW, 22 November 2007.