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Big Pit - National Mining Museum Of Wales

There had been industrial activity in the British Isles long before the Industrial Revolution. Production of iron had begun around 500BC. At Clearwell Caves in the Forest of Dean on the Welsh borders there is evidence of early iron mining in the British Isles. Iron smelting and forging took place at many locations in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. But then in the early eighteenth century the momentum of change really began to increase. This was driven by a complex interplay of social pressures, clever men coming up with inventions, and good access to raw materials. The Severn Valley gorge in Shropshire, for example, served as a ready made mine. Flood waters released at the end of the last Ice Age 15,000 years ago cut what is now known as Ironbridge Gorge down through layers of clay, iron ore, limestone and coal.

Like the Severn Valley in Shropshire, the Rhondda Valley in south Wales provided a similar ready made mine. Initially in the Rhondda, mine shafts were not required. It was simply necessary to start digging coal out of valley sides. The coal made excellent coke, which was then used in the smelting of local iron ore. An ironworks was established at Blaenavon, close to the Big Pit, in 1789, the remains of which still survive and are open to visitors. By 1852 a railway link between Blaenavon and Newport had opened, and production in the Rhondda increased hugely. This was now one of the most intensely industrialised regions in the world. Superficial deposits were soon exhausted, and mine shafts were sunk in pursuit of deeper lying coal. The Big Pit became a major coal mine working the south Wales coalfield. It was one of 620 mines, employing over 200,000 people. Production peaked in 1913, when the Big Pit was employing 1,300 men. From that time production slowly declined. The local economy here depended fundamentally on coal. Life for colliers was difficult, but when work began to disappear the situation became desperate. There was a famous incident in 1936 when Edward VIII toured the south Wales coalfield, and was shocked by the conditions he found.

Today the once massive south Wales coal industry has virtually gone. The pits have been closed, vast slag heaps either landscaped or removed. The mining towns, built with rock mined out of the hillsides remain as quiet reminders of a once frenetic industrial landscape. Big Pit, and Lewis Methyr at the Rhondda Heritage Park, have been preserved as memorials. At Big Pit there is a visitors centre with a miners canteen, and a shop. Tours underground are also available. Children under one metre tall are excluded from the underground tour.

Address: Big Pit National Mining Museum, Blaenavon, Torfaen, NP4 9XP

Opening Times: Open daily, 9.30am - 4.30pm. Underground tours run regularly, 10am - 3.30pm. During December and January please ring ahead to check availability of underground tours.

Directions. From Pontypool, take the A4043 to Blaenavon, and then follow signs to the Big Pit. Click here for an interactive map centred on Big Pit.

Access: Level access to the site is good, but wheelchair users who wish to take the underground tour should book in advance.

Contact:

telephone: 01495 790311

fax: 01495 792618

web site: http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/bigpit/