Big Pit National Coal Museum in Wales
A Look at Mining in South Wales, UK
On the edge of the town of Blaenafon in South Wales, Big Pit National Coal Museum (called Amgueddfa Lofaol Cymru in Welsh) is a fascinating look at the not-so-distant past.
Admission is free, as it is at all British museums, and right away visitors are transported to a time when much of the southern portion of Wales was given over to coal production. Big Pit itself ceased production in 1980 and became a museum in 1983, with only slight alterations along the way. The enormous mining apparatus dominates the landscape, and from the top of the hill where the entrance to the mine lies, one can see a breathtaking panorama of rolling hills.
Mine Tour
The highlight of the museum is the tour of the actual mine shaft, which generally lasts about an hour. Visitors are fitted out with lighted helmets and eleven-pound belts containing a battery and a small gas mask, in order to duplicate the equipment that an actual miner might have carried. The tour group is then hustled into a caged elevator by one of the jumpsuited guides (all of whom are former miners), and lowered 300 feet into the darkness.
Once down at the bottom of the shaft, the group makes its way through the mine, stopping at various points while the guide describes the conditions in the mines, how the coal was brought to the surface, the use of ponies to pull the coal cars, and other topics. A history of mine safety regulations and labor laws is also discussed, all in the feeble glow of the group's headlamps. The mine itself is inspected daily, and has been modified owing to its museum status, but the tour can still be somewhat treacherous; at some points the ceiling is very low, and the floors are damp and a little slippery. All this, however, only adds to the feeling of realism, as one ponders what it must have been like to work in these dark, cramped, dangerous conditions day after day, year after year.
Museum
After returning to the surface, visitors can walk through several displays explaining the impact of coal mining in Wales, and going deeper into the lives of those who had to dig for it. Large photos of dirty-faced men, women and children line the walls, the workers looking tired but proud of their labors. One can also visit the shower and locker rooms the miners once used, as well as the nurse's office. There are also glass display cases containing mining equipment past and present, including a progression of lanterns and coal-extracting tools.
Further along, there is another building showing a brief film about Welsh coal mining, and afterwards visitors can take a short walk through an interactive mine where a wisecracking televised Welsh miner describes the process. If all the activities stoke the appetite, there is a cafeteria on the premises, as well as a gift shop selling an array of Welsh foods and other items, including small bags of coal and intricate coal carvings of sheep and other Welsh touchstones. If visitors are still up for more adventure, the ruins of the Blaenafon Ironworks are not far away, and definitely worth a visit.
Big Pit is located in Blaenafon, on the A4042 north of Pontypool, and is a fun and educational day out for anyone visiting the area. Opening times are daily from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., with the last mine tour starting at 3:30. The hours are different in December and January; call (01495) 790 311 for more information. Admission is free.
Big Pit overlooking the countryside
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Travel
Latest Articles