All Wales Area Accommodation

Women Demonstrating at Tonypandy, 1910. Find out more at Big Pit

Pawn Shop Slips.Pennies for Boots and Overcoats, Rhondda Heritage Centre

Miner's Banners, On Display at the superb Rhondda Heritage Centre

Last Tram of Coal Raised in the Rhondda, 30th June 1986, Mardy Colliery

Miner's Art on Display around the Rhondda Heritage Centre Café

Blaenavon & Big Pit Mining Heritage Centre

Lead Mining History near Wrexham, Mid Wales - at Minera

Welsh Mining History Coal Mining South Wales UK

Nicknamed the worldwide capital of iron in the early days of the industrial revolution, Merthyr Tydfil is certainly the most important town on the Welsh industrial history map. The industrial and social history in Merthyr and the surrounding South Wales Mining Valleys is rich. Visits to both the Bleanarvon Ironworks, Big Pit and the Rhondda Heritage Centre are highly recommended, and Merthyr Tydfil, located at the head of the Taff Valley, makes a superb base for pushing out onto the South Wales Mining trail.

Welsh Mining history isn't just in the South Wales Valleys! Look to the North and Anglesey, specifically Amlwch, where copper mining has been prevalent since the Bronze Age period. Head to Mid-Wales and the Wrexham area to explore the history of lead mining in Wales around Loggerheads and Minera.

Welsh Coal Mining in the South Wales Valleys

Numerous historic industrial sites are dotted across the South Wales Valleys, and some are in the process of being renovated to be open to the public. If you're interested in finding Richard Trevethick's Tunnel on the line where his steam engine passed through in 1804 then head just off the A470 in Pentreback, just over a mile south of Merthyr. The Blaenafon Ironworks, situated near Big Pit, is currently being renovated and is due to open in April 2007!

The two main centres, both good starting points for exploring the history of the industrial revolution, iron production and coal mining history, are the Rhondda Heritage Centre and the UNESCO World Heritage site at Blaenafon Ironworks with the Big Pit Mining Museum nearby. If you were wondering where all that iron came from to build the railways across the UK then you'll find the answer in these two centres, as well as discovering a fascinating proud history of struggle, revolt and hardship. Underground Mine tours conducted by guides who once worked in these pits are available at both these Wales mining heritage sites.

Rhondda Heritage Park, Lewis Merthyr Colliery, Trehafod, Rhondda Cynon Taff, CF37 2NP. Tel: 01443 682036.

Blaenavon Tourist Information Centre & Blaenavon Ironworks, North Street, Blaenavon, Torfaen, NP4 9RQ. Tel: 01495 792615.

Lead Mining History Flintshire

Mold and the surrounding Flintshire area, you might not know, was a key centre for mining (particularly lead mining) during the industrial revolution. As lead mining and cannal coal mining declined, by the First World War mining in this area had all but disappeared, there was considerable social unrest in the area - the Mold Riot of 1869 for example. There's a fascinating history of struggle and resistance in this area of North Wales well worth digging into - tour the Mining Trails of Loggerheads Country Park and find out more.

Loggerheads is particularly interesting for finding out more about lead mining history in the area - there are marked lead mining trails in Loggerheads.

Wrexham & Mid Wales Mining History

Wrexham's industrial and social history, particularly during the 18th and 19th century, is a fascinating journey, and covered well through local attractions. Lead mining was prevalent here up until the First World War and you can find out more at the Bersham Heritage Centre, and take the Minera Country Park lead mining trails!

Several industrial heritage sites are open to the public in and around Wrexham, including taking in the Minera Lead mines, Nant Mill and the Bersham Ironworks and Bersham Heritage Centre - all part of the 9 mile Clywedog Trail. Download a map of the Clywedog Trail via the weblink right. The trail runs alongside the Clywedog River, taking in the industrial herigate sites of the Minera Lead Mines, Nant Mill and the Bersham Heritage Centre and Bersham Ironworks. Explore the relationship between domestic servants and their 'masters' too at Erddig Hall just 2 miles south of Wrexham.

Bersham Heritage Centre, Bersham, Wrexham, LL14 4HT. Tel:01978 261 529.

Anglesey Copper Mining History - Amlwch

Pretty North Anglesey Coast Amlwch has a fascinating history. Like Merthy Tydfil in the South Wales Valleys, Amlwch has a history connected to mining, but here it's copper mining not coal. An important shipbuilding centre for centuries, copper has been mined here in Amlwch since as far back as the Bronze Age. Copper mining boomed here though in the late 18th and 19th century. Parys Mountain Copper mine just to the south of the town can be reached via the heritage copper trail.

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