South Wales Miners Museum

South Wales Miners Museum

South Wales Miners Museum
Afan Forest Park
Cynonville
Port Talbot
South Wales
SA13 3HG

Tel: 01639 851 833
E-Mail: southwalesminers@btconnect.com

Web: South Wales Miners Museum

About South Wales Miners Museum

The first in Wales. Award winning from 1976. It's located in the Afan Valley only six miles from the town of Port Talbot, among beautiful hills where men once tunnelled for coal. They hacked away to fill the trams hauled by horses to daylight. Then full trucks were pulled by engines to the docks to load ships which had brought the timber in to hold up the roof above the men's heads, to resist the remorseless squeeze and crush of the undermined earth. There were other dangers too: dust, gas, explosions and flooding.

Get the feel of it in our simulated gallery. Visit the blacksmith's shop. Think of the struggle - and the one for fair play - over a cup of tea in the cafe. You'll be welcomed!

As you enter the museum, there is a passageway which has been designed to look like an old mining tunnel. There are life size models of miners dressed in original gear and equipment. The area is dark and the illusion is that the walls and ceiling are held up by the rugged beams used in mines at the time. The tunnel is not to scale (the original ones were far smaller) but it provides a valuable insight into the conditions and surroundings the miners had to endure in their work.

There are two rooms which contain historical photographs, documents and early mining equipment. The story behind much of this is fascinating and much of the equipment shows how progression was made in developing safer and more effective ways of working. For example, the museum has examples of the many different types of lamps that were used by the miners in order for them to see in the darkness.

Avon CollieryThe museum also portrays mining through the eyes of the many children who worked down the mines from an early age. Many of these children later became colliers. The museum has recreated a realistic tunnel where models of children can be seen crawling though the tiny space underground. This is perhaps the part of the museum which would have the greatest impact on visitors. It depicts a story of hardship and struggle in dangerous dirty work.

There is also a realistic stable which shows a miner and his horse, complete with trailer.

Importantly, the museum also portrays the warmth and solidarity of the mining communities with documents and photographs showing social gatherings, singing festivals and dances which had taken place over the years. This was in a time before television and transport, allowing people to focus on other interests.

There is a range of outdoor exhibits which are situated close to the museum. There is a blacksmith shop, a lamp room, a pithead wheel, a haulage engine and coal dram.