Rhondda Heritage Park

Rhondda Heritage Park exists on the site of the former Lewis Merthyr Colliery as a testament to the coal mining history of the Rhondda Valleys, which until the end of the 20th century was one of the most important coal mining areas in the world. In an area only 26 km long, Rhondda alone had over 53 working collieries at one time.

The earliest recorded opening and mining of a coal level was in 1790 by Dr Richard Griffiths, who was also responsible for bringing the first tram road into the Rhondda.

Until the 1950s the coal industry maintained a steady level of production and employment, but since that time there has been a continuing dramatic decline. At Lewis Merthyr production came to an end in 1983.

Only some 20km north lies the village of Aberfan. On 21 October 1966 there was a catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil tip, that was created on a mountain slope above the village. Heavy rain led to a build-up of water within the tip which caused it to suddenly slide downhill as a slurry, killing 116 children and 28 adults as it engulfed Pantglas Junior School and a row of houses.

Near Wrexham lies Gresford. A disaster occurred there on 22 September 1934 at Gresford Colliery when an explosion and underground fire killed 261 men. Today, it is hard to believe, that the wages of those killed were only paid to their families up to the time of the explosion, which was half their shift. There were no severance payments. Over £580,000 in donations went into a relief fund. The money collected was "considered too much for men and women of the lower classes."

Housing near the coal mines