Aber Valley, Senghenydd Pit Disasters 1901 & 1913

Abertridwr Memorial

Situated north of Caerphilly in the Aber Valley, the Senghenydd Heritage Centre has been constructed and maintained with a great deal of love and attention, and a warm welcome is guaranteed from the volunteers who run it.

Senghenydd Memorial

With CD films, a full set of professional photographs of the 1913 disaster, mining artefacts and a small sales counter, it well illustrated the emoiton of the mine disasters that killed over 400 people.

Unless pointed out, the memorial is difficult to find.   Next to the school, it consists of a replica pit wheel and simple plaque.   Efforts and fundraising are underway to create a more substantial memorial and the online website is quite informative, providing details of interesting local walks.  

We parked near the Abertridwr memorial and strolling back to the car along the main valley road, I noticed several houses had the original victorian tiles on the walls inside their front porch. 

Many of the 900+ miners underground at the time of the second disaster at the University Colliery, lived in Abertridwr, a little further along the valley.  



http://www.thevalleys.co.uk/attractions/aber-valley-heritage-centre-and-museum-p112891




Senghenydd can be reached by turning northwards from Caerphilly, but a stunning entrance to the village is from the village of Nelson.  We entered the small town and turned sharp left (no signpost) and soon we were on a steep narrow road with hedgerows either side. 

As the road evened out it opened out.   The views from the moorland were stunning, with plenty of time to see oncoming traffic and find a passing place.  Dry stone walls threaded along the roadway and surrounded fields.