Llanhilleth Miners' Memorial

As you approach Llanhilleth from Swffryd you manoeuvre a sharp horseshoe bend in the road.  To the right is what remains of Llanhilleth Pithead Baths.  If you park alongside and walk under the road to the left-hand side you will find Llanhilleth Miners' Memorial.  Unseen from the road, and surrounded by trees, this area gives the visitor time to think of the men who risked their lives every day to put food on the table and provide Britain and the rest of the world with fuel. 

In the early 1800s this was a farming area with a population of around 250.  By the end of the century its main industry was mining, with a population of around 5000.  People travelled here from neighbouring towns, but also all areas of Wales, Bristol, Somerset and beyond to earn 'big money.'  In twenty years the Depression took hold and people were selling everything they could to buy food and keep warm.

A few years ago, the area surrounding the memorial had become overgrown and unloved, but local volunteers worked to clear the site and reinstate pathways for visitors.