Senghenydd new miners' memorial

Unveiled one hundred years after the horrific pit explosion, in September 2013, the national miners' memorial sited at Senghenydd is well worth a visit, especially if you approach over the common from Nelson, enjoying the scenery and fantastic views beforehand.

The car park is small, but there are no parking restrictions on the road outside.

The two miners depicted in bronze are very well sculpted and each holds a miner's lamp.

Implanted in the top of a wall surrounding the sculpture is a series of engraved tiles, each naming one of the miners killed in the explosion in 1813.

Surrounding this wall are two circles of engraved tiles at ground level.  These each provide the names of collieries, the dates of disasters which occurred and the numbers killed.

Each tile has been sponsored by families or companies named on the tile.

I can't help feeling that although impactful, the impact would have been so much stronger if the tiles had been arranged en bloc, rather than spread in rows.

The whole arrangement is surrounded by gardens, making a place of contemplation and thought.  When planted up will add to the serenity to the whole area.

Senghenydd Memorial Concert

Blackwood Miners' Institute, Caerphilly County Borough's leading arts & entertainment venue presents a concert in tribute to the 440 miners who lost their lives in 1913.

Tel: 01495 227206
e-mail: bmi@caerphilly.gov.uk

Book online at:  www.blackwoodminersinstitute.com
 

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.