South Wales Miners' Museum facts for kids
Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre housing the South Wales Miners' Museum
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| Established | 1976 |
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| Location | Cynonville, Port Talbot, South Wales |
| Type | Mining museum |
| Nearest car park | On site Pay and Display operated by Neath Port Talbot Council |
The South Wales Miners' Museum is a special place that teaches you all about coal mining in South Wales. It shows what life was like for the miners and their families. You can find this museum inside the Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre. It's near a small village called Cymmer in Neath Port Talbot.
Contents
History of the Museum
The South Wales Miners' Museum was the very first museum of its kind in Wales. It first opened its doors in June 1976. When it first started, the museum showed what a miner's home looked like. It also had old photos and papers. These items helped visitors understand the history of mining in Wales.
The museum quickly gained recognition. In 1976, it won The Prince of Wales Award. Just two years later, it was highly praised in the National Heritage Museum of the Year Award. The British Tourist Authority also gave it a special mention. Many people visit the museum every year to learn about this important history.
What You Can See: Exhibitions and Facilities
The museum was rebuilt and opened again in 2008. It has many cool things to explore.
Inside the Museum
Inside, you can walk through a recreated mine tunnel. Here, you'll see models of children. They show how young people used to crawl through tight spaces underground. There's also a realistic stable. It features a miner with his pit pony and a trailer. Pit ponies were horses that helped pull coal carts in the mines.
Outdoor Exhibits
Outside the museum, you can see more interesting displays. There's a blacksmith's shop, where tools were made and repaired. You can also see a lamp room with Davy lamps. These were special safety lamps used by miners. Other outdoor exhibits include a large pithead wheel. This wheel was used to lower and raise miners and coal from the mine. You can also see a haulage engine and a coal dram. A coal dram was a small wagon used to carry coal.
