Miners lamps and self rescuers waiting for visitors at the Big Pit National Coal Museum Blaenavon South Wales UK
Big Pit mine is situated on the eastern edge of the South Wales Coalfield at the town of Blaenavon which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site The colliery was sunk in 1860 to a depth of 90 metres Originally all coal was cut the coal by hand mechanisation did not arrive at Big Pit until 1908 when a mechanical conveyor was installed Through linking up with other mines in the area Big Pit has some of the oldest workings in the UK dating back to 1810 Coal production continued until 2nd February 1980 when the mine closed it reopened as a museum in 1983 with former miners giving underground tours 2001 saw a change in the management of Big Pit with it becoming part of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales and establishing it as the National Coal Museum In 2005 it won the Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year the UKs largest arts prize
Size: 5100px × 3323px
Location: Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon, Torfaen, Gwent, South Wales, UK
Photo credit: © Jeff Morgan 01 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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