FROM MINE TO MUSEUM

Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon

Until Sun 30 Dec

For the last 35 years, Big Pit has been essential visiting for schoolchildren of Wales. A new exhibition traces its transformation into one of the UK’s most valuable spaces for keeping ahold of the deep breadth of our working-class history. A working coal mine from 1880 to 1980, the Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenavon was opened as a museum in 1983, so-called because of its unusually large elliptical shaft.

The coalmining industry is a massively important part of Welsh history – the south Wales coalfield was at the height of production between the 1880s and 1913 and the Big Pit was a massive employer in the 1920s. If you grew up in South Wales, especially in the Valleys, there’s a good chance you grew up in the shadow of a pit or the remnants of a coalmine. The importance of Big Pit as a museum is huge; if, like this writer, you grew up in the 80s onwards, pits would have all but disappeared, but you could still experience life down a mine – the Underground Tour is a regular favourite amongst schools.

The 1970s and 80s were tumultuous times for the coal industry. It showed amazing foresight that in 1975 plans for a museum were made, and its opening eight years later helped to preserve a particular part of Welsh heritage.

Admission: free. Info: 0300 1112333 / www.museum.wales (CW)