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The Wales National Mining Memorial is dedicated to all miners who
lost their lives in mining disasters across the country. The
memorial was officially unveiled last year on the 100th anniversary
of the Universal Colliery Disaster.
On Tuesday 14 October 1913, it was an ordinary day as the 950
miners working had just began their shift. At 8.10 am a massive
roar was heard followed by an enormous bang. The blast was so
powerful that it hurled a ton-ton cage lift hundreds of yards up
through a mine shaft. A half a mile away, windows were smashed. The
blast was heard a few miles past the town.
The explosion had been triggered by an accumulation of fire damp
gas. Fire damp is a flammable gas, usually methane, which collects
in pockets next to the coal face. The blast had moved coal dust on
the mine floor, causing clouds that then also caught on fire,
proliferating the destruction further.
The 1913 Colliery Disaster was and to this day remains one on
Britain’s worst mining disasters. A total of 439 miners and one
rescuer lost their lives when tragedy struck this small town.
The Aber Valley Heritage Museum, located inside the Senghenydd
Community Centre, focus is to honour mining disasters as well
documenting the broader history of the Welsh Valleys disaster.
Following their visit to Senghenydd, the Royal couple had separate
engagements in Monmouthshire.
The award-winning town of Usk welcomed The Duchess of Cornwall as
she visited a number of sites which are taking part in the ‘2014
Britain in Bloom’ competition. As Patron of the Landmark Trust,
Camilla toured a number of locations in Usk to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the ‘Britain in Bloom’ competition, now run by the
Royal Horticultural Society.
The Prince of Wales made a visit to Llwyn Celyn, in Crucorney Fawr,
Monmouthshire, which is a rare existing example of a Grade 1 late
15th century farmstead.
According to the Landmark Trust, the farmstead is “now in a state
of dire disrepair, and in urgent need of restoration, Llwyn Celyn
remains a rare example of a complete high status medieval manor
house and farmstead. An extensive programme of research by a team
of experts will continue throughout 2014 to understand more about
the history, development and current state of the building. This
includes archaeology, structural analysis and documentary research.
Local residents will also have the chance to contribute and learn
new skills through a community history project.”
At the end of the day, Charles stopped at a family-run farm in
Crickhowell. It is here The Prince observed the production
processes which make the award-winning Welsh Farmhouse Apple
Juice.
On Friday, Charles will visit the Plough Chapel in Brecon and will view its
magnificent Victorian interior, which has recently been restored in
Brecon.
photo credit: Çatalhöyük via photopin cc]]>
