The Great Western Colliery Preservation Trust
Preserving and operating the Hetty Colliery steam pit winding gear and associated colliery buildings.
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About The Great Western Colliery Preservation Trust
The Trust
The Great Western Colliery Preservation Trust was formed in 2010 to continue the Pontypridd heritage work started by volunteers in 1999 in restoring the surviving 1875 Hetty Winding engine house, engine, fan house, pit winding gear and other buildings on the former Great Western Colliery site.
History
Coal production at the Hetty ceased in 1923, but the Hetty was kept open as a secondary way out for adjacent collieries, Tymawr and Lewis Merthyr Collieries, which it was liked to underground. Coal production ceased at these collieries in July 1983 and the Hetty finally ceased working on the 26th November 1983.On the 3rd August 1984 both the Hetty Engine House and the Headframe at the Hetty Shaft were listed Grade 1, and the Fan House at the Hetty shaft was listed Grade 2* by Cadw as an important part of coal heritage . On the 28th July 1994 the Hetty Engine House, Headframe, Fan House and surrounding area were all granted Schedule Monument status. The listing narrative states ‘The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance knowledge of the nineteenth century coal mining industry’.Originally, the Hetty shaft was sunk by the Great Western Colliery Company by 1875, when the engine house was built. The winding engine was built by Barker & Cope of Kidsgrove, Staffordshire. Alterations were carried out in 1902 to the engine, winding drum and ropes and a steel replacement headframe installed, to further improve overall efficiency.
Today
The Hetty winding engine is now the only large steam engine in Wales in working order (i.e. not dependent on an electric motor), and is the oldest two-cylinder horizontal winding engine in the UK still on its original site. It survives as a tribute to the work of the men who built, rebuilt, operated and maintained it, and also the dedicated team of volunteers who are restoring the site as a unique visitor attraction of our mining heritage.
Contact Us
THE GREAT WESTERN COLLIERY PRESERVATION TRUST
Gyfeillon Road, Pontypridd, CF37 2PP, United Kingdom
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