Penallta Colliery, a once-thriving hub of Welsh industry, now stands derelict beside a growing housing estate in Caerphilly. Despite being closed for over three decades, the colliery's engine house and baths are significant relics of Wales' rich mining heritage. Dr Ben Curtis, an expert on the south Wales coalfield, notes that Penallta was a powerhouse in its heyday, employing a staggering 3,000 men in 1931.
Opened between 1906-9 near Ystrad Mynach, it was at the forefront of mining technology , earning the title of a 'super pit'. At its high, Penallta wasn't just another coal mine; it was a record-breaker, churning out over 3,000 tons of coal daily and setting national and European records. Fast forward to 31 years after its closure in November 1991, and nature is slowly encroaching upon the site that once symbolised industrial might, reports Wales Online .
SAVE Britain's Heritage has recently flagged Penallta as a site in peril, at risk of vanishing unless steps are taken to safeguard it. Their website warns: "In the last few years, there has been some redevelopment of the site for housing and other purposes but the giant grade II* listed Engine House together with the nearby baths (which we have added as a separate entry) remain abandoned." A heartfelt post on the charity's website about the plight of an old pit has resonated with many, leading to a surge in calls for the site's preservation.
One advocate for saving it is former miner Melvin Webb. The now 64-year-old began.