Vital part of mining past back in action

A BUILDING in the heart of the South Wales Valleys, which played a vital role in the day-to-day running of the Great West- ern Colliery, has officially reopened.

The Hetty Winding House played host to a special event yesterday, in which Jemma Downes, from Pwllgwaun, the granddaughter of George Downes, the last winder at the historic building, formally started the engine.

It closed in 1983, but now the Hopkinstown site is fully open to the public.

Brian Davies from the Great Western Colliery Preservation Trust, which was granted the lease to open the house, said: “It is wonderful to see the delight of the faces of our visitors of all ages as they see this engine in action.

“The mining industry in Wales really was at the cutting edge of engineering and science. The Hetty Winding Engine runs as smoothly today as it did the year it was built – over 100 years ago.”

Sunk in 1875, during its heyday, the Great Western Colliery employed hundreds of men. And the Victorian steampowered winding engine played a vital role in the running of the coal mine for years, transporting miners and coal from pit bottom to surface during each shift.

It was granted Listed Building status in 1984 due to its national importance as one of the last surviving colliery engine houses. Now it has been restored by trust volunteers who spent more than a decade carrying out work.

Rhondda Cynon Taf council owns the site. Deputy leader Maureen Webber, said: “The council is delighted to be working with the Great Western Colliery Preservation Trust to secure the future of this wonderful part of our coal-mining heritage.”