‘Old pit buildings are glorious so preserve industrial heritage’
STANDING proud at the heart of the Gwent valleys is a beautiful group of red-brick buildings which once played a huge part in Welsh industry.
The Navigation Colliery in Crumlin, Caerphilly, came into being in 1907 with the sinking of the mine shafts by the mine’s owners, Partridge, Jones & Company Ltd, and was in full production by 1911.
It was taken over by the National Coal Board in 1947, when nationalisation was introduced by the Attlee Labour government, and carried on producing coal for another 20 years until the mine ceased production in 1967.
As with many buildings of historical and industrial importance, it quickly became dilapidated and stood in ruins for many years.
But a group of volunteers are hoping to change that and to make the Navigation relevant to the community it once served more than 50 years ago.
The Friends of the Navigation was the brainchild of former mayor of Caerphilly Vera Jenkins, who thought it was time to do something to reverse the damage time had wrought on the landmark, which she could see from her window.
Made up of 12 core trustees and volunteers and 86 members, the registered charity is working alongside the site’s owners, South Wales Building Preservation Trust, to maintain and prevent the deterioration of the buildings and are making renovation plans.
While the colliery’s initial purpose of producing coal is gone forever, it is hoped that one day these beautiful buildings could be used for events, workshops and other community activities.
Volunteer Bill Davison, who runs The Friends of the Navigation website and acts as membership secretary, said there are lots of ideas about what can be done with the buildings.
He said: “In a nutshell, we took over the site eight years ago and it had been left to go to rack and ruin. One of our trustees decided they couldn’t stand that any more. We took it over and bought the site and set it forward for a big project.
“We have many ideas what to do with the site and development. What we’re looking at is to put the whole of the site back into the community. That may include restoring some of the buildings and putting them back into use as venues for events, workshops for businesses start-ups, and also as a building academy.
“The Navigation certainly is a landmark, some people say it should be knocked down and flattened, but others see it as an iconic piece of heritage for the area. The people of Crumlin were involved in the Navigation and worked in the mines at the time. Couple that with the Crumlin viaduct that used to be at the end of the site, they are all iconic structures and well known in the area.
“The Navigation is made up of Grade II-listed buildings so we have to try and refurbish them and restore them to the conditions they were built in 1911. That’s an ongoing project trying to maintain the buildings to stop them deteriorating any further. We are seeking grants as and when it is possible.”
The project has been given the green light by Caerphilly council, which was initially reluctant as the buildings would be renovated one by one instead of in one go, but this was not possible due to finances available. Bill said: “The first building to be restored would be the pay office on the upper floor. It’s a small building and hopefully we’ll get that in use and put out by ourselves or by others.
“The biggest problem we have on the site is the culvert which runs underneath the site. It’s starting to deteriorate and could last 100 years or collapse tomorrow. We want to get that culvert reinstated and get the river moved slightly to get it back into proper use as soon as possible.
“We also have a hydro scheme which is in the process of being looked at and could be put in place with the moving of the culvert in the next couple of years. It will provide electricity and power to the site with the possibility of selling the excess to the grid.”
Bill said the majority of the volunteers were inspired and motivated by the beauty of the buildings, which were a part of their lives and their heritage.
He added: “They should be preserved for future generations, not as a working colliery and not as a museum, but really just to preserve the really nice buildings and put them back into use some way.
“So many pass by the buildings day after day without realising what they are. We have been holding various events at the site, including regular markets and boot sales, and a surprising number of people come and say they don’t realise what the buildings are and we have to explain to them. It’s a sign of the times.
“People drive by and say nothing is happening and to knock it down, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. Trustees and volunteers are working to get grants and agreements with the Welsh Government and to get as much backing as we can.”