About Cefn Coed Colliery Museum
Located near the village of Crynant in the Dulais Valley, the museum tells the story of coal mining at Cefn Coed Colliery, nicknamed ‘The Slaughterhouse".
Entry to the museum is free.
The museum shop takes cash only with no card facility.
Cefn Coed Colliery Museum Description
Cefn Coed Colliery Museum tells the story of coal mining at the Cefn Coed Colliery, once the deepest anthracite coal mine in the world. Cefn Coed was one of the most dangerous coalmines in Wales where many men lost their lives in dangerous working conditions gaining the colliery the nickname of ‘The Slaughterhouse’.
The story of the thousands of men who worked at Cefn Coed and at other pits in the anthracite coalmines of South West Wales is told through words, pictures and artefacts throughout the museum. The underground gallery, a simulated working seam, brings these harrowing conditions to life.
The museum is home to a preserved 1927 Worsley Mesnes Horizontal Duplex Cylinder Steam Winding engine, arguably the jewel in the museum’s crown. Once powered by steam when the site was a working colliery this magnificent winder is now turned over by electricity, however its majesty never fails to impress enthusiasts the world over.
Visitors can receive a guided tour led by one of our dedicated volunteers by arrangement or if you prefer there are hand held audio tours of the site, recorded by a retired miner from the Cefn Coed Colliery available from reception.
The museum is also the proud home of the last surviving gas tram from Neath and one of the only restored examples in the world. The Neath gas tram ran from 1875 until 1920, when it became a victim of modernisation and was abandoned in favour of motor buses and was sold off. This fine example was recovered from a local garden in the 1980s where it was being used as a garden shed! Visit the museum to discover its fascinating story and sit up on the top deck.
Cefn Coed Colliery Museum is also host to the Neath Historical Model Railway Club. The club’s dedication and commitment is evident from the constantly evolving layout celebrating the age of steam in the Dulais Valley.
Reviews
We are inviting charity and community groups to come and raise some valuable money for their causes.
if the Neath carnival is not for you, then why not come along to Cefn Coed Colliery Museum, our new look tea room is open, enjoy a tea or coffee and cakes with a beautiful countryside backdrop, entry and parking are free
Where in the museum am I? Is your old colliery on one of our 18 plates?
What a fantastic place! I can't believe that it is free to enter. Wonderful. Make sure that you get the guided tour by Guy- he's great, too!
What a fantastic easter event today!! The easter bonnet parade was full to brimming with amazing creations. FREE family fun. Super friendly staff and volunteers who made the day.And it's open all weekend. We'll worth a visit
Went for our 3rd visit today - even in their closed season it is possible to visit if you contact them and they can get volunteers there. Fascinating place and a great model railway too. Everyone there is so welcoming. Free entry too so make sure to put a donation in their collection box!
Well worth a visit! :)
Visited the Museum this Thursday, what an interesting and accommodating site. Full of history and information relating to the mining background of the area. Set out in a way that is informative but not overloaded in detail. Should you require further information there are always a number of volunteers in the vicinity, but you are never under the "close supervision" that one finds elsewhere.
My father was a miner, still employed at the time of the "Miners strike". I was a member of the Constabulary at the time in the Midlands. It led to a number of interesting conversations, which expanded on the personal thoughts of those who had experienced the time and its troubles.
Free parking, free admission and prices within the shop which are very reasonable.
What more could one ask for. As a grandfather used to taking out my grandsons, I would also recommend the establishment as somewhere they would enjoy visiting.
Well done.
Visited a long time ago but recently visited with the grandchildren who thoroughly enjoyed the experience of seeing the equipment & talking to the very knowledgeable ex miners who niw volunteer to keep the history of the mine alive.
Took our three year grandson there yesterday and he loved it.The staff were lovely.Will definitely be visiting again.
This is a place that everyone should visit and support as without this important help from our communities at large and the excellent work the volunteers there are already doing this historical place could be at risk in the future so please support this Site.
Thanks for a lovely afternoon out Cefn Coed Colliery Museum. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, which was made even more special by your knowledgeable staff, who clearly have a passion for preserving our heritage.
Spread the word about this little bit of history on our doorstop. Only better it’s going to get.
My family and I spent a couple of hours here yesterday and all three generations enjoyed. We wished we'd allowed ourselves more time but will definitely go back. There was much more to see than we'd imagined. The staff were brilliant and Garry was a very informative guide. I'd highly recommend taking the guide option and then browsing at your leisure afterwards. Watching the winding engine in action was impressive (don't miss it). Parking and entry is free, take a picnic on a nice day and enjoy.
Just got back from lovely visit, had a fantastic time staff were amazing! Ray you made my son and daughters day thank you for being so kind, the little miner will back for another visit soon!!! Xx
If I could give more stars I would, the staff was really friendly and polite and give us much information as they could and told us if we have any questions at all, and they didn't know the answer ,they would find out and let us know,spent over a good hour here and could stayed longer,and even managed with a pram,all the way round there are few steps but i easy managed and my kids had free hats and book too, and want to go up again, even better it's all free, advise you all to go and see it �
I have had my exhibition of local opencast miners there all season. It's been great to get lovely comments from the visitors. The staff are so friendly and informative. It has such alot of history as it was the deepest anthrocite coal mine in the world. They cater for the family and even put special events on. I can highly recommend this museum not just because for a season I have had the pleasure to have been a small part of it. But because the volunteers that work hard to keep it open and keep it renovated are so dedicated to providing you with a great experience when you visit I have taken friends there to visit many times and they have all come away happy and enriched with history of how it was to go down the deep mine and how whole families and communities were involved and effected. They even have a tram a model railway so well worth a visit.
Had an amazing afternoon here today with my 4 and 9 year old sons. We popped in as passing although looked like it maybe closed from the outside. The boys loved the mine walk with Ray who even showed them how dark it was. They got to look at and touch things which was great as they didn't need to worry about sitting still or being quiet. They even got the huge engine running with Ray. Was really educational with lots of exhibits on the social history and the science of running the colliery to wonder through. The boys didn't want to leave and was a dream trip for them.
For a free attraction, it's brilliant. My three year old loved it all, and the staff and volunteers were happy, friendly and informative. We managed to spend two hours there. I think my sons favourite bit was the model railways, but going down the pit (a 20 or so meter long underground mockup) came a close second.
Fabulous little museum. Mock underground coalmine, working steam engine, model railway, great cakes, friendly volunteers and FREE entry (donations only).
Definitely worth a visit. If I could give it 6 stars I would
Fabulous educational day out. Highly recommended. Xx
Called in when driving past with my granddaughter, don't look much from the car park but once we went in, we were taken back in time when my father/grandfather worked in the pits. The guide Ray explained the workings of a pit and made the trip an experience my granddaughter will remember. She didn't stop chatting about it all night long. Plenty of memories from my youth and the model railway men also made us feel so welcome. Will definitely be going back more.