Exterior of the Big Pit Blaenavon by BessieB
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
This is the exterior to the pit. Big Pit stands on the site of an earlier mine, Kearsley Pit, the shaft of which was sunk to a depth of 39 metres in 1860. Big Pit came into being when the shaft was deepened to a depth of 89 metres. It got its name from the size of its elliptical shaft, which at 5.5m by 4.6m was the first in the area wide enough to wind two trams of coal side by side. Soon the colliery was producing more than 100,000 tonnes of coal from an area of about 12 square miles. As the workings extended out from the shaft the mine incorporated other workings such as Mine Slope and Forge Level, which is now the 'second way out' of the mine. Nine different coal seams were worked at some stage during Big Pit's life and the coal it produced was first-class 'steam coal' for which South Wales became famous around the world. As time went on seams became worked out or uneconomical and were closed down. In Big Pit it was the lowest seam, the Garw, that was the last one worked. It was a first-class coking coal, but with a maximum thickness of 71 cm and a very hard consistency it was difficult to work.
Narrative to continue with further post tomorrow.
Thank you for your views and comments
Susan
Comments (7)
Excellent pic of this pit head... Like this series of pics.. Well captured and Great POV.. xx
Good one!
Fabulous shot and I can almost see business being carried out as I gaze at this. Good info as well.
Interesting photo! :)
very interesting structure and I would like to go down in a mine but I would be nervous.I am claustrophobic .excellent capture
Like Richard I would love to go down the mine, and I am not claustrophobic. Excellent capture, I am watching a series on TV at the moment called the Coal House, I can't remember what chanel its on though, it is late at night about 11:45. Three family's have gone back in time to 1927 I think, and they are in a mining village, one of the men is only earning 5 shillings a day cause he had an accident and can't go down the pit. Two days pay = ten shillings or 50 pence in our decimal money. You managed to get plenty of photographs when you came over here Susan, it seems you had an enjoyable break. Excellent work. Bravo!!!!!
Thank you all for your comments on this series, especially to Jeff. I will post several more from my trip to Wales but thought I would break it up with a few cat pictures in the meantime. I went down the pit on the tour, 300ft. It was very interesting. I will post a further photo tomorrow with details of my journey.