03/29/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

Welsh coal mining experience at Rhondda Heritage Park to open

IN line with Welsh Government regulations, the award-winning A Welsh Coal Mining Experience at Rhondda Heritage Park will open its doors to visitors for the first time in 2021 on Tuesday (May 18). People can book online or by calling the venue from Tuesday to Saturday, 9 am-5 pm.

Due to COVID-19 regulations, the site will be operating at a reduced capacity, with one tour taking place every hour from 10 am to 3 pm. All bookings must be made by a family or an extended family in line with the current regulations. Please be aware that the minimum tour size is two and the maximum is eight.

Extensive work has taken place to ensure the unique attraction can re-open in a safe manner that adheres to social distancing requirements and is compliant with the latest COVID-19 regulations.

In addition, Visit Britain’s “We’re Good to Go Standard” has been awarded to the site – giving confidence to visitors that clear processes are in place at the attraction, which adheres to the latest Welsh Government guidance.

Due to COVID-19 regulations, the site will be operating at a reduced capacity, with one tour taking place every hour from 10 am to 3 pm. All bookings must be made by a family or an extended family in line with the current regulations. Please be aware that the minimum tour size is two and the maximum is eight.

The guides, themselves former miners who worked in local collieries as boys and young men, cannot wait to greet their visitors again.

They are looking forward to fitting you with your miner’s helmet and taking you on a tour underground and back in time, exploring our incredible industrial heritage and the massive impact we made on the world.

Pete, Tony, and Graham will once again share their personal stories and memories about what it was like to work in the collieries and what life was like for their families and the wider community.

They will celebrate the massive impact the Rhondda had on the world, how we helped to power global industry with our “black gold”, providing fuel for the Titanic, and fuelling the industrial revolution worldwide.

Visitors will take a ride in DRAM! a cinematic experience in which they ride the last dram of coal to the surface.

Meet Collier Boy Joe, who will tell visitors all about his first ever day as a coal miner – at the age of 12. , his story is based on the true stories of the many boys who went to work underground at such a young age.

Caffe Bracchi is a celebration of the traditional coffee shops and ice cream parlours which were opened across Rhondda Cynon Taf by Italian migrants who flocked to the area to work in our industries.

It has a great range of hot and cold snacks, meals and drinks and the cake offering is amazing. Grab a slice to take away or, from May 18, eat inside.

Or visit the Chocolate House, which has an incredible chocolate shop on site, where visitors can buy sweet treats and goodies.

Crafty folk will love Craft of Hearts, which has a huge range of items and essential supplies for sale and, when it is safe to do so, offers workshops.

Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Heritage Services, said:

“I am delighted to confirm that A Welsh Coal Mining Experience at Rhondda Heritage Park can re-open its doors to visitors from this coming Tuesday, May 18.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on all of our lives, and the announcement from the Welsh Government that indoor hospitality can re-open from Tuesday, May 18, is another step in the right direction following the excellent progress in reducing case rates of COVID-19 over recent months.

“Our staff have been working hard behind the scenes to prepare the much-loved attraction to re-open in a safe manner, and I am sure our fantastic tour guides cannot wait to welcome visitors back to give them an authentic insight into life as a miner and the industrial age that defined many of our communities.”

The Energy Zone playground remains closed at this time.

 

 

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