Welcome to Cyfarthfa Castle

Opening Times

1st April - 30th September
Daily10am - 5:30pm
 
1st October - 31st March
MondayCLOSED
Tuesday10am - 4pm
Wednesday10am - 4pm
Thursday10am - 4pm
Friday10am - 4pm
Saturday12pm - 4pm
Sunday12pm - 4pm
Free Admission

Contact

If you require any information about the Castle, feel free to contact us any time:

Tel: +44 (0)1685 723112
Email: museum@merthyr.gov.uk

Coal Mining Collection

    Battery Powered Miners Lamp

    Battery Powered Miners’ Lamp

    356mm height x 120mm diameter

    Modern miners’ lamp powered by a battery, made in Oldham, near Manchester. The coming of battery-powered electric lamps reduced the danger of explosions caused by lamp flames, but unlike the flame lamps, the battery lamps could not be used to detect gases in the mines.

    Brass Watchcase

    31mm height x 80mm width x 280mm chain length

    Miner's watch case, made of brass with a glass circular lid and chain, used for miners to carry their watches with them without risk of damage.

    Income Tax Rates For Miners

    203mm height x 260mm width

    Table produced by the South Wales Miners’ Federation displaying flat rate allowances on Income Tax for colliery workers employed in South Wales, Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire. Dated 15 January 1941.

    Miners’ Lamp

    340mm height x 90mm diameter

    Brass-bodied miners’ lamp with an iron gauze flue section and handle. This was made by Thomas & Williams Ltd of Aberdare. Until the early nineteenth century, the only safety precautions taken in mines against gases such as methane (‘firedamp’) were done by a ‘fireman’ dressed in wet sacks, crawling along the ground with a candle on a pole. Many lives were lost in coal mines because of explosions, caused by the candles used by the miners for light. In 1815 Sir Humphrey Davy and George Stephenson both invented safety oil lamps that had gauzes around the flame, limiting contact with the methane.

    Miners’ Lamp

    350mm height x 88mm diameter

    Brass-bodied miners’ lamp with a bonnet covering the iron gauze flue section, and carrying hook. Until the early nineteenth century, the only safety precautions taken in mines against gases such as methane (‘firedamp’) were done by a ‘fireman’ dressed in wet sacks, crawling along the ground with a candle on a pole. Many lives were lost in coal mines because of explosions, caused by the candles used by the miners for light. In 1815 Sir Humphrey Davy and George Stephenson both invented safety oil lamps that had gauzes around the flame, limiting contact with the methane. Later examples, such as this one, were refinements of Davy’s and Stephenson’s designs.

    Miner’s Twist Box

    19mm height x 72mm width x 34mm depth

    Brass miner’s twist box, for tobacco, with a hinged lid, with stamped letters: DANIEL:PHILLIP 5.MARY.ST ABERDARE.1888 Daniel Phillips, the owner of the box, was born at Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, in 1872, the son of Joseph and Ann Phillips. His father was a mason and soon after Daniel’s birth moved to Aberdare, where the family settled at 5 Mary Street. Daniel Philips spent his working life as a coal miner in the Aberdare area, and after his parents’ deaths during the 1890s continued to live at 5 Mary Street, where he raised his own children with his wife Mary.

    National Union Of Mineworkers Honorary Member Pin Badge

    20mm diameter

    Lapel badge for a National Union of Mineworkers’ South Wales Area honorary member. The badge is part of a collection of items relating to the 1984-85 Miners Strike. Red-enamelled badge with gold lettering around the border: S.WALES AREA NUM / HON MEMBER. The donor took part in the strike and worked at Merythr Vale Colliery.

    Newspaper Report On Cost-Cutting At Inefficient Mines

    300mm height x 380mm width

    Extract from the Western Mail for 27 July 1987, reporting on plans by British Coal to introduce cuts to less efficient mines in South Wales.

    Poster Commemorating Lives Lost In Colliery Disasters

    253mm height x 210mm width

    Printed poster commemorating the number of victims lost to colliery disasters from the 1830s to 1920s. The poster begins: In loving memory of the 3508 miners who lost their lives in colliery disasters in North Wales, South Wales, and Monmouthshire during the past 90 years, and lists the number of those killed alongside the collieries where the men lost their lives.

    Self-Rescuer

    127mm height x 98mm width x 87mm depth

    An emergency breathing mask in sealed metal canister. They were used to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning underground after an explosion, worn by all miners on their belts, and were an effective short-term breathing apparatus. The canister has the following instructions for use: Pull red lever, lift off cover, pull out mask by means of headstraps, insert mouthpiece, pull nose-clip on, pull support straps over head.