Travelling with MM: Romans and Coal in Wales UK

02 October 2024

Romans and Coal in Wales UK

We didn’t rush this morning and eventually drove out of the pub carpark at around 9:30am. It was drizzling as we drove over the Severn River into Wales.

Our first stop was in Caerleon, one of only 3 Roman fortress settlements in Britain. Built in AD75 it guarded this region for over 200 years. We parked up near the best preserved remains in Britain of the amphitheater that used to hold 6,000 spectators and went to visit the free National Roman Legion museum. They were sent here to crush the native tribes. Through excavations they have found the defences enclosed an area of 50acres with 64 rows of barracks. There was a bath complex for the Roman troops. We browsed the exhibits, marvelling at the items they have unearthed, giving an insight into their lives here.it was the Romans that introduced ornamental gardens to Britain.

Even their toilet was in Roman Style !

Next we drove to Blaenavon, where coal was once the life blood of this South Wales town. At its peak it employed 1,300 people. The Big Pit is no longer producing coal since 1980 but now opens its doors and underground to visitors.

The museum is free but chargers £5pp to descend 90m down the mineshaft. The guide gave us some great information on the conditions the miners had to work in. We donned our safety gear - a helmet, a light and an emergency breathing apparatus. Then handed over all battery operated gadgets as they weren’t allowed down into the mine.. so no photos of our adventure.

Once returned above ground we continued our visit. King Coal gave us an audio visual experience of the history of modern mining techniques.

Next the Pithead Baths exhibition was very informative on the miners (and their families) lives from 1850 to 2000, including health, home, communities, geology, disasters and rescues.