Great Western Colliery Winding House

An opportunity to see a steam winding engine in operation.

'The Hetty' winding house is a grade I listed building located between Hopkinstown and Trehafod in the Rhondda Valley.The Hetty pit was one of the four pits of the Great Western Colliery, which supplied coal for the locomotives of the Great Western Railway. The winding-engine was built in 1875 by Barker and Cope of Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, and re-built in 1910 by Worsley Mesnes of Wigan. It has two cylinders 34" diameter by 6' stroke, driving-a 15' diameter drum, and wound 3 tons of coal from a depth of 375 yards in 45 seconds. It is the oldest engine of its type in the UK and the only large steam-engine in Wales that-is still workable, though it now runs on compressed air.

Dates 22nd, 23rd September Saturday and Sunday

Times 10am to 4pm 22nd September and 10am to 2pm 23rd September

Access The site can only be accessed by steep steps and good, flat walking shoes are advised.

Location Take the A4058 from Pontypridd to the Rhondda Valley. The Hetty pit is on the right hand side of the road about a quarter of a mile past the village of Hopkinstown. Parking in Barry Sidings Country Park is opposite, across the river.

Booking not required

---