Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Powder House, Big Pit Mining Museum
Blaenavon, Torfaen, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Blaenavon, Torfaen, designated on 9 February 1995.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Domestic
- Date of designation
- 9 February 1995
- Community
- Blaenavon
- Unitary authority
- Torfaen
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.77143, -3.10563
- Cadw reference
- 15291
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1856 · 42. Brecon. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 232 Abergavenny (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 232 Abergavenny (Outline) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1913 · Sheet 102. Newport. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Situated on the south side of the site and set apart from the other buildings.
History
Built in the mid-twentieth century, this building held explosives for mining activities. Big Pit was operated in connection with Blaenavon Ironworks, then by the National Coal Board from 1947 to 1980. Underground workings date from the early C19 but the shaft on this site was sunk in 1860. The present surface structures date from between c1900 and the 1970's. This piecemeal development was typical of mines in South Wales and it is now the most complete remaining, having been reopened as a museum in 1983.
Interior
Single storey, rectangular brick building with flat concrete roof. Two doorways in the north-west elevation provided separate entrance and exit, with steel doors. That to the east has a flat roofed porch. Between the doors, set high up, is a wide slit window with angled brick sill. All openings have square heads with concrete lintels.
Reason for designation
Included for its group value as an integral part of the process at this colliery site.
Nearby in the register
- Miners Baths and CanteenIndustrialunder 1 mi
- U-Shaped Group including Welding and Fitting Shop, Blacksmiths Shop and Tea ShopCommercialunder 1 mi
- Winding Engine HouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Fan and Compressor HouseDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.