South Wales Miners' Museum

The South Wales Miners' Museum is a museum within Afan Forest Park that documents the history of coal mining in South Wales. The collection includes mining equipment, tools, photographs, and personal items that show what life was like for miners and their families.

The museum was founded in 1976 to preserve the heritage of mining communities that shaped industrial Britain through their coal mining work. This founding reflected a desire to record this important working-class history before it was forgotten.

The exhibits show photographs, documents, and personal belongings that reveal how mining shaped family life and community bonds. Visitors can see how daily routines and relationships were structured around this dangerous work.

The museum is housed in the Afan Forest Park visitor center and has accessible parking and a cafe on site. This location makes it easy to combine a visit to the exhibits with walks through the forest or other outdoor activities in the park.

The museum is connected to forest trails and mountain biking routes, meaning visitors can combine industrial history with outdoor adventure in one visit. This combination sets it apart from traditional museum visits by offering a full day of varied activities.

Location: Neath Port Talbot County Borough

Inception: 1976

Elevation above the sea: 159.1 m

Address: Afan Forest Park, Cynonville, Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot (Castell-nedd Port Talbot) SA13 3HG Wales

Email: info@south-wales-miners-museum.co.uk

Website: http://south-wales-miners-museum.co.uk

GPS coordinates: 51.64179,-3.70550

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:03