Exhibition Highlighting The Tale of Bersham Colliery Opens in Wrexham Museum

A new exhibition highlighting the 30th anniversary of the closure of Bersham Colliery has launched at the Wrexham Museum.

The exhibition, The Last One Standing: The Tale of Bersham Colliery, reveals some of the dramatic events in the pit’s story – the 1880 explosion, the 1935 strike, ‘riot’ and subsequent trials, and the 1984–85 strike.

Thirty years ago on December 18th 1986 the last coal to be mined at Bersham Colliery was wound to the surface. With that last tub over a hundred years of history at the colliery came to an end.

Wrexham Museum and the North Wales Miners Association Trust have come together to mark this anniversary by staging a special exhibition to tell the story of the ‘friendly pit’.

The title highlights the fact that out of the many pits that once existed in the Denbighshire coalfield, the headgear that towers above the No.2 shaft at the Bersham Colliery site is the last one standing.

Speaking about the exhibition, Alan Jones, Chairman of the North Wales Miners Association Trust said: “The Trust is pleased to be working alongside Wrexham Museum Services on the exhibition ‘Last One Standing’.

“Bersham Colliery closed after 120 years in an area where coal mining has had a particularly long history. At one time there were literally hundreds of collieries in North Wales and now the headgear at Bersham is the last one standing.

“It is important to remember the part that coal mining played in the industrial wealth of this country and that the heritage is kept for future generations to explore and to find out how their ancestors worked, lived and often died.”

The exhibition also provides an opportunity for visitors to see some of the memorabilia and equipment from the colliery that was saved by the former workforce and the miner’s agent, Ted McKay, such as:

– Progress plans of the Queen and Cefn seams that show the pillar of coal beneath Erddig
– Tools and equipment used underground and on the surface
– The 19th century ‘Black Banner’ of the North Wales Miners Association
– Warning signs and safety equipment used at the colliery
– And a lump of coal from the last shift.
– Many of the items have never been on show before.

The exhibition also includes a mini-mine experience for children. Adults won’t fit although it is not much lower than some of the seams at Bersham Colliery.

There will also be a chance for children to dress up as a miner and the Handling Trolley ‘Troli Teimlo’ will offer the chance for younger visitors to wear a real miners’ donkey jacket and carry a miner’s lamp.

Welcoming the exhibition, Councillor Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Community and Regeneration said: “I am pleased to see that Wrexham County Borough Council’s on-going partnership with the North Wales Miners Association Trust has resulted in this timely exhibition.

“Everyone locally appreciates the importance of coal mining to Wrexham’s sense of place and identity and the exhibition provides a great opportunity to explore Wrexham’s industrial past.”

Councillor Mark Pritchard, Leader of the Council and member for Esclusham, added: “It was a very sad day when Bersham Colliery closed and one I will always remember.

“The Colliery was a large part of the village’s industrial past and many families relied on work at the Colliery to feed and clothe their family.”

The exhibition opens on Monday 12 December and runs until Saturday 22 April 2017. Admission is free.