Miners launch Glo Big Pit 2.8.2011

( Please note that the information below was taken from the Big Pit notes, to gain accuracy on the venue.)

The Magazine is free from Big Pit and also available to download as a pdf from there website.

Click below

www.museumwales.acuk/rhagor/glo.

 This was an excellent evening that Big Pit had organised with Llay Brass Band playing, Welsh cheese and wine for refreshments .The Welsh cheese was a great idea                       .

The Glo Magazine was first published in 2005 and has over 120 stories that has been recorded.It  now has 6 editions under its belt, the stories are that of every day people telling it how it was in there own words. Some are recorded in the form of interviews, written by the individuals or in the form of poetry. Whilst interviews are undertaken this can also lead to individuals either loaning or donating items, such as artifacts or photos etc.....

The latest issue has been more linked to North Wales Mining, due to building links with groups in the former mining communities in North Wales. The official launch was on the National Museum Wales stand at Wrexham's Eisteddford 3.8.2011 at 11am by Huw Lewis, Minister for Housing and Regeneration .

Ceri Thompson said: "We have found working with the communities in North Wales particularly rewarding. At Big Pit, we have extensive knowledge of the coal industry in South Wales but working in North Wales was more challenging due to the distances involved. But, working with the North Wales Miners Association Trust and other community groups,we succeeded in putting together a collection of interesting, and sometimes,harrowing tales from the North Wales coalfield. We owe a debt of gratitude to all who contributed or helped us research the magazine."

Kathryn Stowers ( Marketing and PR Officer at Big Pit.)

                                  Kathryn showing her talents with Llay Brass Band.
.

Ted Mckay in  the fore ground

Ceri Thompson ( keeper of coal, Big Pit )

Margaret and Dennis.

Peter Walker ( keeper and mine manager Big Pit )

Alan and Margaret.

        Jen and Keith  ( aka Tattoo )

For info on

North Wales Miners Trust
( NWMAT )

http://www.northwalesminers.com/

Rhydymwyn 26.8.2011

We hadn't  had a photo day for such a long time, It as also nice for the three of us to get together. Geraldine introduced us to her latest discovery, which was Rhydymwyn notoriously known in the war time for making mustard gas bombs. I was in my element so much space and things to discover, I left the other two but every so often joined up to check in on what they had found. After sometime of going in disused warehouses, Geraldine took us to another part of the site. Here there were more smaller buildings off I went again just like a wound up toy.
From time to time I went to get the others to show them what I had found, sadly I hadn't brought a torch so I couldn't see what was in some buildings. We found so much graffiti and workings out on the wall, It was strange in a way as every generation tends to think that they were the first to use bad language and write on walls. Of course the language was so mild as you can see on one photo further down, but in that era it was classed as really bad.
 The highland cows where there cordoned off, the first thing I thought when I saw them was Highland toffee. The time as always flew by we had walked around seeing a lot of the site and the pond with its reeds. One of the other high lights of the day was seeing a snake on the site I hadn't really seen one that close in the wild.

                                          This is one of my favourites photos of the day.

                                                       A lifting device in the warehouses.

                                                  One of many empty warehouses.

                                                    One of 4 tanks around the pond.

   

Teasels by the pond.

   

A frame within a frame within a frame.

A view with a difference.

Highland cattle.

Before and after.

Squatters on the site.

Two of much more graffiti on the site.

A lonesome pine tree.

 I recently re visited this place 15.10.2011 with Kelvin and Margret from NWMAT Miners Trust, where we were shown a video on the factory and what it entailed to make the bombs. We were given a talk of the history had a tea break before being taken on a guided tour of the site. It was good to have history to go along with what we were viewing, this time I had remembered to bring a torch so I re visited some areas.  

To find out more click on link below.

http://ryhdymwynvalleyhistory.co.uk/

Food Festival LLangollen 16.10.2011

                                        



I had heard the words Food Festival many times over the years but had never been to one, until we were given a brief at uni involving food photography.This seemed like a great chance to do two things at the same time, photography and see for myself just it was all about. I had arrived early to get a parking space and ask if I would be allowed to take photos. I was then asked to seek permission from the stall holders, which I did. Due to my project still being in progression I have selected other photos from the day. There were so many stalls to view from cheese, coffee, butchers etc. I will include the websites of the stallholders that I chatted to and obtained permission to photograph.


The  Stalls  were:                              PLEASE CLICK on link below to view their websites.


http://www.veggie-fayre.co.uk/   
This stall was great for veggies - everything was fresh and homemade, the added bonus was that they were  really tasty. I bought a kind of veggie burger and 2 pasty style leek and potato, these came recommended  and definitely did not disappoint my taste buds. I also couldn't resist the pecan chocolate brownies. Susan was very welcoming and I was able to have a chat about other products she produces, from our brief conversation I could tell that she was very passionate about her cooking. I will certainly be going to Susan for more of her great products.


http://www.bestoftaste.co.uk/    
Nick caught my attention with his excellent display of coloured bottles and he then lured me in by asking do  I liked Ice-cream. At this point I answered yes and was offered a choice of Coulis to try, Nick then handed me a medicine size sample of strawberry coulis with ice-cream. Mmmmm did this taste sooo nice and refreshing. I didn't want to get home and start a craving so I bought a bottle and am using it sparingly.


http://www.seren-foods.co.uk/  
At first I was a little wary due to not knowing what the product was or if it had meat in it. The lady behind the counter asked me if id like to try some, so I politely replied no thank you I don't eat meat. I was then re- assured that there was no meat in the product but fish, I then excepted a taste in the form of pate on on small cracker. To my surprise when I asked what kind of fish it was, I wasn't expecting the reply of mackerel .It didn't seem to have that strong fishy taste, I then purchased a small portion and it was then frozen until it was time for me too pick it up on the way home.


http://www.greekoildirect.com/   
The people on this stall were really friendly and seemed really close as a unit. I didn't buy anything from this stall but they agreed for me to take photos. I stayed and chatted for a while and they educated me about olives. When I thanked them they told me that later Pablo was going to be giving a talk about olives, I came back at the 11.30 to hear the talk which was "Secrets of a Healthy Life". I found this really educational, well presented and enjoyed it very much.


 http://www.riverford.co.uk/shop/  
The lady was busy but had agreed that I could take photos and rearrange her displays if I wanted to.


I also spoke to volunteers for Wales Air Ambulance  but would like to write this under a separate title. I'm just awaiting photos from the charity


( Thank you to all stall holders mentioned and the MG members for making it a great experience for me.)





                                                      The  Pavillion

The   Owls

The owl sanctuary  web link is http://www.owlrescue.co.uk/

This was a very popular attraction as many got a chance to hold and stroke the owls. It was a lovely sight to see despite their sad stories on each owl.

M.G     Motor     Cars

Thank you to Andy and the rest of the gang for having a chat to me and answering my questions. I enjoyed hearing about their cars and photographing them. Andy was a great guy to talk to and he had brought photos of his cars journey of being saved from extinction to being put back on the road. This was excellent to put a visual to the history of what the car has been through in transformation.  This was a great end to the day.

National Slate Museum with NWMAT 23.10.2011

                                                   View from Slate Museum

                                                The  Welsh Mountains




I would like to start by saying Thank you to Alan for sharing his knowledge and giving me a history lesson on the way down to Snowdon. I enjoyed and appreciated this.

When we finally arrived all of us headed to the 1st cafe for a drink and light refreshments. We had arrived in time for the slate splitting demonstration, the entertaining cheeky chappy has his work cut out with our gang there. He was very good with the children in the audience and was great at delivering the knowledge as well as the demonstration. I found this really interesting and I was astonished at how the pit bosses would cheat and treat the workers.
We were shown how slate was split with a hammer and chisel and how there can be faults in the slate. How they were measured and cut, why the sizes had women's names , and also he showed us how a heart can be cut out of slate. To finish off there was a questions and answers session.

                         Members of NWMAT watching demonstration on Slate splitting.

                               The very entertaining demonstrator, this was excellent.





                      A   mixture  of  what  was  to  see.


The photos below are a selection of what was on offer to see, there were also films to watch, a machine shop, blacksmith forge, power hall and much more. There was also lots in the court yard as you came in to see.
Spoilt for choice I started in the court yard and worked my way around. I eventually met up with the rest of the gang for a short while to have lunch in the 2nd coffee shop which was really nice. Then off I went again to have a look at what else I hadn't seen.

The foundry

The enormous water wheel powering everything.

Pattern

The kitchens in a 1969 house.

There was a row of houses with back yards which we were able to go and have a look in - one even had its own privy ( outside loo ). In house no 4 there were films being shown that told the story about the people who had lived in them. It also showed how the houses were dismantled and rebuilt to be used in the museum.

House no3 - Tanygrisiau - (In the brochure this was titled "The Golden Age ") was first recorded as early as 1861 in the Census and this house was made up to look like this era. We were able to go inside the house to see how people would have lived in it.

House no 2  - Bethesda - (the brochure talks about 1901 The Penrhyn strike) - In Nov 1900 2,800 men walked out over a pay dispute, money became scarce and so did food because of this. The strike failed and the industry soon declined after.

House no1-  Llanberis  - (1969 The End of an Era )- In the 1950s and 60s many quarries were closing. July 1969 Prince Charles was invested as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle on a dais of Dinorwig slate. About a month later the Dinorwig Quarry was closed which left 350 men out of work.

For more information on the Slate Museum click on link.

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/slate/about/

For info on

North Wales Miners Trust
( NWMAT )

http://www.northwalesminers.com/