Unlike Cefn Coed, the colliery museum at Lewis Merthyr remains open. Mine was a flying visit and I didn’t have time for the guided tour round the buildings as I wanted to look at a photographic exhibition that was being held there as well so I had to balance the time I had between making my own photographs and looking at someone else’s.

My previous research suggested that a side on view of either headgear would be almost impossible on site, and the only possible angle would potentially be from a grass verge on the bypass behind the site. I quickly realised that my research was correct and although I could get roughly side-on, it was too close to get a usable photograph. The weather deterred me from venturing out onto the bypass as did the fact that there was no pavement and nowhere I could realistically pull in if I drove round. So I reluctantly gave up on that idea and contented myself with a few from on site of the very well preserved headgears.

At this point it’s worth pointing out some of the design differences in the headgears I’d come across on my trip. The two primary methods of construction were rolled steel girders and lattice steel, with Penallta being good examples of the former and Cefn Coed the latter. Lewis Merthyr is also lattice work, with this method of construction apparently being lighter and more wind-resistant (but more maintenance intensive).