By 1879, the shafts at Harris’s Navigation Colliery reached 593 metres deep in the North Pit and 695 metres in the South Pit. At the time, they were the deepest in the South Wales Coalfield. These figures show the scale that coal mining reached in the history of Treharris.
Mining History and Listed Architecture
The Treharris Conservation Area is a good example of a planned “model” industrial settlement from the late 19th century. It was established under the patronage of Frederick William Harris, founder of Navigation Colliery. The group of historic buildings includes the Grade II-listed Treharris Library and Independent Tabernacle Chapel, as well as the locally listed Navigation Hotel, Masonic Temple and Royal Hotel.
Treharris Library was built in 1909 with support from the Carnegie Foundation and was officially reopened after renovation. The clock above its former main entrance on Perrott Street is Treharris’s principal First World War memorial. Smith of Derby made and installed it in 1933. The history of the pit baths is also part of the area’s industrial heritage: the first pit baths in Wales opened at Ocean Deep Navigation on 15 June 1916.
Parks and Adventure Activities
Treharris Park has a bowling green, a children’s play area and a paddling pool. It also has a bandstand with seating, another pavilion, public toilets and a football pitch. The park therefore offers both play and sports facilities, as well as places to sit.
The Rock UK Summit Centre is located at the Old Drift Mine in Trelewis, Treharris, CF46 6RD. It offers more than 120 indoor climbing routes, an 8-metre-high Aerial Adventure and more than 20 guided adventure activities. Anyone trying an activity for the first time receives instruction and equipment; experienced participants can receive expert coaching. The range of activities offers different ways to shape a visit, without requiring everyone to have the same experience or skills.
Walking and Countryside
The Treharris Ramblers organise sociable walks on the Taff Bargoed and Merthyr Valley paths every Thursday from 10am. Walks start at Treharris Boys & Girls Club, and people of all walking experience levels are welcome. As dates may change, check the next date before taking part.
Near Trelewis, the Three Parks Trail follows Route 476 to Parc Taf Bargoed. Alternatively, take Route 47 to Quakers Yard, where you can continue along the Taff Trail. Parc Taf Bargoed covers 140 hectares of reclaimed land on the site of former coal mines in the Taff Bargoed Valley. A park warden on site can tell you about the park, its history and its habitat.
Near Treharris, Pontygwaith Farm offers a 4.5-acre garden with perennial borders, a lakeside walk, a rose garden and a Japanese garden on the Taff Trail. Access is seasonal. The outdoor options therefore vary considerably: there are organised walks, designated routes and a garden visit with seasonal access.
Discover more destinations: Troed-y-rhiw, Merthyr Tydfil.
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