More than £25,000 has been raised through a “sponsor a tile” appeal to help pay for a National Mining Memorial at Senghenydd.
Four-hundred and thirty-nine men and boys died in the 1913 disaster at the Universal Colliery, Senghenydd. The Aber Valley Heritage Group are in the process of planning a National Memorial at the site of the tragedy to mark its Centenary next year.
The tiles will accompany the National Memorial with each tile featuring a name representing those whose lives were cut short in the disaster.
All 521 tiles needed have now been sponsored raising over £25,000 for the Aber Valley Heritage Memorial Fund which will be match-funded through grants.
Cllr Ken James, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and sustainable development, said: “I am extremely pleased to learn that all the tiles have been sponsored. This shows the interest in the area for such a memorial to exist.”
As part of the project, local school children will visit the Aber Valley Heritage Centre to discover more about what life was like for a miner.
They will also have the opportunity to find out more about victims of the two explosions who perhaps once lived at their house or in their street.
Each tile has cost £50 to sponsor and will be made during workshops with school children, led by ceramic artist, Ned Heywood.
General Donations towards the National Memorial are welcome. For more information call 02920 830445/4.