Among the first recorded coal workings in this part of the valley was the Lluestai-Llwydion Level, near the farm buildings in the middle of the image, opened in 1847. The first deep mine was Powell’s Pit, sunk in 1851. In 1853 the Bwllfa Dare Colliery was sunk, some of the houses in the image also date from around that time. Nant Melin Colliery sunk in 1860 stood just to the left of the lake. There were some 23 recorded levels and shafts in this small valley that is just over 2 miles long. The last coal to be mined came from the Windber Dare Levels (a private drift mine which would have been visible in this image) in 1959. The Bwllfa Dare Colliery remained open until 1989 as an escape shaft for the Mardy Colliery in the Rhondda Valley.
The Aberfan Disaster became a turning point in the history of all the South Wales Valleys with dangerous waste tips being taken away, old colliery buildings being demolished and reclamation work being carried out. The Dare Valley Country Park became one of the first such parks to be opened on reclaimed land in the UK.
And the wall is still standing....just!