Last Alteration: Sunday 07 April 2013
Big Pit
Big Pit
Blaenavon, Gwent, NP4 9XP
Big Pit is a large former coal mine just outside the town of Blaenavon. It developed from smaller operations in the 19th Century, and continued to produce coal until its closure in 1980. It was chosen to be preserved as a museum of mining life, and is now part of the National Museum of Wales. The site includes a visit into the mine itself!
Admission: Open 9:30am-5pm daily. Entry is free.
How to get here:
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Road: A40 - Follow the A40 to Abergavenny; heading westward join the A465 and then left onto the A4143 to Llanfoist, or east turn right in Abergavenny onto the A4143. Then head towards Blaenavon on the B4246 (Abergavenny Road). Once into the town, turn right onto Estate Road and then left onto a road that leads to the museum. (7.2 miles, 15m) +
Access: visitorStatus: recognisableMine Workings
The Pirate Planet (3)
Filmed: 2 May 1978
The Doctor, Romana and Kimus arrive at the mine works.
The Pirate Planet (3)
Filmed: 2 May 1978
The Doctor, Romana and Kimus make their way through the works.
The Pirate Planet (3)
Filmed: 2 May 1978
The Doctor, Romana and Kimus head into the works.
The Pirate Planet (3)
Filmed: 2 May 1978
The Doctor, Romana and Kimus make their way into the planet.
Additional locations as the crow flies:
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Coity Mountain (The Pirate Planet): 0.15 miles.
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Gellifelen Railway Tunnels (The Pirate Planet): 2.46 miles. 
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Anacomp Magnetics (The Green Death): 3.33 miles.
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Bwlch y Garn (The Pirate Planet): 3.60 miles.
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Monmouthshire Golf Course (The Pirate Planet): 4.22 miles.
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Abertillery Hospital (The Eleventh Hour): 4.79 miles.
In the News:
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13 Sep 2012: ITV - "Concert at Big Pit in Blaenavon to honour fallen miners"
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6 Sep 2012: South Wales Argus - "Blaenavon's Big Pit to host underground concert"
Notable photos/media relating to the location:
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2 Jun 2010: Facebook: Big Pit Page - "A special surprise guest at Big Pit Today, got the miners in quite a stir!"
Further links about the location:
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Facebook - Big Pit page
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Wales Underground - History of Big Pit
Also seen in:
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1 Sep 2011: Reel History of Britain (pt4): The pit featured as a location for the the mobile cinema where film from mining disasters were shown.
Related Stories
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The Pirate Planet [2 May 1978]
Information, downloads, photographs and other media are provided for reference and for personal use only (planning visits etc.) - they remain the copyright of their respective authors and may not be duplicated on any other website or media without prior permission.
All screen captures are the copyright of the BBC and appear here as reference to illustrate the location in comparison with how it looked at the time of filming and the present day; no attempt is made to supercede this or any other copyright.
