This page will be dedicated to the late Ray Locke, an ardent union man who worked at Deep Navigation. He took most of these pictures on this page around the year 2000 .The park, sometimes known as the Millennium Park was formerly the site of three collieries (Trelewis Drift, Deep Navigation and Taff Merthyr), cover an area of 140 hectares and was the subject of an ambitious land reclamation scheme which transformed the site. Unfortunately Ray passed away in 2004 but we can enjoy the photos he took back then thanks to his son Jonathon who donated the photographs to the web site. To enjoy them even more we think it would be a good idea if people who visit the site try to take photos from the same spots Ray did 20 years ago, share them with us and we can do a now and then comparison.
Following on from Ray’s contibution we have a collection from Carole Smith former owner of Treharris Sportsgear. She was involved with others in the planning for the new parc.
In Trelewis looking over to Treharris
We will start with photographs that have water in them, The idea of the park was to raise the river back to the surface after many years hidden underground, so lakes were created and a new river bed and water cascade was put where the old Viaduct had stood for over a century.
One above of the photographer who took all these, Ray Locke
Ray inadvertently caught his image in this one so I deliberately left this one in the collection
Sneak one in above found by Lee Dare
The Majority of the next section are on the outskirts mainly but still part of the complex Starting with Penygroes heol on the Trelewis side
Now the border road between Trelewis and Treharris btm Captains Hill
Bottom of Cardiff Road border with Trelewis
Above Ray took a photo in 2000 and below it Lee Dares 2020 version
I think the next section can be called photos with people or things we can recognise Today from 20 years ago when photos were taken
Entrance by Paviliion
“The Egg”
Building the Pavilion
Emily Locke
Brenda Locke
Ray Locke and Emily
Brenda and Emily
new border bridge
View from Bontnewydd Terrace below with two of my own from before and after
Above September 1999
2001
2016
The final ones are spread out throughout the construction mostly taken in the year 2000
Thanks Ray
Once the Colliery was closed and the site cleared work then began with MP’s , local councillors, local people to regenerate the area ,formerly the site of three coal mines – Deep Navigation, Trelewis Drift and Taff Merthyr – the 140-hectare park has also had Green Flag status since 2011, a recognition awarded to well managed parks and green spaces which sets the benchmark for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the UK and around the world. This has taken a lot of hard work and planning and many changes as you can see from Ray’s lovely collection above and these below thanks to Carol and Bill Smith.
Below we see some politicians and dignitries visiting the site and the plans for the new Millennium Park
The site of the old Deep Navigation mine after being cleared
View from the Mountain road betwen Cilhaul and Twynygarreg approx.1995
The next photographs were taken By Bill and Carol Smith former owners of Treharris Sportsgear, they feature the years after the colliery was closed and work commencing on the lakes, we think they date from 1999 to 2002 approx.
Bill Smith and mate walking the dogs
Exhaust ripped off by pole in the ground now removed
Carol Smith on the stones
