Pit Closures

A Conservative Government led by Margaret Thatcher came to power in the United Kingdom in 1979. Government spokespersons suggested that it had become too costly to continue coal mining on a national level and so a programme of nation-wide pit closures was instigated.

What they failed to recognise was the huge and devastating impact this 'programme' would have on the communities involved. The resistance campaign was led by Arthur Scargill, the Chairman of the National Union of Mineworkers.

This section shows some of what happened in South Wales over the next ten years...