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The Sheave Wheel Exhibit
A short history of the sheave (wheel) at the
South Wales Miners' Museum.
Caerau Colliery, Maesteg
On the left foreground of the above photograph, just
below the headframe can be seen four sheaves (wheels) which, when the
colliery closed, were transported down the valley to St. John's Colliery,
Maesteg where they languished on the surface for some years until this
colliery, in its turn, was also closed down and demolished. Fortunately
for the museum, one sheave was kindly donated and delivered on site
by the National Coal Board.
Some time later, when work had started on the mounting
frame, it was found that there were no bolts for the assembling of the
wheel and also that the axle was missing. However, after contacting
the National Coal Board at Cardiff, a set of bolts from another colliery
was available and was collected by a member of the museum committee.
The problem of the missing axle was solved when a visit
to St.John's colliery was made again by a committee member which resulted
in the purchase of an axle and delivery to the museum. The rest, as
they say, is history.
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