Bedwas: Mining History, Workmen’s Hall and Riverside Park

Bedwas offers several distinct points of interest for planning a trip: the history of Bedwas Navigation Colliery, Bedwas Workmen’s Hall, Riverside Park on the River Rhymney, and the Celtic Trail East, Route 4, which passes through the town. Together, they showcase different facets of the town: industrial history, entertainment, a large green space and a cycling route. If you’re looking for hotels in Bedwas, you can decide which of these themes matters most for your trip.

Mining history: the colliery and Workmen’s Hall

Bedwas Navigation Colliery was completed by 1913. It closed during the 1984–1985 miners’ strike and did not reopen. More than seven decades separate its completion and closure. Bedwas Workmen’s Hall provides a second historical reference point: it opened in 1923 and was built with weekly penny donations from local miners. The Hall opened ten years after the colliery was completed and long before the colliery closed. The colliery and the Hall can therefore be seen as different chapters in the local mining history: one an industrial site, the other a facility funded by miners. This timeline shows that Bedwas’s history is not limited to a single date.

Entertainment in Bedwas

Bedwas Workmen’s Hall is in the heart of Bedwas and is a volunteer-run entertainment venue. Together with the colliery, it represents a different local point of interest: the colliery is central to the industrial history, while the Hall represents entertainment. The events programme may change. If a particular event is a key reason for your trip, check the current programme in advance. This lets you plan around the specific occasion.

Riverside Park on the River Rhymney

Riverside Park is a large, informal green space in Bedwas on the River Rhymney. Its size and informal layout, as well as its location by the river, are defining features of the park. It adds a landscape dimension to the town’s historical points of interest. If you want to consider Bedwas beyond its industrial history, the park offers another distinct facet of the town. This large green space by the river offers a different perspective from the colliery or entertainment venue, broadening the picture of Bedwas.

Cycling route and road connection

The Celtic Trail East, Route 4, passes through Bedwas. If you’re including cycling in your travel plans, you can therefore consider Bedwas as a place along this route. The road over the bridge connecting Bedwas with Caerphilly and Rudry is a separate feature. These details describe different transport links: Route 4 passes through Bedwas, while the road provides a connection to the two named places. For orientation, it’s worth first deciding whether you want to consider the cycling route or the connection to Caerphilly and Rudry.

How Bedwas fits into your trip

When planning your trip, you can focus on different aspects: the colliery and Hall give Bedwas a historical and cultural setting, while the park and Route 4 add a landscape and cycling dimension. First decide which of these matters for your stay; you can then tailor your search for hotels in Bedwas to the reason for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Crosskeys, Rhymney, Blackwood, Cwmfelinfach, Oakdale, Caerphilly.

Go to the main travel overview: Caerphilly.