A stunning new mosaic memorial to the 1905 Elba Mining Disaster has been unveiled in Gowerton, the result of a major community project that has brought generations together to remember a tragedy that struck the heart of their village over a century ago.
The mosaic was formally unveiled at St John’s Church this week, replacing an existing plaque and creating a lasting tribute to the 11 men and boys who lost their lives in the disaster.
The project was led by Glynn Vivian associate artist Tina Grant, who worked with her community art groups — Artbreak Gowerton, Cockett and Waunarlwydd — as well as the gallery’s Welcome: Mosaic group and pupils from Gowerton Primary School.
The idea for the memorial grew out of the art groups’ exploration of paintings depicting the industrial landscape of South Wales, including works from the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery’s own collection.
Inspired by a Cedric Morris painting of the view from Gowerton across the Lougher estuary towards Llanelli, the group began researching the area’s rich and sometimes tragic history.
Their research led them to the Elba Mining Disaster of 1905, which occurred in a mine situated halfway between Penclawdd and Gowerton.
The disaster claimed the lives of 11 men, the youngest of whom was just 14 years old.
In a poignant connection to the past, a relative of one of the men killed in the disaster is a member of the Art Break group, and a collective decision was made to create a more permanent and powerful memorial for all the families affected.
Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights and Equalities, Elliott King, praised the community’s dedication to the project.
“I want to thank everyone involved in this community project for their dedication,” he said. “These artworks will speak to us and to future generations about a time and place in our city’s history which will never be forgotten.”
Associate artist Tina Grant said the project had been a wonderful collaborative experience.
“Using paintings from the Glynn Vivian collection, we had been looking back at how the area used to be, and the people depicted in these paintings — of cockle pickers, colliers and miners,” she explained.
“We wanted to create something which could represent the community and enlisted the help of Gowerton Primary School and the Glynn Vivian Welcome Mosaic Group to help design and make a new mosaic memorial.
“It has been a wonderful experience to work collaboratively on this project, and we thank the many participants and pupils who have contributed to this special artwork, which will sit proudly in the heart of the community for many more years to come.”
The project is part of Swansea Stories, an Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund project run by the Museums Association, which invites new voices to tell the story of the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery collection.
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