HERITAGE PROJECTS
THE ABERFAN DISASTER CEMETERY
THE STUNNING COLOURS OF THE ABERFAN DISASTER CEMETERY
A Most Significant Project.
The Aberfan Disaster Cemetery is the resting place for the victims of the tradgedy at Pantglas Junior School, which was destroyed in 1966 following the Aberfan disaster where a colliery spoil tip slid down the mountainside. The incident resulted in the deaths of 116 children and 28 adults.
This led to a change in legislation regarding public safety in mines and quarries. The catastrophic disaster had a huge emotional impact across the whole of Wales and beyond, with the effects of the tragedy still being felt over 50 years on. People with no connection to the disaster often travel from miles away to visit the garden and cemetery to pay their respects even today.
We were privileged to have been chosen to carry out the works, and we knew that this project would need to be treated with great sensitivity and respect.
A Symbollic Endeavour.
Back in 2007 we commenced the project of replacing all of the original Portland and limestone archways and memorials for the Aberfan Disaster section at Aberfan Cemetery. The originals had begun to deteriorate due to weathering and natural erosion over time.
All the archways together with some new additional archways, all the original memorials and the walling were replaced using a specially sourced Pearl White Granite which is light and uplifting in appearance with the added durability a granite provides compared to limestones.
View a walkthrough of the Aberfan Disaster Cemetery and the remarkable stonemasonry work by Mossfords Memorial Masons.
THE EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY OF WORK PERFORMED BY MOSSFORDS IS CLEARLY EVIDENT AT THE CEMETERY.
In addition to this the walls of the Enclosed Garden within the section were clad with the same granite to match and new granite boarders and bank-retaining walls were installed. The original York stone paving was renovated and extended to replace failing tarmac and old concrete slabbed areas.
The sloping grassed graves and central grass bank areas which had been a continuous challenge to maintain to an acceptable condition was replaced with high-grade quality, long-life artificial turf.
Location:Â Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Client:Â Aberfan Memorial Trust
Main Contractor:Â Mossfords
Material:Â Â Pearl White Granite
Date:Â 2007
THE EXQUISITELY PRESERVED ENCLOSED GARDEN
Our ongoing maintenance of the site by our skilled operatives helps to ensure that the whole site remains in a dignified and pristine condition as a mark of respect to all the victims of this tragic disaster.
The distinctive arch memorials were replaced with the more durable, ever-illustrious pearl white granite, created and fitted by Mossfords’ expert stonemasons. The long rows of new arches look majestic in standing as memorials for the victims of Aberfan disaster.
The stone walls of the enclosed garden were clearly in urgent need of cleaning. Mossfords’ intricate cleaning methods with their expert knowledge in materials brought the stone back to its original form. Together with a revamp of the garden itself with new plants and trimmed hedges the garden is a pleasant and tranquille place again.
The steps leading to the enclosed garden were also in need of cleaning and renovation work. The results speak for themselves after the experts at Mossfords put their extensive knowledge and skills in stone renovation to work
