Big Pit was first worked in 1860 and was called Big Pit as it was the first shaft in Wales large enough to allow two tramways. This meant a large winding tower to pull one tram up as one went down. You can see a close up image of the winding tower above. By 1908 this mine employed well over a thousand people, but it closed in 1980. It reopened for visitors three years later and in 2001 became incorporated into the National Museum Wales. It was great fun going down the mine, although I did end up having to bend down a lot, but it was worth it for the experience.