New Elba Mosaic Memorial unveiled in Gowerton

A new memorial to the 1905 Elba Mining Disaster is being unveiled this week, in a project that has seen generations come together to remember those who lost their lives over 120 years ago.

Glynn Vivian associate artist, Tina Grant has been working with her community art groups, Artbreak, Gowerton, Cockett and Waunarlwydd, Gowerton Primary School and the gallery’s Welcome: Mosaic group to design and create a new mosaic piece to replace the existing memorial plaque at St John’s Church, Gowerton.

The Artbreak groups have been exploring the paintings by artists working with the industrial landscape of South Wales, and were initially inspired by a painting in Amgueddfa Cymru’s collection, Lougher from Penclawdd, by Cedric Morris. It depicts a view from Gowerton across the Lougher estuary and further on towards Llanelli.

Following many discussions about the area and it’s rich history, the group began researching the Elba Mining Disaster in 1905, which happened in a mine halfway between Penclawdd and Gowerton.

This incident killed 11 men – the youngest being a 14 year old boy. A relative of one of those killed is part of the Art Break group and collectively they decided they wanted to create something more permanent to remember all those families affected in their communities.

Associate Artist, Tina Grant said,

Using paintings from the Glynn Vivian collection, we had been like looking back at how the area used to be, and the people depicted in these paintings – of cockle pickers, colliers and miners. 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.

Elliott King, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights and Equalities said,

I want to thank everyone involved in this community project for their dedication. 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.

The Elba Memorial Mosaic will be unveiled by the Lord Mayor on Tuesday 10 March at 10:30am, St. John’s Church, Gowerton. Everyone is welcome, refreshments will be served in the church hall

We would like to thank participants in the project for all their hard work:

Glynn Vivian Art Gallery’s Welcome: Mosaic Group

Gowerton Artbreak

Linda D | Lynne | Sue J | Pam | Ros | Linda M | Joy | Sue | Cecillia | Ena | Sandra | Zarah | Rachel | Beth | Ken | Liz | Jan

Cockett Artbreak

Waunarlwydd Artbreak

Years 5 and 6 pupils (2025) from Gowerton Primary School and Gowerton Councillor, Susan Jones.

This project is part of Swansea Stories, an Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund project that invites new voices to tell the story of the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery collection.

The Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund is run by the Museums Association, funding projects that develop collections to achieve social impact.

We would like to thank participants in the project for all their hard work:

Footer