In the 1910s, Wales served as the industrial engine for the British Empire. The South Wales Valleys were the center of the global coal trade, with the Rhondda Valley producing the steam coal that powered the world’s navies. Tens of thousands of men worked in the mines, spending their days in dark, narrow tunnels. They used heavy pickaxes and shovels to load coal into iron trams pulled by ponies. The landscape was defined by the massive wooden headframes of the pits and the long rows of stone terrace houses built for the workers.
Labor tensions defined the early years of the decade. Between 1910 and 1911, the Tonypandy Riots broke out as miners went on strike for better wages and safer conditions. The British government sent hundreds of police officers and soldiers into the valleys to control the crowds. Violence erupted in the streets, leading to damaged shops and many arrests. These events proved that the workers were no longer willing to accept the dangerous terms set by the wealthy mine owners. The miners joined unions in record numbers to gain collective bargaining power.
Industrial danger was a constant reality for every Welsh community. In 1913, the Senghenydd Colliery suffered a massive underground explosion that killed 439 men and boys. This disaster remains the deadliest in the history of British mining. It left hundreds of women in the village as widows and forced many young children into the workforce early. The tragedy forced the government to pass new safety laws regarding ventilation and coal dust management.
The arrival of the First World War in 1914 shifted the focus of the nation. Thousands of Welshmen joined the 38th (Welsh) Division and traveled to the front lines in France and Belgium. Back at home, women took over roles in munitions factories and ran the rural farms. The steelworks in towns like Port Talbot and Newport ran twenty-four hours a day to produce metal for the war effort. Despite these changes, cultural traditions remained strong. Male voice choirs continued to practice in community halls, and the local chapels served as the primary social centers for every village.
![Presteign [i.e. Presteigne] Scottleton St A](https://www.bygonely.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Wales_UK_1910s_11.jpg)
![High St Presteign [i.e. Presteigne]](https://www.bygonely.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Wales_UK_1910s_16.jpg)
