Over 270,000 men were employed across the South Wales Coalfield, producing 46,249,000 tons of coal. This contributed to the 25% of global coal supply which was exported out of Cardiff’s docks.

The world of work looked completely different to employment today, and that of the future. Try our quiz to find out what your 1920’s job would have been!

The local economy was given a jump-start with the building of the Treforest Industrial Estate, the first planned, large scale estate in Britain. Companies there manufactured everything from clothes to aeroplane components. 

68% of National Union of Mineworkers members in South Wales voted for strike action in March against the proposed closure of Lewis Merthyr and Ty Mawr collieries, two of the last pits in the Pontypridd area. The NUM would have to wait another year before the nationwide strike of 1984-5, which decimated the remainder of the coal industry and closed eight South Wales pits by the end of 1985.

Do you think the Coronavirus pandemic will affect the way we work?

Will leisure time, hobbies or activities be any different from today?

Will technology make life easier in the future?

What new jobs do you think will exist in 2120?

Britain’s railways were nationalised, resulting in better maintained lines and new rolling stock.

The majority of people’s journeys were still made by public transport. The British Transport Film 'Every Valle' shows how Pontypridd locals made use of the extensive bus and train network to get around with ease. 

In the face of rising car ownership and road haulage challenging rail’s supremacy, significant sections of the South Wales railway network were cut following the Beeching report. 

The A470 dual carriageway joined Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil via Pontypridd, again making private transport an easier way to get from A to B.  

Welsh Government approved the development of the South Wales Metro, integrating bus and rail networks around South East Wales and the Cardiff capital region. 

Will we be travelling to work as much, or working from home more?

Welsh government plans for the country to be carbon neutral by this year, how does our transport need to change for this to happen?

Will the idea of flying or self-driving cars ever take off?

Will travel become safer in the future?

Predictions for 21st century fashion ranged wildly from the totally frivolous to the plain and practical, take a look at this video to see some examples!

The average person consumed half the amount of material goods that we do today

These are some of the items found by a local resident on a tip near Barry Sidings. What materials can you identify? How many of them do you think would survive another 100 years? 

What predictions from the 1939 fashion video have or might come true? 

What possessions would you hang on to if you went back to the 1970 level of consumption?

What objects from 2020 would you donate to a 22nd century Museum?