Morlais Colliery was opened at Llangennech near Llanelli by Thomas Williams and Sons (Llangennech) Ltd, in 1894. The colliery consisted of a vertical shaft along with a drift slope shaft producing anthracite from the Six and Four Feet seams. One of the earliest Mine inspectors reports for the colliery in 1896 records 194 men employed at the colliery. In 1926 the colliery was purchased by Evan Williams who was also happened to be chairman of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association. three years earlier the work force had reached 569 men. Following the Nationalisation of the Coal industry Morlais was placed in National Coal Board's South Western Division, No.1 (Swansea) Area, No.2 (Morlais) Group.

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In 1976 Morlais was linked with Brynlliw colliery on the other side of the river Llwchwr, a roadway was driven under the river estuary to link the two pits which were from then on operated as a single unit. All the coal won was brought to the surface via the shafts at Brynlliw while Morlais was used for transferring men and materials. During the late 1970's the Brynlliw - Morlais complex was producing 6,000 tons a week with a work force of 840 men. Throughout it's history Morlais received very little in the way of modernisation it is noted as being the last colliery in the South Wales coalfield to use steam powered winding engines. At the time the colliery closed it was still using the original steam winding engine which had been built for the colliery by Andrew Barclay & Sons of Kilmarnock in 1905. The Morlais section of the complex closed in 1981 with the men transferring to Brynlliw.

The colliery site was maintained following closure to provide ventilation to the workings on the west side of the Llwchwr, Until Brynlliw was also closed in July of 1983. Following closure British coal donated the Headgear and winding engine to the newly formed Kidwelly Industrial Museum they were moved to the new home in time for the museums opening in 1984. The smaller steam engine used for winding at the colliery drift shaft was also donated for preservation and is today located at the Cefn Coed Museum.

I first visited the Kidwelly museum to add some photographs to my collection of headgear's without any intention to climb it. The photographs i had seen before the visit depicted the headgear in reasonable condition so I was slightly disappointed to see how neglected it looked. It seems that despite their best endeavors maintaining the paint work may have been beyond the museums means. During that visit I contented myself with photos from the ground and of the winding engine within its small shed, but i left with the thought of getting back and reaching the top before its condition deteriorated anymore.

A few months passed by before i returned to the site this time accompanied by Snapple. We arrived a Kidwelly late in the evening just in time to catch the last of the evening light we had to wait around for a little while until we were left alone on the site, as soon as we were able we made our way to the foot of the headgear and started our accent. The lower steps have been removed and the design of the Morlais headgear left us with a smooth 10 foot service with no foot holds before reaching the first step. My first attempt ended with me slipping and falling to the floor but unharmed and with encouragement and guidance from Snapple I made another attempt and managed to gain the first steps. The ladder itself felt quite secure but a few steps on the way up had tell tale rust holes and needed to be avoided. Reaching the top the deteriorating condition of the head gear is clear to see rust is beginning to take hold through the gray paint leaving putrid colored pinkish trails. Hopefully it will receive the attention it needs before its condition worsens.