Blaenafon
Ironworks
Blaenafon, Gwent, NP4 9RN,
Wales, UK.
Tel.
44 (0)1495 792615 |
|
The Blaenafon ironworks lie in an eastern valley to the north
of Newport in south Wales, and were crucial to the development
of Wales' coal and iron industries during the Industrial Revolution.
Blaenafon
was granted World Heritage Status in 2000, and the site provides
a wonderful insight into the iron manufacturing process and the
experiences of the workers. The ironworks were built at the end
of the 18th century and soon became one of the largest in Britain.
The
remains
of the massive blast furnaces (which were cut into the hill face
so that they could be fed easily from above) can be seen, and
there is a well preserved water-balance lift, built in 1839 by
James Ashwell, that was used for lifting the iron up to the tramway.
You can also visit the late 18th century workers' cottages.
It was at
Blaenafon that Sidney Gilchrist Thomas developed a revolutionary
process for producing steel in 1878, a discovery which led to
the decline of Britain's steel industry. By 1904 the ironworks
had closed, although coal mining still continued and the town's
population steadily grew. The town is home to the magnificent
Workmen's Hall, which opened in 1894. The Big Pit National Mining
Museum is also nearby, as is the Pontypool and Blaenafon Steam
Railway.
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UK
Industrial history in our Industrial
revolution section:
Big
Pit National Mining Musem
Blaenafon Ironworks
Bodmin and Wenford Railway
Brecon Mountain Railway
Dolaucothi Gold Mine
Ffestiniog Railway
Rhondda Heritage Park
Snowdon Mountain Railway
Vale of Rheidol Railway
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