Industrial Heritage

Wales in general, and Southern Wales in particular, was at the forefront of the industrial revolution and has a long tradition of heavy industry. These days the pits and ironworks have long gone to be replaced with green valleys and wonderful countryside. However, the role the country played in this chapter of history is recorded at various museums and heritage centres throughout the region.

An excellent mining museum can be found at the Big Pit National Coal Museum at Blaenavon where you’ll get to don your helmet and lamp for an underground tour around an old coalmine. As well as producing coal, Blaenavon was also well known for iron industry and it is possible to visit the remains of the Ironworks today. Indeed, such was the importance of Blaenavon in the coal and iron world it is officially recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, the same status as the Egyptian Pyramids and the Taj Mahal.

Another monument to Southern Wales’ industrial past can be found at Merthyr Tydfil in the shape of Cyfarthfa Castle. Merthyr Tydil was once the biggest town in Wales and was the biggest exporter of Iron in the world largely thanks to the huge ironworks owned by William Crawshay.  In 1824 he built Cyfarthfa Castle on the hillside so that he could look out at his empire below him.  His life of luxury was in stark contrast to the poor, squalid conditions that his workers endured and which ultimately led to the Merthyr Riots of 1831. Cyfarthfa Castle is now an excellent museum telling the truly fascinating history of the town.