CASTLEHUNTING 16 - GWAITH HAEARN BLAENAFON

Cadw:- GWAITH HAEARN BLAENAFON

Wiki:- GWAITH HAEARN BLAENAFON

From Cadw:-

Giant of the industrial age still stands tall on the shoulders of its workers

Blaenafon changed the world. These hills on the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) were rich with coal, limestone and iron ore — the fuel of the Industrial Revolution.

From here Wales heaved and belched and blasted itself onto the global stage. Welsh iron fashioned trailblazing engines, tools and machines. It built bridges, ships and railway lines. In short it made the modern world.

In 1789 Blaenafon Ironworks first harnessed the power of steam to blow air into its huge blast furnaces. A century later it was here that Sidney Gilchrist Thomas transformed the world’s steel industry by inventing a method to remove phosphorus from iron ore.

The ruined furnaces are still visible today alongside the impressive remains of the foundry, cast house and water balance tower that raised wagons 80 feet into the air.

Blaenafon was run by great, and often ruthless, industrialists. But it would have been nothing without its workers. Explore their authentically furnished cottages and the recreated ‘truck shop’ where they spent their meagre wages.

Their story, told through cutting-edge interpretation, lies at the heart of an industrial landscape so unique it’s been made a World Heritage Site.

A surprisingly interesting visit to Gwaith Haearn Blaenafon. One of the world's first Iron production sites, set at the head of the South Wales valleys. Managed by Cadw, hence I claim it as Castlehunting #16, and as I am the writer, editor & owner of this organ, I can do what I like :-)

There are the skeletons of the works themselves, and the original workers cottages, restored to various periods of the site's history. Fascinating stuff, especially the 60's cottage, which had bits of memorabilia familiar from my grandparents homes. 

The workers homes

Interior