Hi Mike,
Glad to see you survived the recent storm! My son and his wife live in the
Cayman Islands and they were nearly caught by Hurricane Mitch recently. My
sister who lives in South Wales tells me they have had serious flooding
during the last few days. I can only complain of never ending blue skies
here in Arizona!
Just wanted to say that your Blaenafon spot looks great and fills a much
needed gap. I have extracted a copy for inclusion in my fam.history when I
get around to writing it. Have you managed to find out much about Pwlldu?
This is where many of the Thomas's were born and worked (at the Garndyrus
Forges) It was a village with schools, shops, chapels and most of the work
force at the Garndyrus forges.Located on "The Top" of the Blorenge Mt. -
about 3 miles from Blaenavon on the Abergavenny/Govilon Rd. I went there
last August only to find that the whole village has been removed from sight
and the place is as bleak as it was before the Industrial Rev. started.
There is an excellent novel about this area and the times of the forges
called The Rape of the Fair Country by Alexander Cordell who lived in
Blaenavon for a while. I can recommend it to you for a good feel of what
life must have been like during the time 1840-80.
Regards to you and family,
David (Tucson,Az.)
PS I shall be back in UK for a month starting Xmas and possibly going up to
Blaenavon if they are not snowed in! Let me know if you want something
photographed.-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Thomas <michael(a)music.com>
To: BlaenauGwent-L(a)rootsweb.com <BlaenauGwent-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Date: Thursday, October 29, 1998 6:12 PM
Subject: Blaenafon History
Hi all,
as a personal project of mine to support my Family Tree, and to add some
documentation on a place which is very dear to me and my family, I have put
together a little webpage which introduces the history of Blaenafon. It
covers
topics such as the mines and ironworks, amongst others, and can be
found
at:
<
http://members.tripod.com/~Family_Thomas/blaenafon.htm>
I see from the BBC News web site that "The government has published a list
of
32 sites across the UK, and among its territories, which are being
proposed
for
the United Nations' World Heritage Sites" and one of the 32 places is.....
"Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, Torfaen, Wales". Fame at last!!!
Well, I hope that you find the page interesting. If anyone has any comments
to
make, or any suggestions for other Blaenafon related links that I
could
use,
then I'd be very pleased to hear from you...
Very best regards to all,
Mike Thomas.
A Welshman in the Philippines.
Webpages: <
http://members.tripod.com/~Family_Thomas>
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