I am ashamed to mention this, although I know that our Pontypool Branch
of Gwent Family History has put on events at Blaenavon Iron Works
Museum. But, until my cousin from Ohio and her friend from Seattle, USA
arranged a meeting I had never visited this place although it is only 7
miles from where I live! Big Pit, the colliery is only about 500 yards
from the Iron Works Museum. What a wonderful find the Ironworks museum
is! Anyone who is interested in their ironworks ancestors will find this
a wondrous place!
The tour is mainly at the Ironworkers cottages and our American Cousins
were soon experts of the puddling process, care of the tour guide.
A book available priced 2 pounds and 25 pence titled the Blaenavon
Ironworks ( ISBN 0 948329 89 0 ) which was first published in 1989 and
revised in 1992 is available on site. The Author is Jeremy K Knight B.A,
F.S.A.
It is worth every penny and of course the contents of the book are
typical of every Iron works in it's descriptive reading.
I am not myself commercially involved in the Ironworks site but would
definitely recommend a visit. My Rees family were puddlers at Tredegar
Ironworks and another place to visit is Tredegar Museum on Saturday only
between 10am and 4pm (unfortunately).
I am posting to Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire and MonmouthshireGwent
lists also, so forgive me. I thought I would share this with you as I
was truly knocked out!
best wishes
Brenda Jones, Gwent
-Visit Gwent FHS at :-
http://www.gwentfhs.info/
(comprises, Ebbw Vale, Pontypool, Chepstow, Newport, Abergavenny, Blackwood.
Of interest to anyone who has ancestral connections with the old county of
Monmouthshire.--