Welcome to Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum
Celebrating our local heritage
Formed in 1995, we have been running for 31 years.
We are delighted and very proud to announce that Rodger Burchell and Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum are winners of the:
GAVO CULTURE and HERITAGE AWARD 2026
Rodger and the Forum have been celebrated as passionate and dedicated volunteers whose work ensures that the rich history, culture and heritage of Blaenau Gwent is preserved, celebrated and shared for future generations.
Tim Carter, Ebbw Vale Institute Centre Manager, who presented this award on behalf of GAVO, said:
‘Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum brings together heritage organisations, community groups and individuals to collaborate, share expertise and inspire greater appreciation of the area’s unique past. Through a diverse programme of monthly lectures, heritage walks, exhibitions, visits, publications and the annual Heritage Day, the Forum makes local history accessible to residents and visitors alike, encouraging learning, participation and community pride.
Volunteers secure funding, research local history, publish journals and reprint out-of-print historical books. Their online resources promote heritage sites, events and walking trails, safeguarding local knowledge for future generations. By sharing ordinary people’s stories and connecting all ages with their past, the Forum strengthens community identity, lifelong learning and pride in Blaenau Gwent.
Through their dedication, knowledge and commitment, Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum has made an outstanding contribution to the community and is thoroughly deserving of this recognition.’
Rodger Burchell, our current Vice Chair and Publications Editor, is a very accomplished historian who has been involved with the Forum since its inception 31 years ago. However, he has been researching, promoting and celebrating the wonderful heritage of this remarkable area for far longer than this – well over half a century, in fact.
The Forum would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Rodger, on this well-deserved recognition of his longstanding service and commitment to local heritage. He is a much valued member of the Forum who gives freely of his knowledge and time and we are indebted to him.
Abertillery, Brynmawr, Cwm, Ebbw Vale, Llanhilleth, Nantyglo and Blaina, Six Bells, Tredegar, Trefil,
Positioned on the edge of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, Blaenau Gwent is a county rich with historic buildings, ancient monuments and important heritage sites, all set within a beautiful mountainous, upland landscape.
Upcoming Anniversaries
2026 – LlANHILLETH MINERS’ INSTITUTE
120th ANNIVERSARY Built in 1906 to serve the educational, recreational, and health needs of miners and their families, this iconic building still stands as a vibrant hub at the heart of the community today.
2026 – MOOSE INTERNATIONAL NO. 1 LODGE, TREDEGAR
100th ANNIVERSARY In 1926 members of the American fraternal order, ‘The Loyal Order of Moose’, came to the UK and established the ‘Grand Lodge of Great Britain’. Led by J.J. Davis they opened their inaugural no 1 lodge in Tredegar, in the same year.
2027 – MARINE COLLIERY EXPLOSION, CWM
100th ANNIVERSARY On 1st March 1927, 52 miners at Marine Colliery were tragically killed in an explosion which occurred in the Black Vein Seam, 350 yards underground.
2027 – EBBW VALE STEEL WORKS
25th ANNIVERSARY of the final closure of the works by Corus, ending the steelmaking era in Ebbw Vale.
2026 – ABERFAN
60th ANNIVERSARY On 21st October 1966, one of the worst mining-related disasters in British history took place in the small village of Aberfan,
Blaenau Gwent
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