Especially commissioned by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council from renowned expert, Dr. John van Laun, this book is the first authoritative publication on the industrial archaeology of Blaenau Gwent. It traces the important role the area played in the Industrial Revolution that shaped the modern world, and examines the impact of that process on local landscapes, communities and people. The book includes seven trails to lead visitors and local people alike around the industrial archaeology of this fascinating area.
Aneurin Bevan was born in Tredegar in 1897 and maintained close links with this town throughout his life. After his death in 1960 his ashes were scattered on the local hills. He was the son of a collier, who found school extremely difficult but through intense personal effort and discipline became, not only a leading politician, but also a lover of art, literature and music. This DVD illustrates the association between Aneurin’s upbringing in Tredegar, where he developed his understanding of the link between poor housing and disease and his appreciation of the good work of the Medical Society. Linking both he was inspired to bring into being Britain’s National Health Service. During his 63 years of life, Tredegar became progressively ‘Bevan’s Town’, and his legacy remains still.
This DVD is comprised of 3 hours of interviews, reenactments, and archival footage which explore the experience of the Welsh coal miner and the history of mining in Wales from the seventeenth century to the collapse of the British coal industry in the 1980s.
