Blaenavon: Difference between revisions

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==''Time Team'' dig==
==''Time Team'' dig==
The Channel 4 archaeology television programme ''Time Team'' came to Blaenavon during its February 2001 series to find "The Lost Viaduct" - "the world's first railway viaduct". This had been built in 1790, to be used by horse-drawn wagons to carry coal from the mines. Despite being about 40 metres long and 10 metres high, within about 25 years of its construction it had completely disappeared. But with no records of its demolition, the group was there to see what might remain of this structure. Eventually, during the mid to late afternoon of the final (third) day of the excavation, the team managed to uncover the top of the viaduct, the arched roof of which, under 12–15 metres of rubble and earth, was seemingly still standing. However, because it was so late on their last day, and for reasons of safety, they were unable to dig any further.
The Channel 4 archaeology television programme ''Time Team'' came to Blaenavon during its February 2001 series to find "The Lost Viaduct" - "the world's first railway viaduct". This had been built in 1790, to be used by horse-drawn wagons to carry coal from the mines. Despite being about 130 feet long and 30 feet high, within about 25 years of its construction it had completely disappeared. But with no records of its demolition, the group was there to see what might remain of this structure. Eventually, during the mid to late afternoon of the final (third) day of the excavation, the team managed to uncover the top of the viaduct, the arched roof of which, under 40–50 feet of rubble and earth, was seemingly still standing. However, because it was so late on their last day, and for reasons of safety, they were unable to dig any further.


==Gallery of Blaenavon Photos==
==Gallery of Blaenavon Photos==

Revision as of 17:32, 7 August 2015

Blaenavon
Monmouthshire

Blaenavon Workingmen's Institute
Location
Grid reference: SO225095
Location: 51°46’12"N, 3°4’48"W
Data
Population: 6,349
Post town: Pontypool
Postcode: NP4
Dialling code: 01495
Local Government
Council: Torfaen
Parliamentary
constituency:
Torfaen

Blaenavon is a town and World Heritage Site in Monmouthshire. The town lies high on a hillside and has a population of 6,349 people.

History

Blaenavon grew around an ironworks[1] opened in 1788, part of which is now a museum. The steel-making and coal mining industries followed, boosting the town's population to over 20,000 at one time,[2] but since the ironworks closed in 1900 and the coal mine in 1980, the population has declined, and now consists mostly of older citizens.

Attractions in the town include the Big Pit National Coal Museum (an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage), Blaenavon Ironworks,[3] the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway, Blaenavon World Heritage Centre, Blaenavon Male Voice Choir and many historical walks through Blaenavon's mountains.

Blaenavon is town twinned with Coutras in France.

Time Team dig

The Channel 4 archaeology television programme Time Team came to Blaenavon during its February 2001 series to find "The Lost Viaduct" - "the world's first railway viaduct". This had been built in 1790, to be used by horse-drawn wagons to carry coal from the mines. Despite being about 130 feet long and 30 feet high, within about 25 years of its construction it had completely disappeared. But with no records of its demolition, the group was there to see what might remain of this structure. Eventually, during the mid to late afternoon of the final (third) day of the excavation, the team managed to uncover the top of the viaduct, the arched roof of which, under 40–50 feet of rubble and earth, was seemingly still standing. However, because it was so late on their last day, and for reasons of safety, they were unable to dig any further.

Gallery of Blaenavon Photos

References