Gunpowder Brecon Beacons The Glynneath Gunpowder Works Pontneddfechan were established in 1857. It produced black powder for use in mining and quarrying and operated until the early 1930’s. Since that time the site slowly disintegrated. Many of the buildings had to be demolished because of the risk of accidental explosion they posed. Brecon Beacons Park…
Big Pit Blaenafon As part of our Brecon Beacons Ambassador scheme we visited Big Pit National Coal Museum at Blaenafon.The site sits high on the Blaenafon moor exposed to the Welsh weather. Below it are the rows of terraced houses where the miners once lived. Now home to commuters from the neighbouring cities like Swansea,…
Cribarth Geotrail The geotrail is part of the Brecon Beacons UNESCO Global Geopark. The area was awarded this status due to the significant geological formations that can be found here. As part of our Brecon Beacons Ambassador scheme the park geologist takes us up onto areas of the park that are full of these features…
Blaernavon Today I visited Blaernavon World Heritage Centre and Blaernavon Ironworks. The heritage centre is based in a converted school house. It offers an insight into the industrial era and the production of iron ore that went on to be railway tracks and cannon balls. There are displays and presentations designed to bring this era…
Industrial Brecon Beacons We are probably aware of the beautiful countryside of the Brecon Beacons as we travel around but there is a wealth of evidence of its industrial past. The whole area is quite unique in the geology that led to the lime, coal and steel industries that prospered as a result. You can…