Investigating the Industrial Heritage of Southeast Wales
Over half the entries in the GGAT Historic Environment Record relate to sites and monuments and landscapes dating to after the 1600s many of which are connected with industrial exploitation.
Over the past 10 years the Trust, working primarily with Cadw, has carried-out a number of studies investigating some of the monuments and the landscapes in which they reside.
In particular, we have carried-out detailed characterisation work for landscapes on the Register of Landscapes of Outstanding and Special Interest and part of the outcome of this work has been the webpages that can be found elsewhere on this site. Visit Historic Landscapes
We have also undertaken detailed characterisation work to assist development bids, such as the Forgotten Landscape Project, which we support. This project with Heritage Lottery funding will lead to a reviving of recognition of the whole of the Blaenavon landscape, which includes the World Heritage Status and such evocative sites as Big Pit. This area having recently featured in the BBC program The Coal House .
Our study of the ironworks of the Coalfield Rim has looked at the core areas,the supply routes (such as early tramroads), water power and management systems, and the extractive industry. This has lead to the discovery of hundreds of new sites and features which were all components of this industry, one time the greatest in the world, and which shaped much of the modern landscape of this part of Wales.
We are closely working with a number of developers as areas are re-generated. Presently, the largest of these projects we are working on is at Ffos-y-fran.
If you'd like to learn more about a specific site or generally about sites in your local area, please get in touch with us at curatorial@ggat.org.uk