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Saturday, September 08, 2007

Industrial heritage and encouraging tourism 

An interesting point raised by Frank Little on industrial heritage and tourism, talking up the potential of sites in Neath and Port Talbot.

This is very much a developing trend. See the ‘European Route of Industrial Heritage’ webpage to see the sort of tourism that is emerging. Yes we need to do more to understand our industrial and commercial past.

Raises the question for me.. Are there any bits of the Briton Ferry Ironworks still around? I have not been back to The Ferry for 30 years or more...

Just south of Neath and Port Talbot (in Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr) there is the site of the first ironworks in South Wales (founded in the 18th century by my great-great-mumble-great-Grandfather John Bedford of Cefn Cribwr). After industrial activity ceased, this site was saved by intelligent initiatives of the then local authority... This is actually featured on the ‘European Route’, so industrial tourists are already being channelled into that area.

And is there anything around to commemorate the first use of Re-Inforced concrete in the UK, which was in the Swansea area?

Edis Bedford Bevan

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