World Heritage Identification Number: 984
World Heritage since: 2000
Category: Cultural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Continent: Europe
UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America
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Blaenavon Industrial Landscape: A Testament to Early Industrialization in South Wales
The Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, situated in the heart of Torfaen, Wales, stands as a significant remnant of the region's preeminent role in global iron and coal production during the 19th century. This historic site, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, offers a unique glimpse into the early stages of industrialization in South Wales.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The area around Blaenavon is evidence of the pre-eminence of South Wales as the world's major producer of iron and coal in the 19th century. All the necessary elements can still be seen - coal and ore mines, quarries, a primitive railway system, furnaces, workers' homes, and the social infrastructure of their community.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (iii): The Blaenavon landscape constitutes an exceptional illustration in material form of the social and economic structure of 19th century industry.
Criterion (iv): The components of the Blaenavon industrial landscape together make up an outstanding and remarkably complete example of a 19th century industrial landscape.
Encyclopedia Record: Blaenavon Industrial Landscape
Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, in and around Blaenavon, Torfaen, Wales, was inscribed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. The Blaenavon Ironworks, now a museum, was a major centre of iron production using locally mined or quarried iron ore, coal and limestone. Raw materials and products were transported via horse-drawn tramroads, canals and steam railways. The Landscape includes protected or listed monuments of the industrial processes, transport infrastructure, workers' housing and other aspects of early industrialisation in South Wales.Additional Site Details
Area: 3,290 hectares
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
Coordinates: 51.77638889 , -3.088055556
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© Rafaël Delaedt (Arafi), CC BY-SA 2.5 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
