Heritage News

HERITAGE NEWS NEWYDDION TREFTADAETH BLAENAVON WORLD HERITAGE SITE NEWSLETTER ISSUE 18 SUMMER 2014 CYLCHLYTHYR SAFLE TREFTADAETH Y BYD BLAENAFON RHIFYN 18 HAF 2014 Remembering Alexander Cordell BLAENAVON – THEN AND NOW! Page 2 Railway news BLAENAFON – DDOE A HEDDIW! Page 6 Blaenavon’s war Blaenavon World Heritage Day returns on Galwch heibio i Dref Treftadaeth Blaenafon Saturday 28 June don’t miss it! ar ddydd Mae Diwrnod Treftadaeth y Byd stories Page 11 Visit Blaenavon Heritage Town on Saturday 28 June Blaenafon yn dychwelyd ar ddydd Sadwrn 28 Mehefin felly peidiwch â’i golli! from 11am – 4pm for a fun packed day of family Coming events entertainment. This year’s event includes a variety Beth am ymweld â Thref Dreftadaeth Blaenafon ar Page 12 of new and exciting activities including a miniature ddydd Sadwrn 28 Mehefin o 11am - 4pm am ddiwrnod steam railway, Victorian characters, Victorian photo o hwyl ac adloniant i’r teulu oll. Eleni, mae’r digwyddiad booth, story telling and Punch and Judy. Throughout yn cynnwys amrywiaeth o weithgareddau newydd the day enjoy a traditional Victorian fun fair, dancers, a chyffrous sydd yn cynnwys rheilffordd ager fach, cymeriadau o Oes Victoria, bwth lluniau o Oes Victoria, live music, various craft stalls and the shops in town. cyfle i glywed storïau a Phwnsh a Jwdi. Trwy gydol y dydd fe gewch gyfle i fwynhau ffair draddodiadol o As always the highlight of the day will be the Heritage Gyfnod Victoria, dawnswyr, cerddoriaeth fyw, amrywiol Costume Parade which starts at 1.00pm from the top stondinau crefft a siopau yn y dref. of Broad Street and proceeds through the town. The theme for this year’s parade is ‘Then and Now’ with Yn ôl traddodiad, uchafbwynt y dydd fydd Gorymdaith a focus on technology, celebrating key innovative mewn Hen Wisgoedd sydd yn cychwyn am 1.00pm o developments in the history of the iron and coal ben uchaf Heol Lydan ac yn teithio drwy’r dref. Thema’r orymdaith eleni yw ‘Ddoe a Heddiw’ gyda ffocws ar industries in Blaenavon. The parade is enjoyed by dechnoleg a dathlu datblygiadau pethau newydd everyone young and old, come along and join in, allweddol yn hanes haearn a glo ym Mlaenafon. Mae everyone welcome! Our favourite artists return to yna gyfle i bawb, boed hen neu ifanc, i fwynhau’r work with the local school and community, producing orymdaith, felly dewch yn llu i ymuno â ni, mae croeso costumes, banners and also delivering samba i bawb! Bydd ein hoff artistiaid yn dychwelyd i weithio drumming/dance workshops. gyda’r ysgol leol a’r gymuned i greu gwisgoedd, baneri a chyflwyno gweithdai drymio/dawnsio samba. For more information please contact the World I gael mwy o wybodaeth, cysylltwch â Chanolfan Heritage Centre on 01495 742333 or Treftadaeth y Byd ar 01495 742333 neu www.visitblaenavon.co.uk www.visitblaenavon.co.uk

visitblaenavon.co.uk www.fb.com/visitblaenavon BLAENAVON HERITAGE NEWS NEWYDDION TREFTADAETH BLAENAFON BLAENAVON HERITAGE NEWS NEWYDDION TREFTADAETH BLAENAFON

Remembering Cofio Alexander Cordell In the Footsteps of Dilyn yn ôl troed Mae mis Medi 2014 yn nodi 100 mlynedd ers geni’r ysgrifennydd poblogaidd Alexander Cordell (ffugenw George Alexander Alexander Cordell Graber). Ysgrifennodd Cordell deg ar hugain o lyfrau ond y nofel Alexander Cordell Alexander Cordell September 2014 marks 100 years since the birth of the popular enwocaf oedd y clasur Rape of the Fair Country oedd wedi ei As part of the World Heritage Site 2014 Events programme, Dydd Sadwrn 26 Ebrill lansiwyd taith newydd mewn bws writer Alexander Cordell (the pen-name of George Alexander seilio ar Flaenafon yn ystod y Chwyldro Diwydiannol. Saturday 26th April saw the launch of a new minibus tour led mini dan arweiniad yr hanesydd lleol Chris Barber i weld Graber). Cordell wrote thirty books but was most famous for by renowned local historian, Chris Barber, which took in the uchafbwyntiau Safle Treftadaeth y Byd Blaenafon a Cheunant Cafodd Cordell ei eni yn Ceylon (Sri Lanka) ym 1914, a threuliodd his bestselling novel Rape of the Fair Country which was set in highlights of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site and Clydach Clydach a hynny’n rhan o raglen Digwyddiadau Safle Blaenavon during the Industrial Revolution. cyfnod helaeth o’i fywyd cynnar yn y Dwyrain Pell. Cafodd ei hudo gan Gymru pan dreuliodd gyfnod yn Harlech yn gwella Gorge. The tour follows in the Footsteps of Alexander Cordell Treftadaeth y Byd 2014. Mae’r daith a gafodd ei chreu i nodi Born in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1914, Cordell spent much of his early ar ôl iddo gael ei anafu yn ystod yr Ail Ryfel Byd. Ym 1950 and has been created to mark the centenary of his birth. canmlwyddiant ers genedigaeth Alexander Cordell yn dilyn life in the Far East. He became fascinated by Wales when he was symudodd i Lanelen, Sir Fynwy, lle trodd ei law at ysgrifennu. Chris, a personal friend of Cordell, is a known expert on yn ôl-troed y dyn ei hun. Mae Chris, ffrind agos i Cordell, injured during the Second World War and spent time in Harlech, this subject as well as Blaenavon and the role it played in yn arbenigwr yn y maes hwn yn ogystal â Blaenafon a’r rôl recuperating. In 1950 he moved to Llanellen, Monmouthshire, Ysgrifennodd Cordell Rape of the Fair Country (1959) ar ôl the industrial revolution. This combination made the tour y chwaraeodd yn ystod y chwyldro diwydiannol. Roedd where he turned his hand to writing. cael ei ysbrydoli gan gymunedau diwydiannol yng Nghymru. fascinating, highly enjoyable and gave real context to the y cyfuniad hwn yn sicrhau bod y daith yn ddiddorol, tra Daeth y nofel yn frig-lyfr rhyngwladol a thynnodd sylw dwys Inspired by Welsh industrial communities, Cordell penned Rape many wonderful places visited – it really did feel we were phleserus a rhodd gwir ystyr i’r lleoedd anhygoel yr ymwelwyd i bwysigrwydd Tirwedd Ddiwydiannol Blaenafon ddegawdau of the Fair Country (1959). It became an international bestseller treading in the footsteps of Cordell himself. The anecdotes â hwy - roedd hi’n teimlo ein bod yn camu yn ôl-troed Cordell cyn iddi gael ei chydnabod am ei “gwerth byd-eang rhagorol”. and vividly brought attention to the significance of the Blaenavon were wonderful and everyone left the tour feeling they had ei hun. Roedd yr hanesion yn wych a gadawodd pawb y Dilynwyd hyn gan fwy o lyfrau ac fe helpodd i sbarduno Industrial Landscape decades before it was recognised as being ‘got inside the author’s mind’. But the icing on the cake was daith yn teimlo ei bod wedi treiddio ‘i berfeddion meddwl yr of ‘outstanding universal value’. More books followed and helped twristiaeth yn hen berfeddwledydd diwydiannol de Cymru. Chris’ home recordings of famous Welsh actor Philip Madoc awdur’. Ond y goron ar y cyfan oedd recordiad Chris o’r actor stimulate tourism in the old industrial heartlands of south Wales. Mae arddangosfa am fywyd a gwaith Alexander Cordell i’w reading passages from the novels (what a voice) and a enwog Philip Madoc yn darllen darnau o’r nofelau (dyna lais), a An exhibition on the life and work of Alexander Cordell can be seen gweld yn Amgueddfa Cordell a Threftadaeth Gymunedol reading from the man himself – Cordell! darlleniad gan y dyn ei hun - Cordell! at the Blaenavon Community Heritage & Cordell Museum in Lion Blaenafon yn Stryd y Llew, lle mae desg ysgrifennu, nofelau Street where Cordell’s writing desk, novels and personal effects, take ac eitemau personol Cordell yn cael eu harddangos mewn lle If you couldn’t make it on Saturday 26th April, the tour is Os nad oeddech yn medru bod yno ar ddydd Sadwrn 26 Ebrill, pride of place. For more information, please phone 01495 790991 or amlwg. I gael mwy o wybodaeth, ffoniwch 01495 790991 neu being repeated on Saturday 27th September and at £16 is mae’r daith yn cael ei hailadrodd ar ddydd Sadwrn 27 Medi ac email [email protected] e-bostiwch [email protected] worth every penny! am £16 mae’n fargen! To book, please call the Blaenavon World Heritage Centre on I gadw lle, ffoniwch Ganolfan Treftadaeth y Byd Blaenafon ar 01495 742333. 01495 742333.

Alexander Cordell’s writing desk at the Blaenavon Community Heritage Museum Desg ysgrifennu Alexander Cordell yn Amgueddfa Treftadaeth Gymunedol Blaenafon

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Illegal off roading ‘out of Gyrru anghyfreithlon oddi Big Pit Workshops Gweithdai Pwll Mawr Big Pit has recently developed new workshops and events Yn ddiweddar, mae Pwll Mawr wedi datblygu gweithdai a control’ ar yr heol ‘allan o reolaeth’ for our youngest visitors right up to our oldest! digwyddiadau newydd ar gyfer ein hymwelwyr , a hynny o’r ieuengaf i’r hynaf! Farmers in and around the World Heritage Site have voiced Mae ffermwyr ar Safle Treftadaeth y Byd a o’i gwmpas wedi “How we used to live” concerns of over rapidly escalating damage and disturbance lleisio’u pryderon ynghylch y niwed cynyddol a’r aflonyddu demonstrates to Foundation Mae “Sut oeddem arfer byw” yn caused by illegal off roaders on local common land. One a achosir gan yrwyr anghyfreithlon oddi ar yr heol, ar dir Phase children what domestic life dangos i blant y Cyfnod Sylfaen sut local farmer described his recent experiences. comin lleol. Dyma brofiad diweddar un ffermwr lleol. was like for women before modern oedd bywyd yn y cartref i fenywod cyn i offer modern gyrraedd. ‘The past two weeks have been a living hell. A number of us feel ‘Mae’r pythefnos diwethaf wedi bod yn uffern ar y ddaear. Mae appliances. A new session for Key Stage 3 children expresses the Mae sesiwn newydd ar gyfer like giving up and I’ve been ill with stress. The number of illegal nifer ohonom yn teimlo fel rhoi’r ffidil yn y to ac rwyf i wedi bod Cyfnod Allweddol 3 yn dangos yn off roaders over the Bank Holiday weekend was unbelievable. yn sâl oherwydd y straen. Roedd nifer y gyrwyr anghyfreithlon comparative differences and how family and communities have cymharu’r gwahaniaethau hyn ac This weekend we were gathering sheep between the Whistle oddi ar yr heol dros benwythnos Gŵyl y Banc yn anghredadwy. yn dangos sut y mae teuluoedd a Inn and the Grouse & Snipe when I was approached by an Y penwythnos yma roeddem yn casglu’r defaid rhwng y Whistle progressed from 1913, 1984 and 2014. chymunedau wedi datblygu ers aggressive biker who revved his engine and sprayed me with Inn a’r Grouse & Snipe pan ddes wyneb yn wyneb â beiciwr 1913, 1984 a 2014. mud. There were several groups of vehicles on the common. ymosodol yn refio’i injan a thaflu mwd drosof. Roedd sawl grŵp We’re holding two events for Adult Rydym yn cynnal dau Us farmers were outnumbered ten to one and felt extremely o gerbydau ar y comin. Roedd llai o lawer ohonom ni’r ffermwyr, Learners’ Week. Wednesday 18 ddigwyddiad ar gyfer Wythnos vulnerable’. ryw ddeg i un. Fe wnaeth hyn i ni deimlo’n fregus iawn’. June, Hidden Depths looks at art Addysg Oedolion. Ar ddydd and literature of miners, whilst on He went on to say that as a spokesman for the Nantyglo and Aeth ymlaen i ddweud bod llefarydd ar ran Cymdeithas Mercher 18 Mehefin, mae, Friday 20 June, Digging Deeper Blaina Commoner’s Association had informed him they will Gwerinwyr Nant-y-glo a Blaina wedi dweud wrtho eu Dyfnderoedd Cudd yn edrych ar takes a look behind the scenes. be writing to the police and the local Police Commissioner. bod am ysgrifennu at yr heddlu a’r Comisiynydd Heddlu. gelf a llenyddiaeth y glowyr, tra y ‘My sister is so worried she’s even written to David Cameron.’ ‘Cymaint yw gofid fy chwaer, mae hi hyd yn oed yn A wide variety of events and bydd ‘Palu’n Ddyfnach’ yn bwrw ysgrifennu at David Cameron.’ golwg y tu ôl i’r llen ar ddydd The problems on the Coity activities will also be taking place Gwener 20 Mehefin. Mountain are mirrored on Mae’r problemau ar fynydd Coety throughout the summer and new the other side of the valley. hefyd yn digwydd yr ochr arall activity boxes are now available for families to use during Bydd ystod eang o ddigwyddiadau a gweithgareddau On Sunday local farmer and i’r cwm. Dydd Sul aeth Courtney their visit. hefyd yn cael eu cynnal drwy gydol yr haf ac mae blychau commoner Courtney Rees Rees, ffermwr lleol a gwerinwr, 26 July, 11am-4pm gweithgareddau ar gael i deuluoedd sydd am eu defnyddio called the police because ati i alw’r heddlu am fod nifer Gala Day yn ystod eu hymweliad. large numbers of four fawr iawn o jîps yn niweidio 26 Gorffennaf, 11am-4pm by fours were damaging cynefinoedd bregus a distyrbio A day full of music, demonstrations, workshops and more to Diwrnod Gala vulnerable habitats and da byw uwchben Blaenafon. entertain the whole family. disturbing livestock above ‘Mae’r cerbydau hyn yn aml i’w Diwrnod llawn o gerddoriaeth, arddangosfeydd, gweithdai a Blaenavon. ‘The off roaders gweld yn difrodi rhannau o’r 28 July – 8 August, 11am-4pm mwy i ddiddori’r teulu oll. Miners’ Fortnight – Sea, Sand and Coal Dust are regularly trashing the mynyddoedd lle mae cornicyllod yn 28 Gorffennaf – 8 Awst, 11am-4pm part of the mountain where bridio. Does gan yr ifainc rhithyn o Family activities for children of all ages. Pythefnos y Glowyr – Môr, Tywod a Llwch Glo ground-nesting Peewits obaith a does neb yn gwneud dim {Lapwing] breed. The young am y sefyllfa.’ 27 October –31 October, 11am-4pm Gweithgareddau i blant o bob oedran a’u teuluoedd. don’t stand a chance and October Half Term Activities 27 Hydref –31 Hydref, 11am-4pm Os digwydd i chi weld unrhyw nobody’s doing anything Gweithgareddau Hanner Tymor Hydref about it.’ beth, a fyddech cystal â dweud Hands on activities for children. wrth yr Heddlu drwy ffonio 101. Gweithgareddau ymarferol i blant. If you witness an incident For further information regarding events, please call I gael gwybodaeth bellach ynghylch y digwyddiadau, please report to the Police by 029 2057 3650 or visit www.museumwales.ac.uk ffoniwch 029 2057 3650 neu ewch i ringing 101. www.museumwales.ac.uk

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Railway News Newyddion y Rheilffordd Look out for… The Heritage railway has had a good start to the year and Cafodd y rheilffordd dreftadaeth ddechrau da i’r flwyddyn The Blaenavon Heritage Railway will be running each week end until the middle of September and also on Wednesdays during continues to develop. They have completed track work at ac mae’n parhau i ddatblygu. Maent wedi cwblhau gwaith the school holidays. Trains start at 11 am and the last full trip is usually at 3.30pm. Full details can be found on the website ar y trac ger Cilffyrdd y Ffwrnais er mwyn gwneud lle i Furnace Sidings to accommodate longer trains and are www.pontypool-and-blaenavon.co.uk now working on the track south of Blaenavon, to give a drenau mwy, ac maen nhw nawr yn gweithio ar y trac tua’r de o Flaenafon, er mwyn ei ymestyn. Mae’r adeilad Don’t miss the Murder Mystery evening on 21st June. Your train will depart at 7pm and you can enjoy a leisurely drink as you longer ride. The station building at Blaenavon is being ar orsaf Blaenafon yn cael ei ddatblygu i greu amgueddfa developed into a small railway museum to cover the line travel to Blaenavon High Level to visit our new museum. On your return to Furnace Sidings there will be a buffet supper and rheilffordd fechan i ddangos yr hyn sydd ganddynt hwy a’r after this the murder mystery will be enacted by our talented group of actors. You will re-join the train for a further trip during they now operate and the associated railways. rheilffyrdd cysylltiedig i’w cynnig. which you can quiz the suspects to try to work out “who dunnit”. Advance booking is essential through the website. The volunteers have been working hard to complete the Mae’r gwirfoddolwyr wedi bod yn gweithio’n ddyfal i gwblhau’r restoration of their newest steam locomotive, Rosyth No.1 gwaith o adfer ei locomotif ager diweddaraf, Rosyth No.1 a Other highlights include a 40’s weekend on 12 and 13 July, the transport Rally on 24 and 25 August and the Steam Gala on 12 which should be in traffic in early June. It worked for the RAF ddylai fod yn cychwyn ar ei deithiau ar ddechrau mis Mehefin. – 14 September. at Pembroke Dock and St Athan and is 100 years old this year. Gweithiodd i’r Llu Awyr Brenhinol yn Noc Penfro a Sain Tathan Finally don’t miss the sensational Halloween experience on 30 and 31 October and don’t forget to book your tickets for Santa The railway will celebrate this at it’s Steam Gala in September ac eleni mae’n 100 mlwydd oed. Bydd y rheilffordd yn dathlu hyn yn ystod ei Gala Ager ym mis Medi (12-14) pan ddaw nifer after September – last year was completely booked. (12-14) when it brings in several other steam locomotives built o locomotifau eraill a adeiladwyd gan yr un cwmni (Andrew by the same company (Andrew Barclay) to wish her happy Barclay) i ddymuno pen blwydd hapus iddo. birthday. Mae yna nifer o ddigwyddiadau eraill wedi cael eu trefnu ar Canal Update Y Diweddaraf am y Gamlas There are several other events lined up this summer, the gyfer yr haf yma, penwythnos rhyfel blynyddol (Gorffennaf annual wartime weekend (July 12/13) with a variety of WW2 12/13) gydag amrywiaeth o gerbydau milwrol yr Ail Ryfel Byd, The full length of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal has Mae Camlas Mynwy ac Aberhonddu wedi agor yn ei military vehicles, re-enactors and demonstrations, the family ailgreadau ac arddangosfeydd, penwythnos hwyl i’r teulu (Awst reopened to boats in time for the busiest period of the year. chyfanrwydd i gychod mewn da bryd ar gyfer cyfnod fun weekend (August 9/10) with games, quizzes and activities 9/10) gyda gemau, cwisiau a gweithgareddau; rali trafnidiaeth After the unprecedented prysuraf y flwyddyn. Ar ôl and the annual transport rally (August 24/25), with a feast of flynyddol (Awst 24/25), gyda gwledd o hen gerbydau, a Nos winter rains the embankment glaw’r gaeaf na welwyd vintage vehicles and Halloween (October 30/31) when the Galan Gaeaf (Hydref 30/31) pan fydd cyfle i deithio ar y trenau at Llanfoist, in the Brecon mo’i debyg o’r blaen, sgrech poblogaidd....ofnus, ond llawn hwyl. very popular ghost trains run, it’s scary but fun. Beacons, became so saturated cymaint oedd y dŵr wedi Mae Rheilffordd Pont-y-pŵl a Blaenafon yn rheilffordd that parts of it were caused to trwytho glan y gamlas yn The Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway is an entirely volunteer dreftadaeth sydd yn cael ei rhedeg yn gyfan gwbl gan Llan-ffwyst, ym Mannau slump. A major engineering run heritage railway situated at Furnace Sidings, Garn-yr-Erw wirfoddolwyr. Mae wedi ei lleoli ar Gilffordd y Ffwrnais, Garn-yr- Brycheiniog, fe achosodd just north of Blaenavon, Torfaen. The railway runs weekends erw ychydig i’r gogledd o Flaenafon, Torfaen. Mae’r rheilffordd project to repair the canal dirlithriad. Dechreuwyd ar from Easter until October plus Christmas Santa Specials. There yn agored o’r Pasg tan Hydref a chynhelir digwyddiadau began almost at once. 500 y dasg beirianyddol enfawr are plenty of events run throughout the season but especially arbennig dros y Nadolig i weld Siôn Corn. Cynhelir digon o pins, each 10-15 metres long, o drwsio’r gamlas bron ar during the summer and provide a good value day out for the ddigwyddiadau drwy gydol y tymor ond yn enwedig yn ystod are being used to “nail” the unwaith. Mae 500 o binnau, family. yr haf, ac maent yn profi i fod yn ddiwrnodau gwerth chweil a embankment back against the rhwng 10-15 metr o hyd, yn gwerth arian i’r teulu oll. For more details of our events please either phone the bedrock. The final pins will be cael eu defnyddio i “hoelio’r” I gael mwy o fanylion am ein digwyddiadau, naill ai ewch put in over the coming weeks, arglawdd yn ôl yn erbyn y Railway Shop on 01495 792263 or visit our website on www. ffoniwch Siop y Rheilffordd ar 01495 792263 neu rhowch glic ar pontypool-and-blaenavon.co.uk together with a mesh to secure creigwely. Bydd y pinnau ein gwefan www.pontypool-and-blaenavon.co.uk them in place. New vegetation terfynol yn cael eu gosod yn will be planted along the ystod yr wythnosau nesaf, embankment to take the place ynghyd â rhwyll i’w cadw yn of trees that had to be cut down to allow engineers to carry eu lle. Bydd llystyfiant newydd yn cael ei blannu ar hyd yr out the work. arglawdd i gymryd lle’r coed y bu rhaid eu torri i ganiatáu’r peirianyddion i gwblhau’r gwaith. Now the navigation is open for business again we hope Nawr bod y gamlas ar agor am fusnes unwaith eto, that even more people come and see one of the jewels of gobeithiwn y bydd mwy o bobl nag erioed yn dod i weld un the canal system in the heart of the Brecon Beacons. It is o’r perlau o blith y camlesi yng nghalon Bannau Brycheiniog. expected that the towpath next to the affected stretch will Disgwylir y bydd y llwybr tynnu nesaf at y man yr effeithiwyd reopen at the end of May; meanwhile walkers, cyclists and arni, yn ailagor ar ddiwedd mis Mai; yn y cyfamser, gall other towpath visitors can continue to use the canal thanks cerddwyr, beicwyr ac ymwelwyr eraill barhau i ddefnyddio’r to a short diversion around the closed section. gamlas diolch i wyriad byr o amgylch y darn sydd ar gau.

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Bethlehem Chapel Capel Bethlehem Lets get ready to Party! Dewch, mae’n amser parti! Learn some Dewch i ddysgu fantastic Brazilian rhythmau Brasilaidd - Where to next? - I ble nesaf? rhythms using ffantastig gan samba percussion ddefnyddio instruments such as offerynnau taro bass drums, snare samba fel drymiau drums, tambours, bas, drymiau gwifrau, ago go bells and tabyrddau, clychau shakers! Everyone ago go ac ysgydwyr! will get the chance Bydd cyfle i bawb to play and discover gael tro a darganfod the instrument that pa offeryn sydd orau suits them. ganddynt.

Get ready because Byddwch yn parod, the workshops mae’r gweithdai yn are fun and loud! ddifyr ac yn uchel Build up rhythms to iawn! Bydd cyfle i create music such greu cerddoriaeth as Samba, Samba fel Samba, Reggae Reggae and Funk and before you know it we will sound Samba a Ffync ac mewn dim o dro, byddwn yn swnio like a samba band in time for the World Heritage Day fel band samba yn barod ar gyfer gorymdaith Diwrnod parade! Treftadaeth y Byd!

We are very excited that the rebuilding and renovation Rydym yn gyffrous iawn bod y gwaith wedi cychwyn i ailadeiladu Dance workshops will mirror the drumming sessions, learn Bydd y gweithdai dawns yn dilyn yr un arddull â’r sesiynau of Bethlehem Chapel has begun.We are hoping that the ac ailwampio Capel Bethlehem. Y gobaith yw y bydd yr ystafell drymio, bydd cyfle i ddysgu dawnsiau carnifal syml, felly ysgol yn barod ar gyfer Diwrnod Treftadaeth y Byd ac y byddwch carnival dances which are simple, everyone can pick it up schoolroom will be ready for Heritage Day and that you will so come along and have a go! dewch yn llu i roi cynnig arni! come in to see it. yn heidio yno i’w gweld. Rydym yn ymwybodol fod Bethlehem yn adeilad allweddol mewn Mae’r gweithdai yn RHAD AC AM DDIM ac yn cynnwys We are conscious that Bethlehem is a key building in a All workshops are FREE of charge and include artists’ safle amlwg yn y dref, felly mae’r eglwys yn gofyn am gymaint cefnogaeth gan artistiaid. prominent position in the town, so the church is asking for support. o fewnbwn â phosibl gan y gymuned wrth iddynt chwilio am y community input as it looks for the best way forward. Ysgol Gynradd Wirfoddol a Reolir Treftadaeth Blaenafon ffordd orau ymlaen. Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary Many people believe that today’s church is irrelevant in their Cred nifer o bobl nad yw’r eglwys ym mherthnasol yn eu bywydau Dydd Llun 9 Mehefin 4.30-6.30pm lives and is out of touch. We are determined to change that a’i bod wedi colli gafael. Rydym yn benderfynol o newid y farn Monday 9 June 4.30-6.30pm Dydd Mercher 11 Mehefin 4.30-6.30pm view and would appreciate your input in that change. So- honno a byddem yn gwerthfawrogi eich mewnbwn wrth fynd ati Wednesday 11 June 4.30-6.30pm Dydd Iau 12 Mehefin 4.30-6.30pm Do you know any organisation locally looking for a venue? i newid hyn. Felly- Thursday 12 June 4.30-6.30pm Dydd Llun 16 Mehefin 4.30-6.30pm A wyddoch chi am unrhyw sefydliad lleol sydd yn chwilio am Monday 16 June 4.30-6.30pm Dydd Mercher 18 Mehefin 4.30-6.30pm What do you think are the main problems facing Blaenavon leoliad? Wednesday 18 June 4.30-6.30pm Dydd Iau 19 Mehefin 4.30-6.30pm today? Beth yw’r problemau pennaf y mae Blaenafon yn ei hwynebu Thursday 19 June 4.30-6.30pm Mae croeso i bawb gymryd rhan, hen ac ifanc! Peidiwch How could the churches best help to solve them? heddiw yn eich barn chi? All welcome to take part, young and old! Don’t miss the â cholli gorymdaith Diwrnod Treftadaeth y Byd ar ddydd Sut allai’r eglwysi helpu i ddatrys hyn? Please talk to us [email protected]/ World Heritage Day parade on Saturday 28 June 2014 at Sadwrn 28 Mehefin 2014 am 1.00pm o ben uchaf Heol [email protected] Siaradwch â ni [email protected]/ 1.00pm from the top of Broad Street. For more information Lydan. I gael ragor o wybodaeth cysylltwch ar 01495 742333 [email protected] or visit us at www.facebook.com/ contact 01495 742333 or www.visitblaenavon.co.uk neu www.visitblaenavon.co.uk bethlehemchapelcommunitygroup neu ewch i www.facebook.com/ bethlehemchapelcommunitygroup

8 9 BLAENAVON HERITAGE NEWS NEWYDDION TREFTADAETH BLAENAFON BLAENAVON HERITAGE NEWS NEWYDDION TREFTADAETH BLAENAFON

Blaenavon Welcomes Blaenafon yn Croesawu Museum Reveals Blaenavon’s Amgueddfa yn Datgelu Hanesion Mexican Ambassador Llysgennad Mecsico War Stories Blaenafon Adeg y Rhyfel This summer marks the 100th anniversary of the Yr haf hwn byddwn yn coffau canmlwyddiant ers dechrau’r Blaenavon recently welcomed His Yn ddiweddar, fe groesawodd outbreak of the First World War. As part of the centenary Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf. Fel rhan o’r coffâd dyfarnwyd i Amgueddfa Excellency Diego Gomez Pickering, the Blaenafon Ei Ardderchogrwydd commemorations, the Blaenavon Community Heritage Treftadaeth Gymunedol Blaenafon nawdd gan Gronfa Mexican Ambassador to the UK. During Diego Gomez Pickering, Llysgennad Museum has been awarded Dreftadaeth y Loteri i ymchwilio i his visit, His Excellency visited the World Mecsico i’r DU. Yn ystod ei ymweliad, funding from the Heritage hanes Blaenafon a’i phobl yn ystod Heritage Centre, Blaenavon Ironworks aeth Ei Ardderchogrwydd ymlaen i Lottery Fund to research and y rhyfel a’i gofnodi. ymweld â Chanolfan Treftadaeth y Byd and Big Pit National Coal Museum. write a history of Blaenavon Blaenafon, Gwaith Haearn Blaenafon Dros y chwe mis diwethaf, mae His Excellency was in Wales visiting and its people during the war a Phwll Mawr: Amgueddfa Lofaol years. gwirfoddolwyr yr amgueddfa the Welsh Government and asked to Cymru. Roedd Ei Ardderchogrwydd wedi bod yn pori drwy archifau, visit Blaenavon World Heritage Site. yng Nghymru i ymweld â Llywodraeth Over the past six months hen bapurau newydd, llythyrau, The Ambassador is a career diplomat Cymru a gofynnodd i ymweld â Safle the museum’s volunteers lluniau a dogfennau swyddogol as well as a writer and journalist. He Treftadaeth y Byd Blaenafon. Mae’r have been delving into the i ganfod mwy am Flaenafon has been engaged with UN activities Llysgennad yn ddiplomydd gyrfa archives and scouring through yn ystod y cyfnod rhwng 1914 as a consultant and advisor to several agencies including yn ogystal ag ysgrifennwr a newyddiadurwr. Buodd yn old newspapers, letters, a 1918. Mae’r llyfr yn datgelu UNESCO and so had a natural interest in the Site. His gysylltiedig â gweithgareddau’r Cenhedloedd Unedig fel photographs and official agweddau lleol tuag at y rhyfel ac Excellency thoroughly enjoyed his visit and was keen to ymgynghorydd i nifer o asiantaethau yn cynnwys UNESCO, documents to find out more mae’n cynnwys storïau personol share Blaenavon’s achievements with similar World Heritage felly mae ganddo ddiddordeb naturiol yn y Safle. Fe wnaeth about Blaenavon in the years a theimladwy am lawer o filwyr Ei ardderchogrwydd fwynhau ei ymweliad â’r safle yn fawr Sites in Mexico. between 1914 and 1918. The Blaenafon, na lwyddodd rhai iawn ac roedd yn awyddus i rannu cyflawniadau Blaenafon book reveals local attitudes ohonynt i ddychwelyd adref. Yn gyda Safleoedd treftadaeth Byd tebyg ym Mecsico. towards the war and features ogystal â hyn, mae’n edrych ar the poignant personal stories ddiwydiannau’r dref, gweithfeydd of many of Blaenavon’s soldiers, arfau rhyfel ac undebau llafur, Canalathon! Ras y Gamlas! some of whom never returned yn ogystal ag edrych ar rôl Looking for a challenge, the first ever ‘Canalathon’ will take Chwilio am her? Mae’r ras gyntaf erioed ar gamlas, yn cael home. Furthermore, it looks at menywod, cefnogaeth leol i’r place on the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal on Sunday ei chynnal ar gamlas Mynwy ac Aberhonddu ar ddydd Sul the town’s industries, munitions milwyr, ffoaduriaid o wlad Belg ym 14th September. Teams of four are challenged 14 Medi. Mae’r her yn galw am dimau o bedwar i work and trade unionism, as Mlaenafon a chyflwr cymdeithasol to complete a 33 mile route along the canal O gwblhau llwybr 33 milltir ar hyd y gamlas, mewn well as examining the role of y dref. LATH N women, local support for the by canoe, bike and foot. Canoe for 5 miles A 20 canŵ, ar gefn beic ac ar droed. Bydd cyfle i N troops, Blaenavon’s Belgian Mae’r amgueddfa’n rhagweld y starting from Pontymoile basin, followed A 14 ganŵio am 5 milltir o fasn Pont-y-moel, i’w C refugees and the social bydd y llyfr yn cael ei gyhoeddi by 17 miles on bike from Goytre Wharf, ddilyn gan 17 milltir ar gefn beic o Lanfa Lance Corporal Albert Burchell of Blaenavon was a student teacher. He was condition of the town. yn yr hydref ond os oes gennych finishing with an 11 mile walk or run from Goetre, ac i orffen, bydd rhaid cerdded neu killed at the Somme in 1916, aged 19 years. ffotograffau, hanesion neu Llangynidr, completing the challenge at redeg 11 milltir o Langynidr i gwblhau’r Roedd Is-gorporal Albert Burchell o Flaenafon yn hyfforddi i fod yn athro. C The museum anticipates that wybodaeth sy’n gysylltiedig Brecon Canal Basin. The Monmouthshire her ger Basn Camlas Aberhonddu. Mae Cafodd ei ladd yn y Somme ym 1916, yn 19 oed. A the book will be published â’r uchod, cofiwch gysylltu and Brecon canal is often described as M camlas Mynwy ac Aberhonddu yn aml in the autumn but if you’ve am fod amser i’w cynnwys the most picturesque canal in the UK with LA yn cael ei disgrifio fel y gamlas fwyaf got photographs, stories or hwy yn y llyfr. Ffoniwch 01495 the canal between Llanfoist and Govilon S prydferth yn y DU, ac mae’r gamlas rhwng A T 1 4 information relating to the 790991 neu e-bostiwch being part of the World Heritage Site. For H O N 2 0 Llan-ffwyst a Gofilon yn rhan o Safle Treftadaeth above, please get in touch as there’s still time to include [email protected] i gael gwybodaeth further details on the event visit www.mbact. y Byd. I gael manylion pellach am y digwyddiad them in the book. Please phone 01495 790991 or email bellach. org.uk/canalathon.php ewch i www.mbact.org.uk/canalathon.php [email protected] for more details. Os hoffech dameidiau, lluniau a ffeithiau diddorol am Call 07792 926055 or email [email protected] Ffoniwch 07792 926055 neu e-bostiwch matt@canalathon. For snippets, photos and interesting facts about Blaenavon, find Flaenafon, fe gewch hyd i ni ar Facebook! com us on Facebook!

10 11 BLAENAVON HERITAGE NEWS NEWYDDION TREFTADAETH BLAENAFON

Coming Events/Digwyddiadau sydd I ddod

Blaenavon Heritage Railway - Miner’s Fortnight – Sea, Sand Bank Holiday Fun Murder Mystery Evening and Coal Dust 25 August/Awst 2014 21st June/Mehefin 2014 28 July – 8 August/Awst 2014 Come and create an animation based on Departing at 7pm. Try to work out “Who Family activities for children of all ages. the Ironworks. What did it look like in its Dunnit”! Includes buffet, murder mystery Big Pit, 11am-4pm. heyday? enactment and quiz. Blaenavon Ironworks. Advance booking essential. Summer Foraging Fun For more information visit www. Visit www.pontypool-and-blaenavon. 6 August/Awst 2014 visitblaenavon.co.uk co.uk Join author Adele Nozedar for a seasonal foraging feast around the landscape that Steam Gala Beautiful Blorenge Bird Walk surrounds Big Pit. Learn about edible 13-14 September/Medi 2014 22 June/Mehefin 2014 wild plants and how they were used Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway. A chance to observe upland birds when this area was one of the busiest Tel: 01495 792263. learning about the importance of the industrial centres in the world. Moorland habitat. Meet Big Pit Mining Museum. October Half Term Activities 27 October – 31 October/Hydref 2014 Tel: 01495 742333. £3 per person or £10 per family payable Hands on activities for children. on booking. Big Pit, 11am-4pm. Blaenavon Ladies Choir Tel: 01495 742333. 25 June/Mehefin 2014 Halloween Ghost Trains Blaenavon Ladies Choir presents their Defence of Blaenavon – A 30 – 31st October/Hydref 2014 Annual Heritage Concert, refreshments Welsh Town at War Join Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway served, 7pm. 9 & 10 August/Awst 2014 for a Spooky ride on a Ghost Train! Tickets £3.50. World War 2 explodes into Blaenavon Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway. Tel: 01495 791988. again with sights, sounds and smells of Tel: 01495 792263. the 1940s home front. Wartime Weekend Plays, displays, stories and music paint Blaenavon Town Team 12 & 13 July/Gorffennaf 2014 a vivid picture of this troubled time as Come along if you have a few hours We are turning the clocks back to the battle rages through stack square. to spare or a specialist skill. Meetings 1940’s for our wartime weekend. Blaenavon Ironworks. are held at Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway. For more information visit www.cadw. at 6pm Dates for the rest of the year Tel: 01495 792263. wales.gov.uk are:14 July, 11 August, 8 September, 13 October, 10 November and 8 December. Bush Tucker Family Fun Weekend For more information contact 01633 23 July/Gorffennaf 2014 9 & 10 August/Awst 2014 648319. Learn to build and light a fire, then cook Come and join us for a weekend of some classic campfire food, as well as family fun. Table Top Sale, Bethlehem some foraged delicacies. Children must Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway. Court be accompanied by an adult. Tel: 01495 792263. Meet at entrance to Blaenavon Taking place on the following dates: Community Woodland, Llanover Road. 12 July and 23 August. £5 per table Transport Rally for community groups(£8 for two), £3 per person or £10 per family payable 24 & 25 August/Awst 2014 businesses £10. on booking. Come and join us for the 12th Transport For more information contact 01495 Tel: 01495 742333. Rally. 742333. Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway. Gala Day Tel: 01495 792263. 26 July/Gorffennaf 2014 A day full of music, demonstrations, workshops and more to entertain the whole family. Big Pit, 11am-4pm.