The Blaenavon Initiative
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The Blaenavon Initiative Wales– the World’s First Industrial Nation • World’s largest ironworks at Merthyr Tydfil. • World’s largest copper and slate mines in North Wales. • World price of coal, tin and copper struck in Wales. • World’s first £m deal struck in Cardiff. South Wales Coalfield 271 Manpower No. of Collieries 210 135 115 108 99 50 48 37 27 11 8 0.2 1 1920 1938 1948 1958 1968 1978 1988 1998 1920 1938 1948 1958 1968 1978 1988 1998 Blaenavon Population Growth & Decline: 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 Number4000 of People 2000 0 1801 1821 1841 1861 1881 Year of Census 1901 1921 1939 1961 1981 2001 Source: OPCS 1997 Conference Global Strategy Pyramids, Egypt Great Wall of China Stonehenge, UK Hiroshima, Japan Brazilia, Brazil • The World Heritage Committee Global Strategy is for a representative, balanced and credible World Heritage list. • Balance between cultural and natural, between different types of sites and between different countries. Brief Description ‘The area around Blaenavon bears eloquent and exceptional testimony to the pre-eminence of South Wales as the world’s major producer of iron and coal in the 19th Century. It is a remarkably complete example of a 19th Century landscape.’ Extract from ICOMOS report to the World Heritage Committee November 2000 Management Systems Dorset & East Devon Coast Caernarfon Castle Ironbridge Gorge City of Bath Neolithic Orkney • Every World Heritage Site must have a Management Plan. • To ensure the proper identification, protection, preservation, conservation and presentation of the world’s cultural and natural heritage. • Management involves a cycle of long term and day to day actions. • Management plans will be subject to Monitoring. The Blaenavon Partnership Blaenavon Industrial Landscape is managed by the Blaenavon Partnership. There are 13 members of the Blaenavon Partnership. Torfaen County Borough • Monmouthshire County Council • Brecon Beacons National Park • Blaenau Gwent CBC • Blaenavon Town Council • Welsh Development Agency • Cadw • National Museums & Galleries of Wales • Wales Tourist Board • RCAHMW • Countryside Council for Wales • British Waterways Board • National Trust Blaenavon Partnership Management Structure Statutory World Overview Responsibility Govilon Heritage Day MANAGEMENT Heritage Event COMMITTEE AUTHORITY CommitteeVoluntary Voluntary Council, Boards, Trusts Future Blaenavon Voluntary CO – ORDINATION PROJECT JAR/CT BOARD P & B Railway Officers Voluntary Book Town Festivals CONSULATION OPERATIVE OTHER Warden / TOWN GROUP CONSULTANTS Service Voluntary Blaenavon Town Members Land Owners, Voluntary Centre Strategy Users WORKING GROUPS St Peter’s School Blaenavon Town Historic Environment Landscape and Marketing and World Heritage Centre Centre Access Promotion Editorial Board Aim ‘The prime aim of the Blaenavon Partnership is to protect and conserve this landscape so that future generations may understand the contribution South Wales made to the Industrial Revolution. By the presentation and promotion of the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape it is intended to increase cultural tourism and assist the economic regeneration of the area.’ Extract from the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape: Nomination Document June 1999 Eastern Outcrop of South Wales Coalfield Key Features: • Blaenavon Ironworks • Big Pit • Sources of Coal, Iron Ore and Limestone • Transport Systems • Management of Water Resources • The Forging Side of the Iron Industry • Workers’ Housing • The Town of Blaenavon • Llanfoist Blaenavon Ironworks 1801 Blaenavon Ironworks 1975 Blaenavon Ironworks 2006 Blaenavon Ironworks Interpretation Big Pit Big Pit, the National Mining Museum of Wales, won the 2005 Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year. The Gulbenkian Prize rewards and celebrates the innovation and imagination at work in the UK’s museums and galleries with a prize of £100,000. Big Pit Big Pit Sources of Coal, Iron Ore and Limestone Sources of Coal, Iron Ore and Limestone Transport system Water Resources Iron Mountain Trail The Forging Side of the Industry Garnddyrys forge Garn-Ddyrys Ironworks c1850. Reconstruction drawing by Michael Blackmore World Heritage Site Warden and Volunteers Blaenavon and Pontypool Railway Llanfoist Garn Lakes Day Blaenavon Town St Peter’s Church, 1805 Workmen's’ Hall 1895 Early 20 th century Early 21 st century Lower Broad Street Enveloping Scheme Restoration New Build Enveloping Scheme Broad Street Lion Street: Library, Heritage Museum & Toilets PastBlaenavon World Heritage Centre - Before Blaenavon World Heritage Centre - Reports Blaenavon World Heritage Centre - Reports • Final Costing & Partnership Funding • Management structure & Funding • Marketing Communications Strategy and Marketing strategy • Education Strategy • Interpretation Strategy and IT Support Proposals • Archive Development Strategy and set-up • Design Update • Supporting documentation and correspondence World Heritage Centre - After World Heritage Centre - After Building the Brand Visitor Information Information about the World Heritage Site Website: www.blaenavon-world-heritage.co.uk Banners Posters Exhibition Panels Blaenavon World Heritage Site Icons Interpretation Panel Llanfoist Wharf Advertising Events Events Blaenavon Winter Lights and Fire Night - December 2006 .