Adult Education

This year we are running a series of evening history talks at Blaenavon World Heritage Centre. To book your place om any of the talks please contact us at blaenavon.tic@torfaen.gov.uk|| or 01495 742333.

Early Railways of Blaenavon

Tuesday 19th February, 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Trace the development of early railways from the Middle Ages onwards and discover the important role played by Blaenavon’s engineers’ experiments with the first iron rails and other railway technology.

Peter Brown, Heritage Lecturer, University of Wales Newport

 

The Cistercians and Torfaen 

Tuesday 12th March, 6.30pm - 8.30pm

This extraordinary medieval religious order transformed the local landscape long before the coming of industry. Based at Llantarnam Abbey, the order controlled the Afon Llwyd from its source in Blaenavon to Cwmbran, and had a dramatic influence on local life.

David Standing, Archaeologist and graduate of the University of Wales Newport 

 

Early Gwent 

Friday 5th April, 7.00pm - 9.00pm

Gwent is regularly associated with King Arthur. Why is this so? Learn how early Gwent came into being by exploring its fascinating history after the fall of Rome and how it resisted the coming of the Saxons and the Normans by remaining Welsh in uplands such as Blaenavon.

Paul Thomas, Historian and graduate of the University of Wales Newport

 

Images of Industry 

Friday 19th April, 7.00pm - 9.00pm

Can you always believe what you see? Join local historian and author John van Laun as he compares historic images of the South Wales iron industry to the evidence uncovered by archaeologists.

Dr. John van Laun, Industrial Archaeologist

 

Forgotten Churchyards 

Tuesday 21st May, 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Churchyards contain a wealth of information about the history of a community. Hear some of the stories which have been uncovered through recent work on St Peter’s Church, Blaenavon, and find out how historic churchyards are being conserved around South Wales.

David Howell, Archaeologist and Heritage Lecturer, University of Wales Newport 

 

Life on the Dole in Monmouthshire before 1834

Tuesday 11th June, 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Life for the poor has always been hard. Richard reveals how Poor Law Relief, the dole of its day, was delivered in Blaenavon and elsewhere in Gwent from the time of Queen Elizabeth I until the emergence of workhouses early in the nineteenth century.

Dr. Richard Allen, History Lecturer, University of Wales Newport