IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Glan-y-Nant, TREDEGAR, NP22 4RF

This view is looking towards the west. The chapels are Carmel Welsh Baptist on the right and Ebenezer Independent to the left. Scwfra means scouring, referring to an early method of getting at mineral deposits by releasing a flood of water to wash away the soil. Here, the mineral deposits were iron ore. The following is an extract from A History of Monmouthshire, Vol 5, by Sir J A Bradney, published by the South Wales Record Society. The full document can be accessed via http://welshjournals.llgc.org.uk/ . The oldest process was to scratch on the surface for the mineral but as the mineral got deeper in the earth it was necessary to drive several holes with a bar till a large piece of stratum would fall. A pond would be constructed so that the dam could be cut through and the water allowed to rush over the material separating the mine from the rubbish. This was called scouring, in Welsh ysgwrio, which word survives in the place name Scwrfa.

This was the Company Shop for the Sirhowy Ironworks http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2943096 where employees were paid with tokens or notes which could only be spent in the company shop. This system, which led to abuse by the employers, was made illegal by the 1831 Truck Act but it took until 1887 until it applied to all workers.

Situated on Scwfra Road. Scwfra is a nearby area and the name means scouring, referring to an early method of getting at mineral deposits by releasing a flood of water to wash away the soil.

Leading to the Belle Vue Inn http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3196336 .

This footbridge replaced an earlier bridge in 1989. The plaque states that it was the first of its type in the United Kingdom. I have been unable to find out to what this is referring. The bridge is a closed spandrel type with what appears to be a metal arch. For another view of the bridge see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3235340 .

Looking down river to a footbridge.

This inverted and moved OS cut mark can be found on the school wall SW side of Vicarage Road. It marked a point 313.536m above mean sea level.

Blacksmith and poet. The inscription reads: William Williams ('Myfyr Wyn') 1849-1900 was born at Twyn Star, Tredegar. His father worked at Bryn Bach as an ironstone miner and William was at his side, working underground at the age of 10, when he was killed by a rock that fell upon him. Later as a young man, William served an apprenticeship at the same time as Ezechial Davies ('Gwentwyson') as a blacksmith under Joseph Bevan ('Gwentydd') at Sirhowy Ironworks. It's probably no coincidence that Joseph was a poet and both his apprentices became poets as well as blacksmiths by trade! William competed in eisteddfodau and published two volumes of poetry. His articles, which were written in the Gwent dialect 'Llythyra Bachan lfanc' were very popular. William's brother, another poet, David ('Myfyr Ddu'), published a selection of his articles and poems after William's death which included reminiscences of Sirhowy and district in the 19th century. Sarah Jones, iron piler at Sirhowy Ironworks. Sarah Jones stated that she was 15 when she gave evidence in 1841 to a commissioner enquiring for the report on the Condition of Children employed in Mines. She had been working at the ironworks for 5 years and piled the iron bars for them to be put in the heating furnace. Every other week she worked at night. She had never been to school and could not read although she sometimes went to Sunday School. Examination of census records has shown that children often stated that they were 2 or 3 years older than was actually the case.

The first furnace at Sirhowy was built in 1778. It is hard now to envisage the huge furnaces that existed above these arches and the associated industrial complex at this site during the 19th century. See http://www.sirhowy.com/svironworks.html . In front of the arches is a large lump of iron and slag.

Taken from above the arches of the Sirhowy Ironworks http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2943096 .