IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Northgate, NP23 6FN

Located near Gwent Archives. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3977078 The machinery bolted to a concrete base looks like it is in its original position, a relic of the now demolished surrounding steelworks. It is a rolling stand, part of a steel hot rolling mill. Steel heated to about 1200 degrees Celsius was passed through the two inner rolls (the work rolls). The two larger outer rolls were the back up rolls. The top of the frame contained a motorised unit to position the back up roll and the final force exerted using a hydraulic capsule. Several thousand tons of load would be applied to reduce the steel thickness. The yellow ends were connected to drive mechanisms.

Now after five years the whole site has started to be transformed into woodland, a school, hospital and the railway is to be extended up the valley to Ebbw Vale with a new station to be built here. I'm sure this view is a work in progress with new shots added over time to show the transformation.

Gwent Archives opened at this new site in Ebbw Vale in 2011. Gwent Archives was established in 1938 as the Monmouthshire Record Office. After local government reorganisation in 1974, it became the Gwent County Record Office. Further local government changes in 1996 abolished the county of Gwent, dividing it into five unitary authorities. Gwent Archives now serves the areas covered by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council (former Islwyn Borough area), Monmouthshire County Council, Newport City Council and Torfaen County Borough Council.

Viewed from Steel Works Road. Clos Pen-y-cae is on the left, Heol Cae Ffwrnais is on the right.

Owned by Four Seasons Health Care, The Rookery has accommodation for 41 residents.

National poet of Wales, Gillian Clarke, wrote a poem to mark the opening of the new Gwent Archives office at Ebbw Vale in 2011. Excerpts from the poem, which is in Welsh and English, appear on part of the façade of the new building http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3900147 .

The Gwent County Record Office moved to this site from Cwmbran in 2011. New premises were built adjoining the former Steelworks General Office http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3900128 . Gwent Archives were originally established in 1938 as the Monmouthshire Record Office, becoming the Gwent County Record Office in 1974. With the change in 1996 to principal areas of local government (unitary authorities), Gwent Archives now maintains the records relating to Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly , Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen. For a closer view and explanation of the wording on the left see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3900161 .