Blaenavon

About

Towards the end of the 18th century, the little town of Blaenavon put its rich iron deposits to use, and quickly became the world leader in iron production, utilizing cutting edge technologies like coal and steam power. After enjoying this industrial boom, the began to decline, and even an attempt at steel production couldn’t save the ironworks, which was finally shuttered in 1904. Today, the 33 square kilometer area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the role it played in early industrialization. Visitors can head to the Big Pit, home of the National Coal Mining Museum, to learn about the miner’s lives and the hard labor they endured. For many living in the UK, overgrown stone furnaces and other imposing structures are the main draw as they were featured in the BBC historic reality show Coal House.