The area around Blae­navon is evi­dence of the pre-emi­­nence of South Wales as the world‘s major pro­duc­er of iron and coal in the 19th cen­tu­ry. All the nec­es­sary ele­ments can still be seen — coal and ore mines, quar­ries, a prim­i­tive rail­way sys­tem, fur­naces, work­ers‘ homes, and the social infra­struc­ture of their com­mu­ni­ty.