Today it seems almost impossible that one family could have had such an effect on so many communities. The Hanbury family has a fascinating story to tell of its roots in the area.

Landmarks on the trail:

1. St.Cadoc's Church
2. Folly Tower
3. Shell Grotto
4. Pontypool Park
5. Penygarn (Rustic) Lodge
6. Tabernacle Baptist Chapel

During a brief period in its history Abersychan flourished, when people poured into the area to work in the iron, coal and complementary industries such as construction and transport.

Landmarks on the trail:

1. White Hart Pub
2. Methodist Church
3. Noddfa Welsh Baptist Chapel
4. Big Arch
5. Pisgah Sunday School & Baptist Chapel
6. Garndiffaith Viaduct
7. Derwen Cottage
8. Lock-up Lane

The growth of the iron and coal industries made a great impact on the communities of the Varteg area in the 1800s. Homelife and the community became extremely important in these hard times.

Landmarks on the trail:

1. Bryn Onnen Primary School
2. Wesleyan Chapel
3. Forge Row
4. Herberts Road
5. Varteg Road
6. Sardis Congregational Church

Lasgarn means “blue cairn” (or heap of stones) and is an immediate clue to one of the uses that man put this area to – namely limestone.

Landmarks on the trail:

1.Red Ash Colliery Winding House
2.Big Pond Dam
3.Six County Panoramic View
4. Cwmbyrgwm Colliery Chimney
5. Colliery Engine House

The name The British comes from the British Iron Company, which was founded here in the 1820s, making this area a very important cog in the machinery of the Industrial Revolution.

Landmarks on the trail:

1.Red Ash Colliery Winding House
2.Big Pond Dam
3.Six County Panoramic View
4. Cwmbyrgwm Colliery Chimney
5. Colliery Engine House

Today we take the right to vote for granted – but in 1839 fewer than 1 in 8 men could vote. This trail explores some of the stories of the people of this area – both for and against the campaign for the vote!

Landmarks on the trail:

1.Pontnewynydd
2.Ebenezer Chapel
3.Cwmavon
4.Blaenavon
5.Varteg
6.The British Ironworks
7.Abersychan