HERIAN News

Community groups in a South Wales valley town have come together to take ownership of and celebrate their industrial past in an innovative and groundbreaking project at the Grade 2 listed Ynysfach Engine House in Merthyr Tydfil.

Once forming part of the huge Cyfarthfa Iron Works that played a central role in making Merthyr Tydfil the iron capital of the world during the early 19th Century, the Engine House, one of Merthyr Tydfil's key remaining historic industrial assets is set to benefit early this year from a £273,000 investment designed to bring to life the building's story and at the same time provide a local resource facility for a number of community groups.

A support group drawn from a number local HERIAN stakeholders has been formed to deliver the project which will include state of the art interactive educational interpretive displays and the provision of volunteering and lifelong learning opportunities for local people.

The support group which was facilitated by HERIAN, the regional partnership set up to harness the unique legacies of industrial South Wales is led by the Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Trust with the active involvement of among others, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and the Gellideg Foundation, a Community First group operating in the Ynysfach area of Merthyr Tydfil. Ann Owen has been appointed to develop the community volunteering and life long learning opportunities.

Also included in the project is a touch screen and web driven HERIAN Information Point which will enable local people and visitors to find out about and visit other heritage sites both locally and elsewhere across industrial South Wales

Jeff Pride, Director of HERIAN's Partnership Coordinating Team said the vision is to have similar community driven heritage projects across the whole of industrial South Wales, with the Ynysfach Engine House project being a model to encourage others similar groups.

“Involving local people in the telling of the story of industrial South Wales delivers far reaching benefits not only for the community but also for visitors, businesses, and people seeking employment in the area. We're keen to create that real sense of ownership of our unique cultural assets that everyone can be proud and feel part of.

“We believe that when community schemes are linked together with the larger heritage sites such as the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea and Big Pit, part of the Blaenavon the World Heritage site, they will combine to help provide the 'big picture' and vividly tell the story of the key role played by the communities of industrial South Wales in making Wales the first industrial nation as well as the huge contribution the region made to the modern world.”

Once open the building will also be used for digital storytelling, family history, reminiscence workshops, and lecture programmes as well as for volunteer training, hospitality, functions and meetings. External landscaping and community inspired artworks also form part of the improvements.

Glym Bowen of Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Trust said: “We're really excited at the prospect of helping local groups lead the way in creating a facility in, and for their community. It will provide a valuable resource to improve skills, learning and wellbeing in the area and we will be encouraging people of all ages and interests to make use of it.”

Gellideg Community First Group will be one of those to benefit from the restoration project. Community First Coordinator, Ian Benbow said: “We have been working hard in the area to help people become proud of where they live. Using the past to help the future is an ideal way to engage with people of all ages and this project has qualities that will contribute to the social, economic and environmental regeneration of Merthyr Tydfil and its communities.

The scheme has been funded by EU Objective 1, the Welsh Assembly Government, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, British Steel Enterprise and HSBC.