Things to see and do TorFaen (Tor-Faen)

The ironworks opened its doors in 1789, for another revolution... It is now one of the best preserved forges in Europe. We visit its huge furnaces that were powered by coal. It is also a whole living environment that we discover: an information centre houses models that provide an overview of the site's structure and internal organization. Photographs and press clippings from the period also provide information on the fate of these pioneers of the industrial revolution.

The history of the inhabitants of the Torfaen Valley, in rural life completely around by the opening of mines, is told through an audiovisual device. Objects are exhibited: pieces produced by local industries and artisans, th and th-century ceramics, furniture. There are also a variety of rooms related to domestic life, education, recreation and transportation in the Victorian era. It is a real, friendly and very diverse people's museum.

It is the museum of the city's inhabitants, the one that pays tribute to them. Various objects related to life in the industrial site are displayed in display cases and photographs. The museum is named after the writer Alexander Cordell, whose book Le Viol de la Belle Contrée describes the troubled history of the village in the early days of the industrial revolution. He recounts the life of a family of miners fighting against poverty and social injustice

We cannot ignore Big Pit if we want to understand the country's past, the solidarity that came out of the mines and Britain's place in the industrial revolution. We start by going down into the mine itself where we stay for almost an hour. It's better not to be too claustrophobic to walk through these long tunnels! Then, to finish, we visit the huge block of collective showers and a permanent exhibition on the history of mines.

The story of the inhabitants of the Torfaen Valley, whose rural life has been totally disrupted by the opening of the mines, is told to us through an audiovisual system. Objects are on display: pieces produced by local industries and craftsmen, 18th and 19th century ceramics, furniture... Many pieces related to domestic life, education, leisure and transportation during the Victorian era are also visible. It is a real people's museum, friendly and very heterogeneous.