Blaenavon World Heritage Centre

The UK’s first dedicated World Heritage Centre has been officially opened in Blaenavon by First Minister for Wales, Rhodri Morgan. The £2.7 million visitors’ centre tells the story of how Blaenavon helped to change the world during the Industrial Revolution and the international importance of World Heritage status.

Dan Clayton Jones, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund Committee for Wales, said:

“This project has helped turn Blaenavon’s fortune around and is a fantastic example of the positive impact lottery players’ money can have in terms of conservation and regeneration, bringing a sense of pride back into the community, attracting visitors to an area and helping a local economy thrive”

RIBA award for centre’s building

The Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW) announced that Blaenavon World Heritage Centre is the sole recipient of an RIBA Award 2008 in Wales.

Alistair Sunderland, Chairman of the RIBA Awards jury in Wales said:

“Creative, pragmatic joinery details and excellent construction on the one hand, and the evident, close involvement of the client on the other, are worthy of comment and indicative of the role of effective partnering in award winning projects.”

John Rodger MBE is Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site Co-ordinator, and ICOMOS-UK Member. He reports:

“The recently opened World Heritage Centre in Blaenavon has received an RIBA Award. This is the only building to receive an award in Wales in the last three years.

The new centre comprises two listed buildings Grade II* and Grade II which were the original St. Peter’s School built by the Ironmasters sister Sarah Hopkins on his death in 1815. The school was for the education of the worker’s children and was the first built by an industrialist in Wales.

The centre has two main aims. Firstly to promote awareness of World Heritage Sites and their “Outstanding Universal Value” and secondly to provide act as a focus for actual and intellectual access to the World Heritage Site which extends to 32,000 hectares and includes The Ironworks (1789) the best preserved of its period in the world and the Big Pit now the National Mining Museum winner of the 2005 Gubenkian Award as UK Museum of the Year.

The two historic buildings are linked by a bright new link in steel and glass. This reflects the aim of the Blaenavon Partnership not only to show pride in the past but to look to the future and achieve regeneration in this Welsh mining area which has suffered from the loss of iron, steel and coal making industries.

The prime uses of the centre is for education – all life learning and for local community use.

The World Heritage Site Warden Alvin Nicholas uses the centre as a base for his World Heritage Site voluntary rangers and a centre for guided walks to explore the cultural and natural features of this cultural landscape.

Awards were presented by the Rt. Hon. Paul Murphy MP, Secretary of State for Wales on 19 June to the architect Nial Phillips, The Contractor DAVLAN Construction and to Cath Thomas on behalf of the client Torfaen County Borough Council.”

Read Torfaen County Borough Council Press Release

Blaenavon World Heritage Centre website