Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent County Borough

Ebbw Vale lies at the head of the Ebbw Valley and is the administrative centre of Blaenau Gwent County Borough. The Ebbw Vale and Brynmawr area has a population of around 33,000.

*************************************

About Ebbw Vale

Ebbw Vale lies at the head of the Ebbw Valley and is the administrative centre of Blaenau Gwent County Borough. The Ebbw Vale and Brynmawr area has a population of around 33,000.

The town is welcoming and offers a mix of national store names and independent retailers together with a number of cafes and restaurants. There are good parking areas throughout the town centre. A weekly street market is held on Friday of each week from 9.00am–5.00pm. Products vary from fruit and vegetables, to hardware, clothing and many other items.

In the 18th century Ebbw Vale grew from a small village to a medium sized town due to the discovery of coal. Steel was then produced here making the Ebbw Vale Steelworks the largest in Europe and a prime target for German bombers during WW2.
The rails for the Stockton and Darlington Railway were made here and the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge was also made from iron and steel produced at the Ebbw Vale steelworks.

When steel produced here became too expensive the steelworks went into decline and was eventually closed and then dismantled. The site has been re re-developed for housing, retail outlets & offices, wetlands a college campus and other developments. In 2010 the site will host the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Directions

From the east - A40 - A465 'Heads of the Valleys Road'; from the north - A470 - A465 'Heads of the Valleys Road'; from the west - A465 'Heads of the Valleys Road'; from the south - M4 - A467 and A470 - A465 'Heads of the Valleys Road'. By rail: Cardiff Central to Ebbw Vale. Connecting services to Cardiff from all parts of the UK and bus links to Cardiff Airport from Cardiff Central.