About

Ebbw Vale, or Glyn Ebbwy in Welsh, means 'valley of the wild horse', and despite the town's industrial heritage, Ebbw Vale still affords its visitors some of the most scenic vistas in South Wales. The Ebbw Vale Works, Brynmawr and Blaina Museums provide a valuable record of lessons learned from a rough history, whilst the Environmental Resource Centre and the Ebbw Vale Institute support growing creative industries.

The Festival Park Shopping Outlet has turned Ebbw Vale into a retail hub for the surrounding area, whilst the town can also boast excellent leisure facilities and consider itself a wonderful base from which to explore the myriad attractions of the nearby Brecon Beacons. Ebbw Vale Town is the terminus of the Ebbw Valley railway line from Cardiff Central.

HISTORY & CULTURE
At the end of the 18th century there were only about a hundred or so people living in the valley, but the advent of the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of the South Wales coalfield were to have a tremendous impact on the disparate community. By the 1930s, Ebbw Vale was home to the largest steelworks in Europe, making a huge contribution to the war effort. After 1945 the town continued to play a role in the transformation of British society through its local MP, Aneurin Bevan, who legislated for the introduction of the world's first National Healthcare Service.

After the demise of the mining industries, Ebbw Vale faced major regenerative challenges in order to re-orientate and energise a flagging economy. The community has met these challenges with the determination and collectivism that has been the hallmark of Ebbw Vale since the 19th century, responding with an emphasis on heritage and innovation.