Interpretation of an historical site (a)

Preserving and Conserving Historical Sites

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/2008-09/history/blaenavon/flash/world-of-work/eng/wow_d1.html

Look at the aerial photograph of Blaenavon Ironworks.  What remains are visible today?

Can you recognise some of the buildings seen in the lithograph and the reconstruction drawing from the modern photographs?

Blaenavon Ironworks looks like this today because of the conservation work of Cadw. Discuss why it is important that historical sites are cared for and preserved for the future. What could have happened to Blaenavon Ironworks?

Look at the photograph taken in 1977. Do you recognise the buildings? In 1970 the buildings were due for demolition as an ‘eyesore’ and ‘a public danger’. Today Blaenavon is a World Heritage Site (http://www.world-heritage-blaenavon.org.uk/) – a site judged by UNESCO (http://whc.unesco.org/) to be of ‘outstanding universal value’.

Discuss how Cadw and other similar organisations decide what or where to protect and conserve. Is it easy to decide what to conserve? How would you decide? Is collecting historical evidence important?