History of Museum

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Blaenavon Community Heritage & Cordell Museum.
Amguedda Treftadaeth Cymuned a Cordell Blaenafon.

In the year of 1997 Allan Matthews, who was born in Blaenafon, returned from London to his Welsh roots with the idea of starting Cordell Country Tours. He planned to show tourists the town of Blaenafon and its historical heritage. To set up the tours he contacted Torfaen County Borough Council outlining his ideas of the project. He was put in contact with Bogda Smreczak, Tourism Officer for Torfaen County Borough Council. Bogda suggested that he contact Robert Gulliford who was also interested in the promoting of tourism and the heritage of Blaenafon.

The tours started in the summer of 1997. During 1997 Alan & Robert decided to form the Blaenafon Community Heritage Project to promote the Local History, Industrial Archaeological & the Social History of Blaenafon. Glyn Probert and Bill Morgan joined the project and the group became a properly Constituted group and applied to the Charity Commissioners for charity status, this was duly given. The group then proceeded to hold regular meetings with David Ludlow and Bogda Smreczak and it was decided to form a Museum in Blaenafon. Torfaen had acquired the Alexander Cordell Collection and other effects of the author’s study.

Money was granted from Europe to refurbish the old Blaenafon Municipal Offices and re-open as the new Blaenafon Library and a Museum in the basement. The group was granted in May 2001 the use of 12, Broad Street, Blaenafon to be used to advertise and collect artifacts for the Museum. Artifacts and printed material etc. were stored at Unit 27, Torfaen Business Centre on the Gilchrist Thomas Industrial Estate. In May 2002 the group were handed over the keys to the new Museum. Now it was time for the group to work hard and acquire furniture, cabinets, chairs, computers and kitchen equipment etc. All the artifacts acquired were then displayed.

The Museum exhibitions were completed in time for the public to visit on Blaenafon Heritage Day, June 2002, when over 500 people visited the premises. The Museum was officially opened on August 1st 2002 by Torfaen’s Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Doug Davies and the Chairman of Blaenavon Town Council, Cllr. Robert Evans in the presence of 70 guests. During the month of August the Museum attracted 800 visitors.

The Museum comprises of a kitchen, a coffee shop, three display rooms and the Alexander Cordell Room. A large collection of books, photographs, artifacts, Military Medals and Militaria, South Wales Fire Service displays, Salvation Army material and a vast Genealogical Centre comprising of CD-ROM’s of Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, Censuses, Trade Directories, Colliery Accidents and a Book of Remembrance of Blaenafon’s fallen heroes of Boer War, World War I, World War II, Korea & Northern Ireland. The Genealogical Room houses approximately 7,500,000 records. Now that the Blaenafon Community Heritage & Cordell Museum is becoming well known, artifacts are being donated by generous local people daily.

A ‘Blaenafon Town Walk’ booklet has been published by the group and it is anticipated that the Museum and Town Walk will bring the Tourists into the Town and generate more income for the traders.

The Museum is now working on The Blaenafon Community Archive using the Comma Software programme. It is a project in conjunction with John Rodgers, MBE & Catherine Thomas. The computer is being loaded with photographs and drawings of Blaenavon. The photographs can have reminiscences added by sound and video clips. The contents can be entered onto CD-ROM’s and sold commercially. The information on the computer will be eventually accessible via the Internet.

In December 2003 the Blaenafon Community Heritage Project changed its name to the Blaenafon Heritage Group. During 2003 & 2004 the group were joined by Richard Roynon, Robert Price and John Harris.

During October 2003 Katie Crump of Torfaen County Borough Council approached the group asking if they would like to sponsor a Halloween Best-Shop Front Competition, which would be held annually. This Competition proved to be a good event. The organisation of this Competition was then taken over by Barbara Pepper & Aimee Bartlett.

In the year 2004 a new project was started to give school parties an insight into the Second World War (1939-1945). The project adopted the name of World War II, the Blaenafon Experience. The primary school children of North Torfaen are enjoying the project. It is anticipated that the project will cover a larger area in the near future. Also involved in this project is Ken Clark,Brian Hillman,Dave Boddington, Mike Samuel, Abersychan & Garndiffaith Local History Group; Garnsychan Partnership, Shirley Learoyd, Karen Langley, Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall; Dan Watkins, Cyril Merrifield, St. Peter’s Church; and the Royal British Legion, Blaenafon.

Registered Charity No.1079437