51º47N 3º12W, pop (2002e) 18 400. Industrial town in Blaenau Gwent, SE Wales, UK; located on the R Ebbw, 56 km/35 mi NW of Bristol; former major centre of coal mining and iron and steel production; railway; printing, engineering.
Ebbw Vale (Welsh: Glyn Ebwy) is a town at the head of the valley formed by the Ebbw Fawr river in south Wales.
Brief history
Originally a rather insignificant spot with only about 140 inhabitants at the end of the 18th century, Ebbw Vale — and the whole valley — was transformed by the Industrial Revolution. The Ebbw Vale Iron Works (later the Ebbw Steelworks) opened in 1778, followed by the opening of a number of coal mines around 1790. At its height (1930s — 40s) the steel works in Ebbw Vale was the largest in Europe, attracting attention from German bombers during World War II. Ebbw Vale suffered from the decline of the steel and coal industries and there are now no steelworks or mines left in or around the town.
Ebbw Vale hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1958 and the National Garden Festival in 1992.
Aneurin Bevan, the father of the National Health Service, stood for election into parliament as Labour Party candidate for Ebbw Vale in 1929, on his death in 1960 he was succeeded as MP by Michael Foot.
The Ebbw Vale conurbation today is a product of ten areas which grew up as a result of the iron industry or have developed as a result of distinct housing areas they include: Beaufort, Rassau, Garn Lydn, Hill Top, Glyncoed,Willowtown, Glanarafon, Cwm, Newtown, Victoria and Ebbw Vale itself.
Education
Ebbw vale currently is host to a selection of primary and infant schools, two secondary schools (Glyncoed Comprehensive & Ebbw Vale Comprehensive) both covering a large catchment area.
Sport
Sport features as one of the prides of the Ebbw Vale area, including a top flight Welsh Premiership rugby union team, that participated in the Celtic League and various European competitions until the restructuring of Welsh Rugby Union that took effect from the 2003-04 season. The Ebbw Vale rugby team is nicknamed 'The Steelmen' named after the steel works in the town. However, cricket predates rugby and Ebbw Vale's first recorded match was played against Blaina in 1852. The world's first steel rail was rolled at Ebbw Vale in 1857. The rails for the Stockton and Darlington Railway were made at Ebbw Vale. Ebbw Vale contains many secret underground tunnels that run through the Black Mountains. The Sydney harbour bridge was made from iron and steel from the Ebbw Vale steelworks.
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