Area Information
Population - 30,000 (Roughly)
Ordinance Survey grid reference - SO165095
Council - Blaenau Gwent C.B.C (Also known as - BGCBC)
Police force - Gwent Police
Post town - Ebbw Vale
Postal district - NP23
Dialling code - (+44) (0)1495
Brief History
Town History
Ebbw Vale only really came into being at the end of the 18th Century when the whole area began to change with the industrial revolution, the Ebbw Vale iron works opened in 1778, followed by a large number of the coal mines in 1790. At its height, the works attracted the attention of German bombers in World War 2, as the works was in the deep valley, it made it hard to make an accurate shot, and the works survived. Like nearly everywhere else, we have suffered the decline of coal and steel making in the UK. In 2003/4/5 the works was demolished, and is currently being prepared for many new features (See the steelworks page for more). We hosted the national Eisteddfod in 1958. Showing how dominant the Welsh language used to be in this area. In 1992 we hosed the final National Garden Festival, The Garden Festival Of Wales. 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. Today, Ebbw Vale looks forward to a bright future, with many promising developments being made in the town.
Schooling
Ebbw Vale is one of the few towns in the area to have two Comprehensives, Ebbw Vale & Glyncoed, with Glyncoed achieving the best GCSE results in Blaenau Gwent. Primaries, well we have plenty of them, too many to mention. We also have a Coleg Gwent, offering many courses and training for young and old. And last, we have the Institute or 'The Stute' as many call it, which recently moved into new premises in the town centre.
Regeneration
Ebbw Vale is currently undergoing a major regeneration; with the steelworks site being redeveloped and also now that the rail link has been reinstated. The new link officially opened on Wednesday 6th February 2008 after more than 45 years of it being closed. Arriva Trains Wales now operates the line, when it was open the first time for passenger service the line was ran by GWR. The first service left 'Ebbw Vale Parkway' at 6:40am on the said morning and arrived in Cardiff five minutes early.