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The History of the Brecon BeaconsAlthough only officially declared a national park in 1957, the Brecon Beacons’ history extends for thousands of years before. Guests of our Brecon Beacons holiday cottages will find ancient, industrial and social history around every corner, and its displayed with pride for visitors to learn more. |
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What's in a Name?There aren’t many parts of the national park that don’t have a tale to tell, and there’s a story behind its name too. Because of its uninterrupted, open spaces and hilly landscape – the area was once used to display warning beacons of fire in times of threat or invasion. A chain of flaming beacons would be formed on the highest points, which over time, led the mountainous area to become known as the Beacons. The national park became named after the mountain range and a piece of Brecon Beacons history was made official.
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Gunpowder WorksMining has long been an important part of the history of the Brecon Beacons, and many of the sites from this industry can still be seen today. Because of the mines in the area, and partly due to its isolation, it became the site of a Gunpowder Works for many years. The gunpowder was made for use in mines and quarries, and is found in the Vle of Neath. The works closed in 1931 when black powder was banned as an explosive by the Home Office, but the ruins of the works can still be seen.
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National ShowcavesAs well as being a popular attraction, the National Showcaves of Wales have been crucial to the Brecon Beacons history books. The three caves include the Bone Cave, the Cathedral Cave and Dan-yr-Ogof cave. Tens of thousands of fascinating archaeological discoveries have been made in the Bone Cave, including the remains of 42 humans. The oldest bones date back more than 7000 years, and the cave was inhabited by man since the Bronze Age. The Dome of St Pauls is the most famous area of the caves.
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Blaenavon Industrial LandscapeBlaenavon’s role of the history of the Brecon Beacons has earned it status as a World Heritage Site. The town was home to many migrants who arrived in it during the 18 and 19 centuries. Their hard work and determination helped shape the Brecon Beacons’ history and the town of Blaenavon visitors explore today. The area soon became a vital producer of steel, iron and coal. The town’s industrial landscape can still be seen today, and it changed the history of industrial steel production.
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Click the links below for more Brecon Beacons holiday information: Family attractions in the Brecon Beacons
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