Forge Row, Cwmavon

Forge Row is a terrace of six, originally twelve, cottages build around 1804 for workers at a nearby forge in Cwmavon, Torfaen, south east Wales. The cottages have been sympathetically restored. The terrace is regarded as a fine example of early housing for industrial workers in South Wales, and all the cottages are Grade II* listed buildings. The cottages lie to the east of the Afon Llwyd river.

Forge Row
Side view from the south
Location in Torfaen
General information
Coordinates51.752942°N 3.058364°W / 51.752942; -3.058364
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name1–6 Forge Row
Designated9 May 1973
Reference no.3133, 18586-90

Building

Around 1804 a forge was built at Cwmavon as part of Varteg Ironworks (although the ironmasters of Blaenavon Ironworks also seem to have been involved as the forge was near to the recently completed Blaenavon Railroad).[1][2]

The row was built for the workers at the forge around 1804-6 as twelve tiny cottages, each only the width of a door and window, with an alternating left and right pattern with shared chimney stacks, so they appear as six cottages.[3]

The cottages each had four rooms on two storeys with the front door opening directly into the kitchen/dining room. Unusually for the time there was also a back door. A winding staircase led to the front bedroom which accessed the back bedroom.[4]

The small size of the cottages contrasts with Cwmavon House, which was built a few years later in 1830 for the manager of the forge.[5] Cwmavon house is a two-storey house with four bays and is about 40 metres (44 yd) north of Forge Row and is a Grade II listed building.[3][6]

Occupation

The forge closed in 1840 and many of the workers moved away. In 1852 only six of the cottages were occupied, with an average occupation of 4.3 residents.[4]

The row was later bought by the Varteg Hills colliery, on the west of the valley, for its workers and remained fully occupied for many years.[4] A resident of Cwmavon remembers that in the late 1920s No. 5 Forge Row was owned by Mr Llewellyn, the Sunday school superintendent, who ran the cottage as a small shop selling "household goods such as soap, scrubbing brushes and blacklead along with sweets, cigarettes and paraffin". They also remember that Mr. Humphries, the colliery manager, lived at Cwmavon House.[7]

Decline

In 1975 the last resident was rehoused by the local authority and by 1980 the then owners, the National Coal Board, wanted to demolish the row, but the Torfaen Museum Trust bought the buildings to ensure their survival.[8]

Protection and restoration

The 6 cottages were designated as listed buildings in 1973.[9][10][11][12][13][14]

In 1989 restoration of the row was undertaken by the British Historic Buildings Trust and the National Trust with support from Cadw and the Prince of Wales Committee.[15] The original fireplaces and staircases were retained, and extra staircases and downstairs closets were added. The twelve original cottages were combined to create six cottages. The stone walls were whitened and the doors and window frames painted in earth colours.[15][3] The £200,000 restoration, carried out by Ferguson Mann in 1987-8, retained the original charm of the dwellings while also adding modern facilities. The cost of the restoration was covered by the sale of the cottages. The new owners had to sign covenants to protect the cottages from being spoilt or altered.[15][3]

Forge Row is further protected as it lies within the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape (a World Heritage Site), the Blaenavon Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest, and the Cwmavon Conservation Area.[16][17][18]

Forge Row is mentioned a number of tourist walks and trails around the area.[19][20][21]

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References
  1. Wakelin, Peter (2011) [2006]. Blaenavon Ironworks and World Heritage Landscape. Design by Ceri Staziker, Photography by Paul Highman (2nd ed.). Cardiff: Cadw. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-85760-293-7. OCLC 858824245.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. "Varteg Ironworks". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  3. Newman, John; Lynch, Frances; Manning, William; Hughes, Stephen (2000). "Abersychan: Cwmavon". Gwent/Monmouthshire. Pevsner Architectural Guides (The Buildings of Wales). London: Penguin Books. p. 111. ISBN 0-14-071053-1. OCLC 45327986.
  4. Barber, Chris (1999). Eastern Valley – The Story of Torfaen (1st ed.). Abergavenny: Blorenge Books. p. 279. ISBN 1-872730-23-X. OCLC 43459623.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  5. Wakelin 2011, p. 68.
  6. "Cwmavon House, Abersychan". Statutory List of Buildings. Cadw. 28 July 1997 [Listed 1997]. Cadw Building ID: 18584. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via Historic Wales.
  7. Gwent Federation of Women's Institutes (1994). The Gwent Village Book. Countryside Books. ISBN 978-1853063121. Retrieved 16 April 2016 – via Welcome to Abergavenny.
  8. Barber 1999, pp. 279 and 280.
  9. "1 Forge Row, Abersychan". Statutory List of Buildings. Cadw. 28 July 1997 [Listed 1973]. Cadw Building ID 3133. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via Historic Wales.
  10. "2 Forge Row, Abersychan". Statutory List of Buildings. Cadw. 28 July 1997 [Listed 1973]. Cadw Building ID 18586. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via Historic Wales.
  11. "3 Forge Row, Abersychan". Statutory List of Buildings. Cadw. 5 September 1973 [Listed 1973]. Cadw Building ID 18587. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via Historic Wales.
  12. "4 Forge Row, Abersychan". Statutory List of Buildings. Cadw. 28 July 1997 [Listed 1973]. Cadw Building ID 18588. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via Historic Wales.
  13. "5 Forge Row, Abersychan". Statutory List of Buildings. Cadw. 28 July 1997 [Listed 1973]. Cadw Building ID 18589. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via Historic Wales.
  14. "6 Forge Row, Abersychan". Statutory List of Buildings. Cadw. 28 July 1997 [Listed 1973]. Cadw Building ID 18590. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via Historic Wales.
  15. Barber 1999, p. 280.
  16. "No. 49925". The London Gazette. 12 November 1984. p. 15277.
  17. Cwmavon Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (PDF) (Report). Torfaen County Borough Council. April 2011. p. 35. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  18. Nomination of the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape for inclusion in the World Heritage List (PDF). Torfaen County Borough Council. 1999. p. 48. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  19. "Cwmavon Heritage Trail" (PDF). Torfaen Walks. Torfaen County Borough Council. 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  20. "Torfaen Leisure Route". Torfaen Walks. Torfaen County Borough Council. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  21. "Chartism" (PDF). Torfaen trails and tales. Torfaen County Borough Council. February 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
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