Gwent Archives
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Gwent Archives (Welsh: Archifau Gwent) is the local records office and genealogy centre, based in Ebbw Vale, South Wales for the historic county of Monmouthshire. It covers the modern local authority areas of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly County Borough, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen.{{cite web|url=http://www.culture24.org.uk/am482316 |title=Gwent Archives |publisher=Culture24 |accessdate=16 February 2016 }}
Background
Monmouthshire Record Office was established in 1938 at the Shire Hall in Newport. Following local government reorganisation in 1974, it became the Gwent County Record Office and moved to the newly built County Hall in Cwmbran. In October 2011 the record office moved from Cwmbran to a newly developed site in Ebbw Vale and was renamed Gwent Archives.{{cite news|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/gwentnews/9278046.Gwent_records_office_to_open_next_month/ |title=Gwent records office to open next month |work=South Wales Argus | date=29 September 2011 |accessdate=16 February 2016 }}
Location
The Gwent Archives are housed in the Grade II* listed office buildings of Ebbw Vale Steelworks. The red brick building with its tall clock tower was built in 1915/6 for the Ebbw Vale Iron and Steel Company.{{cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-22530-british-steel-tinplate-works-general-offi#.VsOWI0BRSx0 |title=British Steel Tinplate Works General Office, Ebbw Vale South |publisher=British Listed Buildings |accessdate=16 February 2015}} In 2009 plans were approved for architects Stride Treglown to convert the building into a headquarters for Gwent Record Office, with a new extension, exhibition and educational facilities.{{cite news|url=http://www.bdonline.co.uk/stride-treglown%E2%80%99s-gwent-record-office-gets-green-light/3145811.article |title=Stride Treglown’s Gwent Record Office gets green light |work=Building Design | date=28 July 2009 |accessdate=16 February 2016 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.stridetreglown.com/en/sectors/public-and-community/public-buildings/1735-gwent-archive-and-genealogy-centre.html |title=Gwent Archive and Genealogy Centre |publisher=Stride Treglown |accessdate=16 February 2015 |archive-date=6 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506223918/http://www.stridetreglown.com/en/sectors/public-and-community/public-buildings/1735-gwent-archive-and-genealogy-centre.html |url-status=dead }} The building was finished off with a bilingual poem specially written by the National Poet of Wales, Gillian Clarke, which is partially reproduced on the facade of the new extension.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/entries/51dbcaa6-7402-3b15-a161-db0a5c0c1d78 |title=Gillian Clarke pens new poem for opening of Gwent Archives |publisher=BBC Wales blog | date=9 December 2011 |accessdate=16 February 2016 }}
Holdings
Gwent Archives has two main strongrooms with 6 miles (10 km) of shelving,{{cite news |url=http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/new-gwent-archives-centre-launches |title=New Gwent archives centre launches |work=Who Do You Think You Are? (Magazine) |date=15 November 2011 |accessdate=16 February 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} containing records going back as far as the 12th-century.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gwentarchives.gov.uk/our-collection/archives.aspx|title=Gwent Archives collection|website=www.gwentarchives.gov.uk|access-date=2019-04-26|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426120032/http://www.gwentarchives.gov.uk/our-collection/archives.aspx|url-status=dead}} The new wing has a double roof to help keep a stable temperature and environment.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15421267 |title=Ebbw Vale steelworks office reopens after £12m refit |work=BBC News |author=Nicola Smith | date=24 October 2011 |accessdate=16 February 2016 }} The Ebbw Vale Steelworks Archive Trust,{{Cite web|url=http://evwat.co.uk/|title=The Ebbw Vale Works Museum Home|website=evwat.co.uk|access-date=2019-04-26}} a voluntary group which preserves the history of the industry in the area, is also based at the Archives.
References
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External links
- {{official|http://www.gwentarchives.gov.uk/}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120827222210/http://www.gwentarchives.gov.uk/our-collection.aspx Gwent Archives Collection]
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Category:History of Monmouthshire