The Carboniferous limestone which outcrops along the northern edge of the South Wales coalfield around the heads of the valleys, was ideally situated to serve the ironworks that became established just to the south.

Local agricultural markets were surpassed once the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal arrived and canalside kilns were soon established. By the early nineteenth century the canal trade was complemented by tramroads to the ironworks and also towards Breconshire and Herefordshire.

There still remain plenty of examples of the kilns erected at this time and anyone exploring the area will soon be rewarded with finding kilns and quarries.

An excellent source of information about the limestone workings around the Head of the Valleys is Early Limestone Railways by John van Laun, published by The Newcomen Society in 2001

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Page last updated 17.11.2020