abandoned for lets say 140 years and the entrance hardly visible from some distance. hard to believe. thanks for sharing your great exploration with us
Great to see such an early tunnel, and even better that you got a positive reaction from CADH, when you spoke to them. So much of our heritage is being lost. We had early tram roads and railways in Scotland too. We even had Scottish Standard Gauge for a wee while, it was 4' 6".
Well done you two. Such a wonderful place and Yes! That history should be saved for future generations to see and enjoy. Great video, as always.keep up the good work.
I wasn't expecting that tunnel to be in reasonable good condition & I wasn't expecting the Welsh authorities to be that interested - Well done, and thanks..
@@pwhitewick except it wasn't in that good a condition. There's a long wide crack across the top where you went in. It's a matter of time until it collapses further because there's little holding those bricks up now. You took quite a risk going in there. I would suspect that the earth around the tunnel is moving and pulling the tunnel apart.
This is something quite significant! I am, of course, talking about Paul entering a tunnel. Bravo! But do keep your safety in mind. Again an interesting and enjoyable video, I especially like those landscapes that bear their scars so beautifully.
Great video, stunning scenery and excellent editing as always. Oh, and loved the rant! What you are doing, in raising awareness of the need to protect our heritage, is exemplary!
Fantastic workmanship inside the tunnel. Both the men who built it, and your good selves! Very interesting as always. History at your fingertips. Thanks.
Fantastic. Thank you so much for showing interest in the Tram/Dram Roads. If not for them we would never have had the Railways. Wonderful video, thanks again.
Paul and Rebecca , thanks for sharing your trips with us. When I am watching it is like having two special friends invite you along for a unique outing.in the beautiful countryside. I really like seeing Britain up close and personal . Best wishes , be safe and fair travels. Charles McMillan
Really enjoyed your enthusiasm and research. As a local, I'd love to help you pronounce the Welsh names e.g. Blorenge, the emphasis is on the Blor so it doesn't sound like a blancmange! Thanks for the thumbs up for the Brecon Beacons national park. Croeso! Welcome!
Thanks Nicole, certainly worth asking the questions and the lovely people at CADW are very keen to see this preserved despite the fact they have no responsibility for it.
Who couldn’t enjoy that. It was just fantastic. I so love the stonework of the tunnels. So pleased something being done there. Thank you so much for taking me along, just loved it
I love industrial archeology, especially if it's railway related. Thank you for this glimpse into history. The first tunnel is in remarkably good condition considering its age and lack of maintenance. With the transportation available at the time it was much more efficient to extract the useful material from the ore before transport rather than after, leaving the unprofitable spoils at the source. It's a shame that there isn't more contemporaneous information such as drawings, photographs, or even just a written description. Great job getting preservationists involved, too, even if it's only to stop further deterioration. Keep up the good work. I'm from the USA and I find all of your expeditions and adventures fascinating.
hey paul and rebecca , another great video , lots of memories braught back to me , used to explore that place when i was a kid , i never found the tunnel lol , great stuff :)
wonderful discovery and getting a follow up regarding the flooded one is just great.There is so much history lying all over the land waiting for you to discover and bring to us.. cheers
Great vid! My dad wrote the guide book for the canal and I remember doing this exact same walk many years ago. I was telling him.about your last video on this just a few days ago. Great stuff ... brings back many memories.
First thing WOW!! That was so very interesting to watch as i live a few miles from where you have been filming. I found myself getting closer to my pc screen when you were going through the tunnel! There's an old pit Called Big Pit, that is open to the public, where you get to go down the shaft to see how the men and boys used to work! The conditions must have been so bad that we cannot comprehend. Imagine being a young boy, sitting in the pitch dark for 10/12 hours, opening and closing safety doors for the miners! Brilliant video guys.
I really enjoy the videos and seeing you guys enthusiasm in your quest. Industrial heritage has always been an interest to me, even though most people just don't get it. At least I'm not the only one.....
Thanks Paul & Rebecca for a great video. This site is a few miles up the road from my home (Tredegar). It’s great you contacted Cadw as this piece of our local history should be preserved before it is lost to future generations.... Thanks once again to you both for a very informative video 👏
Wow! Wasn't expecting such a good look inside, excellent work. I'm not usually the safety-conscious type, but I can't help but think some kind of head protection might be in order, especially given the number of collapses in the last year!
Superb, and what a great outcome. Reminded me of my fave TimeTeam episode digging up a tramway at Blaenavon. Should really give this place a visit...bloody lovely.
Chalk up another well filmed & informative vlog in a beautiful part of this country, from the best railway exploration duo on 'You Tube'. Thanks for replying to my last enquiry, unfortunately, I could only read it as far as the bit, where you were going to say about how Rebecca was doing. They do keep your feet warm tho, & should last you years. Regards.... Rural Geeze
Fare do’s to you both it’s amazing you found these bloody things lol just stay safe as wales riddled with this sort of stuff. It’s great your bringing to the wider attention your exploration success 👍🏻
Another brilliant video, I love how you climbed into the tunnel from above. Well done for getting Cadw to act on taking care of these historic structures!
Finally got round to watch this! It was a lovely video, did like the camera angles used on this and how you did tie it in as well, great example at 06:54 when you was showing the collapse inside the tunnel and seconds later, showing it from the outside! Also I love how you stop the waffling on by advertising a website!
I had zero anxiety watching you crawl down inside that tunnel... 😬 Great vid guys, it was wonderful to see this section of the ironworks- and good on you for getting in touch with Cadw! It would be interesting to see what work gets done on the site.
Sadly they don't own it and technically don't have responsibility for it but they are certainly keen to see it's long term survival. More power to them
Very interesting... I subscribed and I was delighted to know you followed up the video by contacting the authorities. Very few explorers seem to do that but it marked out this vlog from many others. Oh and all the Welsh place names... well done!
You're very fortunate to be able to investigate history that goes back as far as it does. Unfortunately around New Zealand, abandoned tunnels and the likes very largely go back no more than 100 years.
Nice video . The first tunnel showed briefly what looks to be a longitudinal crack running along the crown of the tunnel . If so , it's slowly collapsing . I hope farmer doesn't run any heavy machinery over it . Usually it's water , overburden and time that slowly destroys or renders unsafe most tunnels .
Thanks Vicki, we are fast becoming addicted to South Wales and it's rail history. Need to wien ourselves off before we end up searching for a house here!
Cool video, I recognised where it was straight away as one of my other subscribed channels went there with her mother who remembers the cottages still standing.
Another fascinating episode folks, about an area I know very little about. It's a beautiful location too, looks bloody cold though. Something I've noticed as your channel progresses; you seem to be *doing* more. I don't mean going and doing more things; I mean getting involved and maybe trying to make a difference. Fair play to you. As the channel grows, you are reaching more and more people, many of whom share our interests. Don't be afraid of having a wee rant from time to time, someone has to do it and you have 15,000 bods listening to these rants. Between the internet and the written word, there is a vast amount of information available nowadays and railway history is no exception. What you are doing adds another valuable angle to that information and brings the history back to life. Great job !!👌 Cheers for now, Dougie.
There's 3 tunnels which go from Ebbw Vale to Tredegar. I believe one was uncovered when the rest of the old steelworks was taken down. I was told roughly where the other 2 was but the entrances have long been filled in. These tunnels was built to transport coal etc. Usually pit ponies. Locals would also take dangerous short cuts to get home.
Great stuff folks, and glad Cadw got back to you! I am not a health and safety nut but please have a think about protecting your head with a hard hat or climbing helmet when you're going into areas with loose stone work and low head clearance. Subscribed- I hope to see many more of these.
Thanks Simon much appreciated. Yup we honestly had no clue we would get in here so it was quite a surprise hence our rather unpreparedness! Loads of adventures already filmed and in the bag.... Cheers for the sub
Great work thank you
How cool is that. Finding that tunnel. I've never seen a country with so many train tunnels.
South Wales is just crazy!
Very interesting from New Zealand thank you
Thanks New Zealand. Hope you are doing well.
So very interesting thank you
Well done, Whitewicks!
👍👍👍
abandoned for lets say 140 years and the entrance hardly visible from some distance. hard to believe.
thanks for sharing your great exploration with us
Absolutely, possible up to 160 years ago.
I really like the relationship that you two have. :)
Thanks Ellen. We love what we do.
Fascinating
Great to see such an early tunnel, and even better that you got a positive reaction from CADH, when you spoke to them. So much of our heritage is being lost.
We had early tram roads and railways in Scotland too. We even had Scottish Standard Gauge for a wee while, it was 4' 6".
Yes hopefully we might get to explore a few of those Scottish lines this summer.
Well done you two. Such a wonderful place and Yes! That history should be saved for future generations to see and enjoy. Great video, as always.keep up the good work.
Cheers David. Much appreciated
Another nice and informative blog and and action on its plight
That was great. Some nice tunnels there. loved the rant. I think your getting more daring 😏
Haha.... You taught me well.
Martin Zero: Well, you inspired them!
I wasn't expecting that tunnel to be in reasonable good condition & I wasn't expecting the Welsh authorities to be that interested - Well done, and thanks..
Thanks John. Likewise on both counts.
@@pwhitewick except it wasn't in that good a condition. There's a long wide crack across the top where you went in. It's a matter of time until it collapses further because there's little holding those bricks up now. You took quite a risk going in there. I would suspect that the earth around the tunnel is moving and pulling the tunnel apart.
This is something quite significant! I am, of course, talking about Paul entering a tunnel. Bravo! But do keep your safety in mind. Again an interesting and enjoyable video, I especially like those landscapes that bear their scars so beautifully.
Great video, stunning scenery and excellent editing as always. Oh, and loved the rant! What you are doing, in raising awareness of the need to protect our heritage, is exemplary!
Thank you, that's very kind.
Fantastic workmanship inside the tunnel. Both the men who built it, and your good selves! Very interesting as always. History at your fingertips. Thanks.
Thanks Colin, yup a fascinating place.
Fantastic. Thank you so much for showing interest in the Tram/Dram Roads. If not for them we would never have had the Railways. Wonderful video, thanks again.
Couldn't agree more Douglas.
Paul and Rebecca , thanks for sharing your trips with us. When I am watching it is like having two special friends invite you along for a unique outing.in the beautiful countryside. I really like seeing Britain up close and personal . Best wishes , be safe and fair travels. Charles McMillan
Thanks Charles, a pleasure to have you along.
Really enjoyed your enthusiasm and research. As a local, I'd love to help you pronounce the Welsh names e.g. Blorenge, the emphasis is on the Blor so it doesn't sound like a blancmange! Thanks for the thumbs up for the Brecon Beacons national park. Croeso! Welcome!
Good Enthusiasm, Good Mini Rant, Good Scenery & Good Intervention.
I thought I'd best not rant on film unless I'd at least tried to speak with someone. CADW. Brilliant.
@@pwhitewick Trying to minimise the rant but can finding it difficult. Stay cool and in control is the way to go. ;0)
You literally get inside the history..... brilliant
Griffin O'Neal: Yes, literally!
Very enjoyable. Hopefully, following your efforts this site and the tunnel can be preserved and managed for future generations. Great stuff.
Nice one, even better you got some action going to preserve it and to make it more accessible. Well done Paul and Rebecca
Cheers Terry, yup our concern was that it was a tad unloved, so nice to know there is already something being done.
Kudos to you for rattling a few cages over the state of preservation of these parts of the world's industrial history.
Thanks Nicole, certainly worth asking the questions and the lovely people at CADW are very keen to see this preserved despite the fact they have no responsibility for it.
Another brilliant video.all the best .
Thanks Dave.
Great video & history. Your enthusiasm is Appreciated. 👍👍.
American railroad and industrial archeology nerds should do things this way. Beautiful videography, engaging hosts, nice music.
Thanks David, thats really kind. We try!
I'm glad to hear that Cadw is involved in trying to preserve the site.
Who couldn’t enjoy that. It was just fantastic. I so love the stonework of the tunnels. So pleased something being done there. Thank you so much for taking me along, just loved it
Loved that....being a local loved your mispronounciations!Thanks for the heads up.Don’t think i’d seen it before.
I get the feeling that this area is becoming your Corrour! Cracking video, as ever
That could well be the case.
Great video. You captured the history and beautiful scenery very nicely.
My grandfather was born somewhere near this spot, I think. I'm looking forward to more explorations. Thank you very much.
Thanks Thomas. Plenty more to come!
Yet another great video, Paul and Rebecca. Fascinating tunnels. Something absolutely needs to be done to save them.
Great vlog guys and hopefully a worthwhile for the tunnels future. Many thanks.
I love industrial archeology, especially if it's railway related. Thank you for this glimpse into history. The first tunnel is in remarkably good condition considering its age and lack of maintenance. With the transportation available at the time it was much more efficient to extract the useful material from the ore before transport rather than after, leaving the unprofitable spoils at the source. It's a shame that there isn't more contemporaneous information such as drawings, photographs, or even just a written description. Great job getting preservationists involved, too, even if it's only to stop further deterioration. Keep up the good work. I'm from the USA and I find all of your expeditions and adventures fascinating.
hey paul and rebecca , another great video , lots of memories braught back to me , used to explore that place when i was a kid , i never found the tunnel lol , great stuff :)
wonderful discovery and getting a follow up regarding the flooded one is just great.There is so much history lying all over the land waiting for you to discover and bring to us.. cheers
Thanks Keith. Yup absolutely tonnes.
Great video very interesting, and I agree history must be looked after for all to enjoy, thanks Paul and Rebecca xx
Great vid! My dad wrote the guide book for the canal and I remember doing this exact same walk many years ago. I was telling him.about your last video on this just a few days ago. Great stuff ... brings back many memories.
Ah that's brilliant. Say hello from us
First thing WOW!! That was so very interesting to watch as i live a few miles from where you have been filming. I found myself getting closer to my pc screen when you were going through the tunnel! There's an old pit Called Big Pit, that is open to the public, where you get to go down the shaft to see how the men and boys used to work! The conditions must have been so bad that we cannot comprehend. Imagine being a young boy, sitting in the pitch dark for 10/12 hours, opening and closing safety doors for the miners! Brilliant video guys.
Thank you. We absolutely loved making this!
Absolutely amazing. Brilliant exploring and chasing up. Make sure Rebecca has thermal long johns xxx
Fantastic tunnel find. Good to have a rant and to actually get a fairly positive response from a public body
Great Video - I like the scramble into the tunnel.
Fascinating history! Well done...love it.
A must visit added to our list. Thank you.
Both .... As always an awesome vid. Keep them coming for us old "Arm chair" explorers who cant manage the excitement anymore!!!
Always a pleasure Dilwyn
Absolutely awesome to see the tunnel still in great condition. Keep up the great work you two 😁🇦🇺
Thank you 👍👍👍
Great video, well done on the rant.
Only visited Blaenavon iron today. If I had the time today I would have visited the forge tunnel.
I really enjoy the videos and seeing you guys enthusiasm in your quest. Industrial heritage has always been an interest to me, even though most people just don't get it. At least I'm not the only one.....
Thanks Paul & Rebecca for a great video. This site is a few miles up the road from my home (Tredegar). It’s great you contacted Cadw as this piece of our local history should be preserved before it is lost to future generations.... Thanks once again to you both for a very informative video 👏
Nice one and good on you for pointing out the lack of management.
Wow! Wasn't expecting such a good look inside, excellent work.
I'm not usually the safety-conscious type, but I can't help but think some kind of head protection might be in order, especially given the number of collapses in the last year!
You are absolutely right and that's our next investment. In truth we weren't expecting such a good look inside so we're not best prepared
Yes!!!!!epic tunnel and we definitely want to check this out! What an amazing location, no idea how you found these. Absolutely incredible views.
Cheers Guys. Watch too much time spent on old maps!
Superb, and what a great outcome. Reminded me of my fave TimeTeam episode digging up a tramway at Blaenavon. Should really give this place a visit...bloody lovely.
A nice little video, thank you very much.
Love you guys, thanks for another great video!
Chalk up another well filmed & informative vlog in a beautiful part of this country, from the best railway exploration duo on 'You Tube'. Thanks for replying to my last enquiry, unfortunately, I could only read it as far as the bit, where you were going to say about how Rebecca was doing. They do keep your feet warm tho, & should last you years. Regards.... Rural Geeze
Yup. We are still getting used to them but clearly the benefits are significant!
Great video, amazing how intact it still is, hopefully will get preserved now you've brought it to the authorities attention. Well done to you both.
Thanks Paul. Yup they already knew about it, thankfully already working towards a sensible way forward for both.
Nice drone work. Very professional.
Really enjoyed this vlog guys, hopefully with your intervention they will start to look after the tunnels, particularly the collapses.
Absolutely yes. A lot is down to the land owner but it would be nice to think that they are listening to CADW and managing the site.
Those CRE 🔦 are brilliant, enjoyed the video
Just up the road from me.Fascinating.
Me to
Fare do’s to you both it’s amazing you found these bloody things lol just stay safe as wales riddled with this sort of stuff. It’s great your bringing to the wider attention your exploration success 👍🏻
Thanks Richard. Will do 👍
Brilliant video and history so interesting. Your videos are fab x
Keep smiling and all the best for 2020...
Thanks Boris.
Loved the video as always. Sometimes a rant gets things done lol. Must visit there as looks very nice.
Absolutely Martin. It's a stunning sight.
Another brilliant video, I love how you climbed into the tunnel from above. Well done for getting Cadw to act on taking care of these historic structures!
Cheers Henry.
New subscriber here, I am really enjoying your videos, great mix of exploration, research and factual history. Thank You for your work.
Welcome to the channel Anthony. 👍👍
Great video!
Your video was very interesting. Thank you
Thanks John.
Excellent work, Paul! Tap yourself on the shoulder.
Thanks Rafael
Finally got round to watch this! It was a lovely video, did like the camera angles used on this and how you did tie it in as well, great example at 06:54 when you was showing the collapse inside the tunnel and seconds later, showing it from the outside! Also I love how you stop the waffling on by advertising a website!
Another awesome video. Hope that portal is looked after.
Thank you, yup we hope so too.
That's pretty cool! Thanks for sharing
Happy new year Paul and Rebecca
I had zero anxiety watching you crawl down inside that tunnel... 😬 Great vid guys, it was wonderful to see this section of the ironworks- and good on you for getting in touch with Cadw! It would be interesting to see what work gets done on the site.
Fantastic history in that valley (and of course all the other valleys...)
Great to hear that CADW actually own the site and have plans for it. GWR
Sadly they don't own it and technically don't have responsibility for it but they are certainly keen to see it's long term survival. More power to them
Oh! I thought they did. But still fantastic to see them looking for sites to purchase and archive some true architecture. GWR
good video both, really enjoyed it nice one...
Very interesting... I subscribed and I was delighted to know you followed up the video by contacting the authorities. Very few explorers seem to do that but it marked out this vlog from many others. Oh and all the Welsh place names... well done!
Ah thank you Lulu and welcome to the channel.
7:52 all I can say is 'wow'! And it has been in remarkable condition for such a length of time.
Yup likely over 200 years old and in reasonable condition
You're very fortunate to be able to investigate history that goes back as far as it does. Unfortunately around New Zealand, abandoned tunnels and the likes very largely go back no more than 100 years.
amazing videos
Thank you guys! :) Luv the vids!
yo - whitewick . i sure enjoyed your video . thanks (from texas) .
Nice video . The first tunnel showed briefly what looks to be a longitudinal crack running along the crown of the tunnel . If so , it's slowly collapsing . I hope farmer doesn't run any heavy machinery over it . Usually it's water , overburden and time that slowly destroys or renders unsafe most tunnels .
Great video! Genuinely felt excited when you were revealing the tunnels. 🙌🙌
Thanks Vicki, we are fast becoming addicted to South Wales and it's rail history. Need to wien ourselves off before we end up searching for a house here!
Congratulations. History touchers 👍🏼😊
Another great video! 😀
Cool video, I recognised where it was straight away as one of my other subscribed channels went there with her mother who remembers the cottages still standing.
Another fascinating episode folks, about an area I know very little about. It's a beautiful location too, looks bloody cold though.
Something I've noticed as your channel progresses; you seem to be *doing* more. I don't mean going and doing more things; I mean getting involved and maybe trying to make a difference. Fair play to you. As the channel grows, you are reaching more and more people, many of whom share our interests. Don't be afraid of having a wee rant from time to time, someone has to do it and you have 15,000 bods listening to these rants.
Between the internet and the written word, there is a vast amount of information available nowadays and railway history is no exception. What you are doing adds another valuable angle to that information and brings the history back to life. Great job !!👌
Cheers for now,
Dougie.
Cheers Dougie. That's very kind. Means a lot that we can perhaps make even the smallest difference
A UWHS? Really needs looking after. Superb film. How exciting to find access.
There's 3 tunnels which go from Ebbw Vale to Tredegar. I believe one was uncovered when the rest of the old steelworks was taken down. I was told roughly where the other 2 was but the entrances have long been filled in. These tunnels was built to transport coal etc. Usually pit ponies. Locals would also take dangerous short cuts to get home.
well done
Well done 👍
Thanks Gordon.
10/10 a cracking explore
Incredible to see a tunnel on top of a hill. I presume it was just to keep the wagons running when the snow came!
Certainly could be the weather, but I suspect also protecting of the line from the works too?
awesome, This defo one of your best vids to date!
Thank you, very kind.
wow must say i am very impressed great video
Great stuff folks, and glad Cadw got back to you! I am not a health and safety nut but please have a think about protecting your head with a hard hat or climbing helmet when you're going into areas with loose stone work and low head clearance. Subscribed- I hope to see many more of these.
Thanks Simon much appreciated. Yup we honestly had no clue we would get in here so it was quite a surprise hence our rather unpreparedness! Loads of adventures already filmed and in the bag.... Cheers for the sub
Another great video