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GWENT LOCAL HISTORY COUNCIL President: RICHARD HANBURY TENISON Chairman: Miss M. L. GIBBENS, A.L.A. Secretary: ARTHUR DAVIES 8 Pentonville, Newport, Gwent Editor: MRS. E. JANE PEARSON 1 Ashfield Cottages, Chepstow, NP6 5DU GWENT LOCAL HISTORY Formerly "Presenting Monmouthshire" No. 48 Spring 1980 EDITORIAL The photograph of King Street reproduced on the cover is to remind members of the Gwent Local History Council of the informative and enjoyable day that was spent in Blaenavon on the occasion of the One Day School in September. Forty-five members attended. Talks in the morning given by Jeremy Knight and Adrian Babbidge on The Iron Works and The Social History of Blaenavon provided an excellent intro- duction to the guided walk around the area in the afternoon. At the Iron Works the gates were unlocked and we were privileged to see the restora- tion work being carried out on the furnaces at close quarters. This interesting day was organised by the Torfaen Museums Trust, and refreshments were kindly provided by the Blaenavon Local History Society. Over 50 members attended the A.G.M. which took place in October. Professor Gwyn Williams gave an exciting lecture on "Gwent and the Gwladfa" including all the important early Welsh emigrants to America. Men of Gwent especially have obviously had a greater influence abroad than is often thought! Following the lecture, members took up the kind invitation of Mr. Humphries, the owner of Usk Castle, to visit this fascinating place. Part of the Norman Great Tower still stands and restoration work is being carried out when resources allow. This year the competition held in conjunction with the South Wales Argus is aimed slightly differently. The awards will be for the most important contribution made to the study of local history in Gwent, to encourage entry especially by local historians whose work has not fitted into any of the stricter categories of previous competitions. The results should be very interesting as usual.