Blaenau Gwent Jewish Communities
(Valleys of South Wales, Eastern Section)

County Borough of Blaenau Gwent

The former urban districts of Abertillery, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar, in north-eastern part of the valleys of south Wales, were located in the old county of Monmouthshire, which, despite its culturally and historically affinity to Wales, was formally considered part of England. In 1974, as a result of reorganization of local government in Wales, Monmouthshire (together with a few localities from adjoining Welsh counties) was transformed into the county of Gwent and became officially an integral part of Wales.

These former urban districts, together with the urban district of Brynmawr which had been in the county of Brecknockshire (also known as Breconshire), became part of the district of Blaenau Gwent, one of the seven local government districts of Gwent. In 1996, the administrative status of the county of Gwent was abolished and most of the district of Blaenau Gwent became the county borough of Blaenau Gwent, a unitary authority.

The Valleys were traditional mining areas and most of the towns of the region were built up in the second half on the nineteenth century when "coal was king". With the decline of the coal industry and the accompanying steel industry, commencing in the 1930's, many of the towns become economically depressed.

The Jewish Communities

From the 1870's, new Jewish communities sprung up across the Valleys, those in the eastern sector being situated in towns which are now located in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent. There are now very few Jews left in the region.

Jewish Congregations

The following are the Jewish congregations that existed in what is now Blaenau Gwent:

On-line Articles relating to the Welsh Valleys

on JCR-UK

How 'Greeners' Came to the Valley' - an article by Michael Wallach, which appeared in the Jewish Chronicle Colour Magazine in 1975 and makes reference to many of the Communities in the Welsh Valley.

For Other Information on the Jewish Communities -
see under individual congregation pages

Jewish Congregations in the former county of Brecknockshire

Jewish Congregations in the former county of Monmouthshire

Jewish Congregations in Wales, listed according to current unitary authorities

Jewish Communities and Congregations in Wales home page

Blaenau Gwent Jewish Communities (Valleys of South Wales, Eastern Section)

Blaenau Gwent Jewish Communities
(Valleys of South Wales, Eastern Section)