The Centre was recently modernised by Ann and Peter Jones who live and work on the adjacent land breeding pedigree Welsh Black cattle. The farm now extends to around 20 hectares and is surrounded bay an area of urban common significantly increasing the area available for visitors to walk and explore.
Pwll Du itself is an integral part of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site. From the mid-18th century the people who lived in and around Blaenavon played a leading role in the coal and iron industries. All the necessary elements can be seen in situ - coal and iron ore mines, quarries, a primitive railway system, furnaces, the homes of the workers, and the social infrastructure of their community.
Pwll Du was established earlier at the start of the coal and iron workings in the early 18th century. Pwll Du used to comprise of two groups of houses, Baptist Chapel and a school.
Whilst the majority of Pwll Du was demolished in 1963 with some foundations showing their extent, the only other standing buildings are the Lamd and Fox public house, now a private dwelling, and the Miners’ Welfare Hall, now the Pwll Du Adventure Centre, which is testimony to the miner’s self help having being built out of levies from their wages without any external funds.
Hill's Tramroad
Located directly in front of the Centre the tramroad was constructed in the early 19th Century to enable the Blaenafon Ironworks to the originally named Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal at Llanfoist, to Newport from which the products from the ironworks were exported.
Pwll Du Tunnel
The Pwll Du tunnel was constructed as part of the Hills tramroad linking Blaenavon with Gam-Dyrys and Llanfoist. The tunnel was the longest horse drawn tram tunnel at over 2kms in length and its entrance is part of a Scheduled Ancient Monument.Tyla Quarry
The Tyla Quarries, comprising North, West and East working areas and were the principal sources for limestone for the Blaenavon Ironworks for much of the 19th century.Pwll Du Quarry
The quarry was used to provide limestone to the furnaces at Gam-Ddyrys and Blaenavon. Within the quarry itself is another Scheduled Ancient Monument namely the Water Balance Lift. The water to drive the lift came from the Balance Pond cut into the hillside. The remaining lift structure is a square shaft from the quarry floor to the level of Hills tramroad.