During the great railway building
time in the earlier part of Victoria's reign, businessmen invested millions
of pounds building new railways. In order for them to make money they
built lines between large towns or cities
which would have lots of travellers. They also built lines between places
of industry like flannel mills or iron works.
When the great railway builders came to look at railways westward into
South Breconshire they chose to send the lines up the Clydach valley to
connect to the ironworks at Brynmawr, Nant-y-glo and Ebbw Vale. Crickhowell
missed out and the nearest station was Gilwern
station on the hill above the village. (See the 1889 map below)
