Aberdulais Falls: A case study in Welsh heritage

Introduction

This case study looks at Aberdulais Falls near Neath, South Wales. This is a place of great natural beauty, but also an important industrial heritage site. The course considers the key issues affecting the decision-making of the bodies which are responsible for looking after our heritage. For example, who decides what should be preserved from the past as our heritage, who is this heritage for, and how should it be presented and explained? In this case study, we examine the heritage debates around what to do with places, buildings, things and the memories attached to them in the context of a specific Welsh heritage site.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• Understand some of the issues surrounding natural heritage
• Understand some of the issues surrounding industrial heritage
• Demonstrate an awareness of why tensions often arise between conservation and the demands of modern tourism.