Ebbw Vale

Ebbw Vale, town in Blaenau Gwent, south-eastern Wales. Until the closure of the steelworks in 1978 the town's industry had been based on iron and steel since the 18th century. Today Ebbw Vale provides an important shopping and service centre for the surrounding communities, and electronic and other firms, from Japan and South Korea especially, have been attracted to the town. The Labour politician Aneurin Bevan was the Member of Parliament for Ebbw Vale from 1929 to 1960 and was succeeded by Michael Foot, later Labour party leader, who was Member of Parliament from 1960 to 1983. Population (1996 estimate) 24,100.