Nantyglo Round Towers

The Nantyglo Round Towers, located at Roundhouse Farm near Brynmawr in South Wales, are unique 19th-century fortified structures built by ironmaster Joseph Bailey as a retreat during labor unrest. Constructed after a worker riot in 1816, these towers are among the last privately built defensive fortifications in Britain. One tower remains largely intact, while the other is in ruins due to partial demolition for scrap iron in the 1940s. The towers showcase early uses of structural cast iron and were restored in the 1990s. Although not open to the public, they can be viewed from a distance, making them an intriguing site for tourists and researchers interested in industrial history and architecture.