Banwen is a small ex-mining community overlooking the Swansea Valley from the East. It has retained its identity and culture and offers lovely hill walking. The old Banwen Ironworks is worth a visit, being one of the best preserved anthracite iron works in Wales. The ironworks (bottom right picture) is on private land so please ask for permission at the nearby farm by the ironworks before entering the fenced area where it is located.ese historians say 

Legend has it that St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland was born in Banwen in 385 AD. His Welsh name was said to be Maewyn Succat and that his father Caiphurnius was a Roman official based at the Roman marching fort at nearby Coelbren. Maewyn was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. After six years in Ireland he escaped to France and entered St Martin's monastery in Tours where, he became a priest. The Pope named him Patricius and sent him on a mission to Ireland in 431AD where he died on March 17, 461 AD.

There is a plaque in Banwen which tells of the link between the Irish saint and the village.