Less than fifty miles long, the Taff-Valley in South Wales is one of the most famous valleys in the world, not so much for its salmon-rich waters, as for the vital minerals erosion has exposed along it over millions of years, and their exploitation by the great industrialists for the betterment of civilization. The prized steam-coal, and the high-quality iron and steel produced by the coal-fired blast-furnaces, fuelled the Industrial-Revolution in which Britain led the world. But it is the people of this great valley I believe to be most deserving of celebration, and in these tales I have endeavoured so to do.