ONE of Gwent's most famous landmarks is set to reopen after extensive restoration work that cost £5.5 million and has taken over 18 months.

The grade two-listed Bedwellty House and Park in Tredegar will host a welcome back celebration on the first weekend of June, where locals can look around the restored building and gardens.

A Memories of Bedwellty exhibition will feature people's stories and photographs of the much-loved park- including swimming in the outdoor pool and walking under the devil's arch.

There will also be music, a time capsule planting and demonstrations from local groups.

Work to restore the house, built in 1818, began in October 2009. It is the former home of the ironworks' master, while Tredegar Town Council also sat there, with Aneurin Bevan using the council chamber as his first political platform.

It was returned to its former glory by Blaenau Gwent Council, with funding also coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Assembly Government, Heads of the Valleys Programme and CADW. The gates will reopen on Saturday, June 4, with activities from 10.30am to 5pm.

This will kick off a full summer calendar of activities at the house and park. On June 11, you can learn about Victorian medicine, on June 23 about Victorian jewellery, with a stroll back to the 1800s on June 25.

The house will once again be the home of Tredegar Town Council and Blaenau Gwent council’s registration service will move in. The house and grounds will also be licensed for weddings and other ceremonies.

Councillor Jason Owen, Blaenau Gwent Council’s executive member for leisure and culture said: " I’m confident it will become a vibrant heritage centre attracting tourists and visitors to Tredegar and a hub for community activities for people of all ages."

The restoration included restoring and extending the Orchard House as a cafe, building a new atrium entrance and courtyard, refurbishing the stable blocks and creating new offices there.

For full details of the summer programme, visit www.blaenaugwentvenues.com.