Abercarn
| Abercarn | |
|---|---|
  Abercarn Location within Caerphilly | |
| Population | 5,446 (2021 census) |
| OS grid reference | ST216947 |
| Community |
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| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWPORT |
| Postcode district | NP11 |
| Dialling code | 01495 |
| Police | Gwent |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
Abercarn (archaic: Abercarne, Aber-carn) is a town and community in Caerphilly County borough, South East Wales which until 1972 existed in the historic county of Monmouthshire. It is ten miles (16km) northwest of Newport on the A467 between Duffryn in Newport and Brynmawr. The town lies in the middle portion of the valley of the Ebbw River, which runs on the western side of it. And it is situated in the south-eastern flank of the once great coal mining region of the South Wales Valleys.
History
Sixteenth century
The 1535 Valor Ecclesiasticus indentified Habercarne has having £23 2s 3d, an income associated with the estate of Llantarnam Abbey. According to the 1535/36 ministers accounts, Abercarne had six mills and a hundred and nineteen tenements. Out of the six mills, four were corn mills, one was a fulling mill and the other one was unspecified. One of the corn mills was located in the Gwyddon and another at Maestir (Plain Land). Jenkin ap Morgan who recorded the accounts was the bailiff for Mynyddislwyn. Henry VIII retained the estate:
'until 1539, when he leased it to John Parker, one of the squires of his stables, for an annual rent of 21/-. The accounts of his bailiff show that from the lands within the Lordship of Abercarn he derived a rental of £18/11/10/½.'
By the 1570s, there were also a small charcoal furnace in the Gwyddon Valley above Abercarn, which was associated with the Earl of Pembroke.
Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
Newman (2000) observed: 'Ironworking began here early, before the end of the c16; coalmining started c.1836. Welsh historian John Lloyd (1906) documented that in 1783 Joshua Glover and Samuel Glover (his son) of Birmingham, Warwick were operating 'on, or immediately adjacent to, the Ebbw main stream at Abercarne ... an important business'. The 'important business' was iron production. Newman (2000) observed that 'at Abercarn ... a tall, charcoal-fuelled blast furnace with charging-house survives. It is datable to the mid c18, and is thus the earliest well-preserved furnace in South Wales.' Newman documented, under the heading Blast Furnace: '½m. E, on the N slope of the Nant Gwyddon. The remains of a mid-c18 ironworking furnace, the earliest to survive fairly intact in the South Wales Coalfield.' Newman continued:
'Visible features are: one of the cast-iron beams supporting the top of the casting-arch; a low wall round the top of the furnace, from which an infilled arch spans to what remains of the charging-house, with a truncated masonry bridge-house. To the S is a feature which may be the top of either a broad charging-bank arch or a vaulted water-powered bellows chamber. Upstream 100 yards (100 metres) to the E is a fairly large pool impounded by a low masonry dam with stepped discharge weir. The original dam presumably powered a water wheel at the furnace, driving large bellows to provide the necessary draught.'
In 1783 Glover and his son also signed a contract with Anthony Bacon, Senior, of Cyfarthfa Ironworks to supply Abercarne Iron Works with 800 tons of pig iron a year. By 1808 only one of the Glovers survived, who Lloyd (1906) described as 'presumably the last surviving mamber of the firm'. Also, ironmaster Richard Crawshay, who had taken over the Cyfarthfa Ironworks after the death of Bacon in 1786, bought the freehold of the Abercarn estate from him. When the sale was completed, Crawshay immediately gave it to his son-in-law, Benjamin Hall, where he and his wife, Charlotte, Crawshay's second daughter, and their five-year-old son Benjamin came to live. The estate included two properties which were close to the river, a manor-house beside it (which, according to Fraser 1962 became a doctor's house) and a small Georgian house on the wooded hill above it (which, also according to Fraser 1962, gave 'its name to the Council Housing Estate by which it is surrounded.').
The early life of Benjamin Hall, Jr
Fraser (1962) documented about Hall's son in the estate: 'Here young Benjamin developed the brilliant markmanship, for which he was afterwards noted. Here, too, he became an accomplished horseman and whip, and learned to be a skilful angler, for there was salmon and trout fishing in the Ebbw, the Afon Gwyddon, the Afon Carn, and other tributory streams.
Hall attended a preparatory school (location unknown) and, at the age of 11, in Westminster School, London, in which life was 'unbelievably rough'. The pupils slept and worked in a long room which were heated by three open fires, which is where the distinction between juniors and seniors came into play - the seniors sat closed to the fires, while excluding the juniors. Also 'a junior's life was one of domestic drudgery and even servitude.' After six years Hall left Westminster School and in 1820 entered Christ Church, Oxford, his father having died two years previously. However, his stay in Oxford was short: he left the following year. It is not known when Hall met Augusta Waddington of Llanover House. But the Hall and the Waddington families 'were on intimate terms at least as early as 1815.' Also, 'Benjamin looked upon Mrs. Waddington as a "second mother", in whom he could confide, and who could give him wise advice, and he was constantly at Llanover with his "kind and intimate friends".' However, the young couple needed to wait until Hall came of age before they could marry, which they did on 4 December 1822. Initially the couple lived in rented accommodation in the area of Newport. But upon the death of his father-in-law in 1828, they moved to Llanover.
Coal mining
Abercarn colliery disaster.
Newman (2000) observed that coalmining started at Abercarn: 'c.1836.' Further, 'Industry flourished from 1845, when Ebenezer Rogers opened the Abercarn and Gwyddon Collieries' and in 1862, when 'Abercarn's major colliery, the Prince of Wales was sunk in the valley bottom.'
On 11 September 1878, an underground explosion in Abercarn Colliery killed 268 coal miners.
Religion
St Luke's Church, which was built by John Coates Carter, a striking stone and concrete church, is now redundant. It is a Grade II* listed building, described as "one of the most strikingly original churches built in Britain between the World Wars." Newman (2000) described it as 'By far the most theatrical of Coates Carter's churches ... 1923-6, its tower soaring high on a hill above the valley-bottom settlement.'
Local government
The area was part of the ancient Monmouthshire parish of Mynyddislwyn until the late 19th century. In 1892, a local board of health and local government district of Abercarn was formed. This became Abercarn urban district in 1894, governed by an urban district council of twelve members. Under the Local Government Act 1972 the urban district was abolished in 1974, becoming part of the borough of Islwyn, Gwent. Further local government organisation in 1996 placed the area in the county borough of Caerphilly. The former urban district corresponds to the three communities of Abercarn, Crumlin and Newbridge.
Sport
Abercarn is home to Abercarn Rugby Club which is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union, and to Abercarn United Football Club which plays in the Welsh Football League. It is also home to Abercarn Netball Club, which was founded in 2019 and is part of Wales Netball.
Transport
Bus
The town is served by Stagecoach South Wales services including: the X15 (from Newport to Brynmawr) and the 151 gold (from Newport to Blackwood Interchange).
Rail
Abercarn railway station.
The Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company opened Abercarn railway station on 21 December 1850. Oliver and Airey (1873) documented that Abercarne had a railway station, the Railway being Monmouthshire and the Position being Newport and Crumlin. The station was closed in April 1962.
The town is currently served by Newbridge railway station and Crosskeys railway station, with the latter slightly the closer of the two. Both are approximately a four-minute drive or thirty minute walk from the town.
Military
Following the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908, the Abercarn Territorial Cadet Company was formed within the wider Army Cadet Force. Following its formation the company was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment. In 1912, the company was affiliated with the new formed 1st Cadet Battalion, The Monmouthshire Regiment.
Notable people
The surgeon Sir Clement Price Thomas (1893–1973) was born in Abercarn. He was famous for his 1951 operation on King George VI.
Australian-based drag performer, compere of Les Girls, actor and comedian Stan Munro (born 1941) was brought up and educated in Abercarn. He migrated to Australia in 1963.
Education
Abercarn has two schools, Abercarn Primary School and Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Gwyddon (Welsh Medium Education School).
Footnotes
- ↑ "Abercarn Ward (as of 2022)". Retrieved 23 September 2026..
- ↑ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Abercarn". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 43.
- ↑ Jamesville, Abercarn:: OS grid ST2193 :: Geograph British Isles - photograph every grid square!
- ↑ In the same year Hall's mother married Samuel Hawkins of "Court Herbert, Co. Glam" (near Neath)'. (Fraser 1962).
- ↑ Ebenezer Rogers was one of the founders of the South Wales Institute of Engineers (Roderick 1988).
- ↑ Post Office: Abercarn Royal Mail Sorting Office:: OS grid ST2194 :: Geograph British Isles - photograph every grid square!.
- ↑ "Abercarn Colliery". Welsh Coal Mines. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2010..
- ↑ Cadw. "Church of St Luke (Grade II*) (1903)". National Historic Assets of Wales..
- ↑ Formed as Newbridge local board and local government district on 17 March 1892, renamed Abercarn on 4 July that year. County Census Report 1670, Monmouthshire.
- ↑ "Caerphilly - Bus timetables". www.caerphilly.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020..
- ↑ "'Drag in a bag:' Veteran performer Stan Munro is in Newport for a final goodbye". South Wales Argus. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2026..
- ↑ See also List of schools in Caerphilly County Borough.
Notes
- ↑ Clark 1962, p. 147.
- 1 2 3 Newman 2000, p. 88.
- 1 2 Lloyd 1906, p. 157.
- ↑ Newman 2000, p. 48.
- 1 2 Newman 2000, p. 89.
- 1 2 3 Lloyd 1906, p. 160.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fraser 1962.
- ↑ Gurden-Williams 2008, p. 26.
- ↑ Lawrence 2010.
- ↑ Davies et al. 2008, p. 126.
- ↑ Newman 2000, p. 60.
- ↑ Butt 1995, p. 11.
- ↑ Quick 2009, p. 52.
- ↑ Oliver & Airey 1873, p. 1.
- 1 2 Wilson 2012, p. 179.
- ↑ Westlake 2011.
- ↑ Cleland 1974.
References
- Butt, R. V. J. (October 1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199. OL 11956311M.
- Clark, Arthur (1962). The story of Monmouthshire (Volume One ed.). Llandybie, Carms.: Christopher Davies (Publishers) Ltd.
- Cleland, WP (1974). "Sir Clement Price Thomas KCVO". Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 54 (2): 96–98. PMC 2388364. PMID 4594305.
- Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel; Menna, Baines; Lynch, Peredur I., eds. (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6.
- Fraser, Maxwell (1962). "Benjamin Hall's youth: 1802-1823". The National Library of Wales Journal. XII (3): 250-264. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
- Gurden-Williams, Celyn (2008). Lady Llanover and the Creation of a Welsh Cultural Utopia (PDF) (PhD thesis). Cardiff: Cardiff University. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- Lawrence, Ray (2010). Unknown human remains The Abercarn Colliery explosion of 1878. Blackwood: Ray Lawrence.
- Lloyd, John (1906). The early history of the old South Wales iron works 1760 to 1840. London: The Bedford Press.
- Newman, John (2000). The buildings of Wales Gwent/Monmouthshire. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 0 14 071053 1.
- Oliver, Henry; Airey, John (1873). Handbook and Appendix of all the stations, junctions, sidings, collieries, & c., of the railways in the United Kingdom. London: Oliver and Airey.
- Quick, Michael (2009) [2001]. Railway passenger stations in Great Britain: a chronology (4th ed.). Oxford: Railway & Canal Historical Society. ISBN 978-0-901461-57-5. OCLC 612226077.
- Roderick, G.W. (1988). "The Institute of South Wales Engineers and the South Wales Economy in the late-Nineteenth Century". Welsh History Review. 14: 595-609.
- Westlake, Ray (2011). The Territorials: 1908-1914: a guide for military and family historians. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Books Limited. ISBN 9781848843608. OCLC 780443267.
- Wilson, Harry, ed. (2012). The Rough Guide to Camping in England (Fully updated. Second ed.). London: Rough Guides. ISBN 9781405391627.
Further reading
- Elliott, John (2004). The industrial development of the Ebbw valleys. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-1890-8.
- Hodge, John (2016). Railways and industries in the South Wales valleys. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Transport. ISBN 978 1 47383 8 079.
- James, W.E. (1894). Medical Officer's Annual Report. Abercarn: Abercarn Urban District Council.
- Pugh, Rex H. (1934). Glimpses of West Gwent. Newport: R .H. Johns.
- Strahan, Aubrey (1899). The geology of the South-Wales Coal-field (Part 1. The country around Newport, Monmouthshire ed.). London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
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