Abersychan

Abersychan
Landscape of Abersychan showing housing and chapel with mountain in the background
Abersychan, viewed from Pen-twyn
Abersychan is in the north of the district of Torfaen, in south east Wales
Abersychan
 Abersychan shown within Torfaen
Area  24.78 km2 (9.57 sq mi) [1]
Population 7,064 (2011)[2]
   – density  285/km2 (740/sq mi)
GSS codeW04000759
OS grid referenceSO 269 038
CommunityAbersychan
Principal areaTorfaen
Ceremonial countyGwent
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town PONTYPOOL
Postcode district NP4
Dialling code 01495
Police Gwent
Fire South Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK ParliamentTorfaen
Welsh AssemblyTorfaen
List of places
UK
Wales
Torfaen

Coordinates: 51°43′26″N 3°03′31″W / 51.7239°N 3.0587°W / 51.7239; -3.0587

Abersychan is a settlement and community north of Pontypool in Torfaen, Wales, and lies within the boundaries of the historic county of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent.

Abersychan lies in the narrow northern section of the Afon Lwyd valley.

The town includes two schools; Abersychan Comprehensive School and Victoria Primary School; together with various shops and other amenities including Abersychan Rugby Club.

Abersychan was the birthplace of the politicians Roy Jenkins, Don Touhig and Paul Murphy (MP for Torfaen); and of the rugby footballers Wilfred Hodder, Candy Evans and Bryn Meredith.

History

The ironwork's derelict main office building, designed by architect Decimus Burton
Abersychan Limestone Railway
Disused pumping engine house at British Colliery

Like many of the 17th century isolated agricultural hamlets in the forested South Wales Valleys, Abersychan became a thriving industrial centre in the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly for iron production.[3]

After the discovery of iron stone locally, the principal ironworks were built by the British Iron Company in 1825, served mainly by the LNWR's Brynmawr and Blaenavon Railway. The ironwork's main office building and quadrangle were designed by architect Decimus Burton, best known for his design of London Zoo.[4] The works passed to the New British Iron Company in 1843 and to the Ebbw Vale Company in 1852, before closing in 1889. On 6 February 1890, an underground explosion at Llanerch Colliery killed 176.[5]

The site of the former ironworks today is a core site of 71 hectares (180 acres), and a total land area of 526 hectares (1,300 acres), includes a number of listed buildings:

Various proposals have been made over the years to redevelop the site, currently under the ownership of HSBC, but none have so far passed the requirements of Torfaen county council.[4]

Local government

Abersychan constitutes a community and electoral ward of the county borough of Torfaen. The area was part of the ancient parish of Trevethin, in Monmouthshire. On 3 June 1864 Abersychan was constituted a local government district, governed by a local board.[6] In 1894 Abersychan became an urban district and civil parish. The urban district was abolished in 1935, with most of its area passing to Pontypool urban district, and a small area going to Abercarn UD.

In 1974 the area became part of the borough of Torfaen, in the new local government county of Gwent. The community of Abersychan was formed in 1985, but no community council has yet been formed. Abersychan and Cwmavon is now a ward for the Pontypool Community Council.[7] In 1996 Torfaen became a unitary authority.

The Abersychan community includes Abersychan, Cwmavon, Garndiffaith, Pentwyn, Talywain, Varteg, and Victoria Village.

Local Transport

The nearest railway stations to Abersychan are Pontypool & New Inn (3 miles), Llanhilleth (3.5 miles) and Abergavenny (7 miles). Abersychan was served by the following (disused) stations:

Places nearby

Pentwyn

Pentwyn, Torfaen is a small village located in the district of Abersychan. It contains a post office, a chapel, several houses and a small play park. The village has a cricket team (Pentwyn CC) and is located right next to the old railway line. The cricket club celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2006 with a successful tour to Cork, Ireland. The village has superb views over the River Severn and Newport to the south.

Victoria Village

Victoria Village is a small hamlet located in the district of Abersychan. It comprises a small village school and a number of houses. A small group of houses on Incline Road mark the beginning of the village and the village boundary is near Cwmavon. Victoria Primary School is also in this area, housed in large grounds. Many homes are built around the school's boundaries.

References

  1. ↑ "2011 Census:Quick Statistics:Population Density for Abersychan". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 29 Nov 2013.
  2. ↑ "2011 Census:Key Statistics:Key Figures for Abersychan". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 25 Nov 2013.
  3. ↑  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Abersychan". Encyclopædia Britannica. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 61.
  4. 1 2 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-37235240
  5. ↑ "Llanerch Colliery, Abersychan". Welsh Coal Mines. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  6. ↑ Kelly's Directory of Monmouthshire, 1901
  7. ↑ The Torfaen (Communities) Order 1985 (1985 No. 129)
Communities near Abersychan
Blaenavon Blaenavon Llanover (Monmouthshire)
Abertillery (Caerphilly) Goetre Fawr (Monmouthshire)
   Abersychan  
Llanhilleth (Caerphilly) Pen Tranch Trevethin
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