58-688: Coldbrook Park , Llanover , Monmouthshire , Wales, was a major country house and estate. Home successively to the Herberts , the Hanburys and the Halls , the house was demolished in 1954. The estate, which remains privately owned, is listed on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales . The Monmouthshire antiquarian Sir Joseph Bradney suggests that
116-415: A character in the second season, Thomas Watkins , the devious Bellamy family chauffeur , who comes from Abergavenny. In the 1979 spinoff of Upstairs, Downstairs titled Thomas & Sarah , Watkins and Sarah Moffat , another major character, marry and return briefly to Abergavenny. * Much of the 1996 film, Intimate Relations starring Julie Walters , Rupert Graves , Les Dennis and Amanda Holden ,
174-448: A diplomat, poet and wit , undertook a major rebuilding of the mediaeval house in a Palladian style. William Coxe , who stayed at Coldbrook on his tour of Wales in 1799, devotes nine pages of his An Historical Tour of Monmouthshire to recording Hanbury Williams' anecdotes and witticisms. In the late 19th century, the park was bought by Lady Llanover , later coming into the ownership of Arthur Herbert , of Llanarth Court . Following
232-588: A nuclear attack. It was closed in 1968 but reopened in 1973 due to the closure of a bunker near Brynmawr . It closed in 1991 on the stand down of the ROC. It remains mostly intact. The title of Baron Abergavenny was first held by the Beauchamp family. In the late 14th century the reversion of the feudal marcher barony (with the castle, town and surrounding lands appurtenant) was purchased from John Hastings, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, who had no heirs, by William Beauchamp,
290-451: A rock choir, shire horses, motorcycling stunts, vintage cars and steam engines. The Country and Western Music Festival is attended by enthusiasts of country music . It marked its third year in 2016 and was attended by acts including Ben Thompson, LA Country and many more. The event was last held in 2017. The Abergavenny Writing Festival began in April 2016 and is a celebration of writing and
348-691: A scenic recreational boating route. More recently, Llanover is the birthplace of Penelope Fillon , the wife of François Fillon , former Prime Minister of France and candidate in the 2017 French presidential elections . 51°46′N 2°59′W / 51.767°N 2.983°W / 51.767; -2.983 This article relating to a location in Monmouthshire is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Abergavenny Abergavenny ( / ˌ æ b ər ɡ ə ˈ v ɛ n i / ; Welsh : Y Fenni , pronounced [ə ˈvɛnɪ] , archaically Abergafenni , ' mouth of
406-563: Is a village in the community of Goetre Fawr in Monmouthshire , Wales . The name of the village derives from an earlier Welsh form Llanfyfor , made up of llan 'enclosure, church' and the personal name Myfor . Llanover is located four miles south of Abergavenny just off the A4042 road to Pontypool . The community includes the separate hamlets of Llanfair Kilgeddin , Llanvihangel Gobion , Llanddewi Rhydderch and The Bryn (a.k.a. Llangattock Nigh Usk). An electoral ward exists in
464-621: Is close to the town centre and includes the Melville Theatre, which hosts a range of live events. The town held its first Abergavenny Arts Festival in 2018 and also hosts the Abergavenny Food Festival in September each year. William Shakespeare 's play Henry VIII features the character Lord Abergavenny. In 1968 "Abergavenny" was the title of a UK single by Marty Wilde . In 1969, it was also released in
522-565: Is located strategically just south of the town centre overlooking the River Usk . It was built in about 1067 by the Norman baron Hamelin de Ballon to guard against incursions by the Welsh from the hills to the north and west. All that remains is defensive ditches and the ruins of the stone keep, towers, and part of the curtain wall. It is a Grade I listed building . Various markets are held in
580-573: The 2011 census was 1,392. Llanover is an estate village associated with the Hall family. Augusta Lady Llanover lived locally all her life and left her mark on the village and the surrounding Llanover House estate which remains privately owned. Her husband Sir Benjamin Hall became Baron Llanover. Her sisters, diplomatic hostess and author Frances Bunsen and Emily grew up there, educated by their mother Georgina Mary Ann, (née Port) (1771–1850), with Augusta and Frances surviving to become co-heiresses to
638-593: The Beeching cuts in the 1960s and the line to Clydach Gorge is now a cycle track and footpath. The Baker Street drill hall was completed in 1896. Adolf Hitler 's deputy, Rudolf Hess , was kept under escort at Maindiff Court Hospital during the Second World War , after his flight to Britain. In 1964, the Royal Observer Corps opened a small monitoring bunker to be used in the event of
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#1732798812417696-531: The Benedictine priory , now the Priory Church of St Mary , in the late 11th century. The Priory belonged originally to the Benedictine foundation of St. Vincent Abbaye at Le Mans. It was subsequently endowed by William de Braose , with a tithe of the profits of the castle and town. The church contains some unique alabaster effigies , church monuments and unique medieval wood carving, such as
754-535: The Conservative Party , was created 1st Marquess of Abergavenny . Coldbrook Park was a country house in an estate some 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles (2 km) southeast of the town. The house was originally built in the 14th century and belonged to the Herbert family for many generations until purchased by John Hanbury for his son, the diplomat Sir Charles Hanbury Williams . Sir Charles reconstructed
812-599: The Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway . The London North Western Railway sponsored the construction of the railway linking Newport station to Hereford station . The line was taken over by the West Midland Railway in 1860 before becoming part of the Great Western Railway in 1863. A railway line also ran up the valley towards Brynmawr and to Merthyr Tydfil ; this was closed during
870-911: The North Wales Coast Line to Holyhead , via Wrexham General . These services are all operated by Transport for Wales . The town is located where the A40 trunk road and the A465 Heads of the Valleys road meet. The latter used to meet the A40 in the town centre but the A465 now runs to the east of the town centre. A network of services link the town with local villages. In addition Stagecoach South Wales operate service 23 to Hereford and Newport approximately every two hours while Newport Bus operates service 83 to Monmouth . Abergavenny Castle
928-478: The River Gavenny ' ) is a market town and community in Monmouthshire , Wales . Abergavenny is promoted as a "Gateway to Wales"; it is approximately 6 miles (10 km) from the border with England and is located where the A40 trunk road and the recently upgraded A465 Heads of the Valleys road meet. Originally the site of a Roman fort , Gobannium , it became a medieval walled town within
986-512: The Tree of Jesse . Owing to its geographical location, the town was frequently embroiled in the border warfare and power play of the 12th and 13th centuries in the Welsh Marches. In 1175, Abergavenny Castle was the site of a massacre of Seisyll ap Dyfnwal and his associates by William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber . Reference to a market at Abergavenny is found in a charter granted to
1044-838: The Welsh Marches . The town contains the remains of a medieval stone castle built soon after the Norman conquest of Wales . Abergavenny is situated at the confluence of the River Usk and a tributary stream, the Gavenny. It is almost entirely surrounded by mountains and hills: the Blorenge (559 m, 1,834 ft), the Sugar Loaf (596 m, 1,955 ft), Skirrid Fawr (Great Skirrid), Ysgyryd Fach (Little Skirrid), Deri, Rholben and Mynydd Llanwenarth, known locally as " Llanwenarth Breast". Abergavenny provides access to
1102-495: The 18th century, with 19th and 21st century additions. However, the Parks & Gardens UK record suggests evidence of Tudor terracing . It also notes the existence of an external cold bath. The park is listed at Grade II. A small chapel by a lake, constructed by Lady Llanover is also Grade II listed. Llanover Llanover ( / l ə ˈ n oʊ v ə / ; Welsh : Llanofer ; Welsh pronunciation: [ɬaˈnɔvɛr] )
1160-467: The 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales . The town derives its name from a Brythonic word Gobannia meaning "river of the blacksmiths", and relates to the town's pre-Roman importance in iron smelting . The name is related to the modern Welsh word gof ( blacksmith ), and so is also associated with the Welsh smith Gofannon from folklore. The river later became, in Welsh, Gafenni , and the town's name became Abergafenni , meaning "mouth of (Welsh: Aber )
1218-672: The Abergavenny Improvement Acts be repealed, supported plans for a new cattle market to be established about 10 miles (16 km) from Abergavenny in countryside at Bryngwyn, some 3 miles (5 km) from Raglan . There was local opposition to this site. The new Monmouthshire Livestock Centre, a 27-acre site at Bryngwyn, opened in November 2013. Abergavenny has hosted the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1838, 1913 and most recently in 2016. In 2017
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#17327988124171276-576: The Abergavenny Leisure Centre on Old Hereford Road. Abergavenny Cricket Club play at Pen-y-Pound , Avenue Road and Glamorgan CCC also play some of their games here. Abergavenny Cricket Club was founded in 1834 and celebrated the 175th anniversary of its foundation in 2009. Abergavenny Tennis Club also play at Pen-y-Pound and plays in the South Wales Doubles League and Aegon Team Tennis. The club engages
1334-512: The Gavenny ( Gafenni )". In Welsh, the shortened form Y Fenni may have come into use after about the 15th century, and is now used as the Welsh name. Abergavenny, the English spelling, is in general use. The town originally developed on the high ground to the north of the floodplain of the River Usk and to the west of the valley of the much smaller Gavenny River though has since extended to
1392-576: The Herberts, although Bradney, writing in the very early 20th century, described parts as being "very ancient". The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales suggests 13/14th centuries origins for the building, with reconstruction in the Tudor era . Coxe, who saw Hanbury Williams' mid-18th century remodelling, considered it "delightfully situated", though more suited to occupation in
1450-720: The Holy Trinity; the Grade II* listed St John's Masonic Lodge ; Abergavenny Museum ; the Public Library; the Town Hall ; and the remains of Abergavenny town walls behind Neville Street. From 1851, the Monmouthshire lunatic asylum, later Pen-y-Fal Hospital , a psychiatric hospital , stood on the outskirts of Abergavenny. Between 1851 and 1950, over 3,000 patients died at the hospital. A memorial plaque for
1508-579: The Market Hall, for example: Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays – retail market; Wednesdays – flea market; fourth Thursday of each month – farmers' market ; third Sunday of each month – antique fair; second Saturday of each month – craft fair. The Church in Wales church of the Holy Trinity is in the Diocese of Monmouth . Holy Trinity Church was consecrated by the Bishop of Llandaff on 6 November 1840. It
1566-654: The Pen-y-pound Stadium, maintained and run by Thursday’s football trust, as members of the Ardal South East league (tier 3) for the 2021–22 season. It is also the home of Abergavenny RFC , a rugby union club founded in 1875 that plays at Bailey Park, Abergavenny . In the 2018–19 season, they play in the Welsh Rugby Union Division Three East A league. Abergavenny Hockey Club, formed in 1897, currently play at
1624-696: The Prior by William de Braose. Owain Glyndŵr attacked Abergavenny in 1404. According to popular legend, his raiders gained access to the walled town with the aid of a local woman who sympathised with the rebellion, letting a small party in via the Market Street gate at midnight. They were able to open the gate and allow a much larger party who set fire to the town and plundered its churches and homes leaving Abergavenny Castle intact. Market Street has been referred to as "Traitors' Lane" thereafter. In 1404 Abergavenny
1682-745: The US, under a Marty Wilde pseudonym Shannon , where it was also a minor hit. In The Adventure of the Priory School Sherlock Holmes refers to a case he is working on in Abergavenny. Abergavenny is mentioned by Stan Shunpike, the conductor of the Knight Bus when the bus takes a detour there to drop off a passenger in J. K. Rowling 's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban . The TV series Upstairs, Downstairs , features
1740-524: The Usk by means of the historic Usk Bridge is sited at the narrowest point of the floodplain, a site also chosen for the former crossing of a tramroad and the later mainline railway. The high ground at either side is formed by a legacy of the last ice age, the recessional Llanfoist moraine which underlies both the village which gives it its name, the town centre and the Nevill Hall area . The older parts of
1798-592: The castle when excavating the foundations for a new post office and telephone exchange building in the late 1960s. Abergavenny grew as a town in early Norman times under the protection of the Baron Bergavenny (or Abergavenny) . The first Baron was Hamelin de Balun , from Ballon , a small town with a castle in Maine-Anjou near Le Mans . Today it is in the Sarthe département of France. He founded
Coldbrook Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
1856-469: The corporation to take the oath of allegiance to William III in 1688, the charter was annulled, and the town subsequently declined in prosperity. Chapter 28 of the 1535 Act of Henry VIII , which provided that Monmouth, as county town , should return one burgess to Parliament, further stated that other ancient Monmouthshire boroughs were to contribute towards the payment of the member. In consequence of this clause Abergavenny on various occasions shared in
1914-416: The death of Lady Helen Herbert, the contents of Coldbrook Park were dispersed at an 11-day sale in 1952, and the house was demolished in 1954. Coldbrook Park estate remains in the possession of the Herbert family, along with the adjacent estate at Llanover . In 2022, it was listed on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales . Little is known of the original house of
1972-535: The deceased has now been placed at the site. After its closure in the 1990s, its buildings and grounds were redeveloped as housing. Some psychiatric services are now administered from Maindiff Court Hospital on the outskirts of the town, close to the foot of the Skirrid mountain. Abergavenny has three public urban parks which are listed on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales :
2030-465: The east of the latter. It has merged with the originally separate settlement of Mardy to the north but remains separate from that of Llanfoist to the south due to the presence of the river and its floodplain ; nevertheless Llanfoist is in many ways a suburb of the town. The ground rises gradually in the north of the town before steepening to form the Deri and Rholben spurs of Sugar Loaf. The A4143 crossing of
2088-448: The election, the last instance being in 1685. The right to hold two weekly markets and three yearly fairs , beginning in the 13th century, was held ever since as confirmed in 1657. Abergavenny was celebrated for the production of Welsh flannel , and also for the manufacture, whilst the fashion prevailed, of goats' hair periwigs . Abergavenny railway station , situated southeast of the town centre, opened on 2 January 1854 as part of
2146-524: The estate from their father Benjamin Waddington. Llanover House was demolished in 1936 but the park survives relatively intact and is designated at Grade II* on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales . St Bartholomew's Church, Llanover is a grade II* listed building. The River Usk flows close by, and to the west lies the Brecon and Monmouthshire canal,
2204-533: The figure of 2% recorded in 1991. The town has one of the two Welsh-medium primary schools in Monmouthshire, Ysgol Gymraeg y Fenni, which was founded in the early 1990s. It is also home to the Abergavenny Welsh society, Cymreigyddion y Fenni, and the local Abergavenny Eisteddfod. Abergavenny was the home of Abergavenny Thursdays F.C. , formed in 1927 and merged with Govilon, the local village side in 2013. The new club, Abergavenny Town F.C. , plays at
2262-677: The first recorded owner of the Coldbrook estate was Richard Herbert , second son of William ap Thomas of Raglan Castle . The Herbert family 's origins were at Wern-ddu in the north of the county. Executed after the Battle of Banbury in 1469, Richard Herbert was buried in the Priory Church of St Mary, Abergavenny. In the mid-18th century, the estate was sold to John Hanbury (1664–1734) of Pontypool , who passed it to his third son, Charles Hanbury Williams (1708-1759). Hanbury Williams,
2320-554: The future of Abergavenny Cattle Market were raised after Monmouthshire County Council granted planning permission for its demolition and replacement with a supermarket, car park, and library. In January 2012 the Welsh Government announced the repeal of the Abergavenny Improvement Acts of 1854 to 1871 which obliged the holding of a livestock market within the boundaries of Abergavenny town; that repeal being effective from 26 March 2012. The county council, which requested that
2378-406: The grounds of Abergavenny Castle , Linda Vista Gardens and Bailey Park . A fourth registered garden, at The Hill to the north of the town, forms part of the grounds of a residential development. Abergavenny is twinned with: One of the eleven Victoria Cross medals won at Rorke's Drift was awarded to John Fielding from Abergavenny. He had enlisted under the false name of Williams . One
Coldbrook Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
2436-572: The house in 1746 with the addition of a nine- bay two-storey Georgian façade with a Doric portico . It was subsequently passed down in the Hanbury Williams family until it was demolished in 1954. Held during the first week of August every year, the National Eisteddfod is a celebration of the culture and language in Wales. The festival travels from place to place, alternating between north and south Wales, attracting around 150,000 visitors and over 250 tradestands and stalls. In 2016 it
2494-695: The nearby Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons National Park . The Marches Way and Beacons Way pass through Abergavenny whilst the Offa's Dyke Path passes through Pandy five miles to the north and the Usk Valley Walk passes through nearby Llanfoist . In the UK 2011 census, the six relevant wards (Lansdown, Grofield, Castle , Croesonen, Cantref and Priory ) collectively listed Abergavenny's population as 12,515. The town hosted
2552-507: The sale of sheep on the streets of the town. When the market closed, the site was leased and operated by Abergavenny Market Auctioneers Ltd, who held regular livestock auctions on the site. Market days were held on Tuesdays for the auction sale of finished sheep, cull ewe/store and fodder (hay and straw), and on some Fridays for the auction sale of cattle. After Newport 's cattle market closed in 2009 for redevelopment, Newport's sales were held at Abergavenny every Wednesday. In 2011 doubts about
2610-406: The same name. This ward includes the parish of Llanarth and elects a county councillor to Monmouthshire County Council . The total ward population at the 2011 census was 2,284. There was formerly a community called "Llanover", in 2022 its boundaries changed so that the village of Llanover became part of Goetre Fawr and the community of "Llanover" was renamed Gobion Fawr . The population taken at
2668-700: The second son of the Earl of Warwick; and he was elevated to the House of Lords as Baron Bergavenny. On his death, his wife Joan held the entire barony in survivorship for life until 1435, at which time it passed into the Nevill family; Joan's granddaughter Elizabeth, heir to the barony, married a Neville, Edward Nevill, 3rd Baron Bergavenny . From him it has descended continuously, the title being increased to an earldom in 1784; and in 1876 William Nevill [ sic ] 5th Earl, an indefatigable and powerful supporter of
2726-637: The services of a head tennis professional to run a coaching programme for the town and was crowned Tennis Wales ' Club of the Year in 2010. Abergavenny hosted the British National Cycling Championships in 2007, 2009 and 2014, as part of the town's Festival of Cycling. A cattle market was held in Abergavenny from 1863 to December 2013. From 1825 to 1863 a sheep market was held at a site in Castle Street, to stop
2784-405: The town north of its centre are built upon a relatively flat-lying alluvial fan extending west from the area of St Mary's Priory to Cantref and of similar age to the moraine. In the UK 2011 census, the six relevant wards (Lansdown, Grofield, Castle , Croesonen, Cantref and Priory ) collectively listed Abergavenny's population as 12,515. Gobannium was a Roman fort guarding the road along
2842-630: The town was named one of the best places to live in Wales. The town's local radio stations are currently Sunshine Radio 107.8 FM and NH Sound 1287 AM. Abergavenny is home to an award-winning brass band. Formed in Abergavenny prior to 1884, the band were joint National Welsh League Champions in 2006 and joint National Welsh League Champions in 2011. The band also operates a Junior Band training local young musicians. The Borough Theatre in Abergavenny town centre hosts live events covering drama, opera, ballet, music, children's events, dance, comedy, storytelling, tribute bands and talks. The Melville Centre
2900-402: The trial of Sir Trefor Williams, 1st Baronet of Llangibby , a Royalist who changed sides, and other Parliamentarians . In 1639, Abergavenny received a charter of incorporation under the title of bailiff and burgesses . A charter with extended privileges was drafted in 1657, but appears never to have been enrolled or to have come into effect. Owing to the refusal of the chief officers of
2958-470: The valley of the River Usk, which linked the legionary fortress of Burrium ( Usk ) and later Isca Augusta or Isca Silurum ( Caerleon ) in the south with Y Gaer, Brecon and Mid Wales . It was also built to keep the peace among the local British Iron Age tribe, the Silures . Cadw considers that the fort was occupied from around CE50 to CE150. Remains of the walls of this fort were discovered west of
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#17327988124173016-478: The warm summer months as it was surrounded by trees and north-facing. John Newman , in his Gwent/Monmouthshire volume of the Pevsner Buildings of Wales was less complimentary, calling Hanbury Williams' designs, "somewhat gauche Palladian ". Newman notes that nothing now remains of the house beyond some stables and outbuildings which have been converted to residential use. The park dates mainly from
3074-439: The written word. The Abergavenny Arts Festival, first held in 2018, celebrates arts in their broadest sense and showcases amateur and professional artists from the vibrant local arts scene together with some from further afield. In recent decades the number of Welsh speakers in the town has increased dramatically. The 2001 census recorded that 10% of the local population spoke the language, a five-fold increase over ten years from
3132-614: Was also awarded for the same action to Robert Jones , born at Clytha between Abergavenny and Raglan . Another Abergavenny-born soldier, Thomas Monaghan received his VC for defending his colonel during the Indian Rebellion . In 1908 following the formation of the Territorial Force the Abergavenny Cadet Corps was formed and affiliated with the 3rd Battalion, The Monmouthshire Regiment . In 1912
3190-490: Was declared its own nation by Ieuan ab Owain Glyndŵr , illegitimate son of Owain Glyndŵr . The arrangement lasted approximately two weeks. At the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1541, the priory's endowment went towards the foundation of a free grammar school , King Henry VIII Grammar School , the site itself passing to the Gunter family. During the Civil War , prior to the siege of Raglan Castle in 1645, King Charles I visited Abergavenny and presided in person over
3248-420: Was filmed at many locations in and around Abergavenny. Abergavenny railway station lies on the Welsh Marches Line from Newport to Hereford . The weekday daytime service pattern typically sees one train per hour in each direction between Manchester Piccadilly and Cardiff Central , with most trains continuing beyond Cardiff to Swansea and west Wales. There is also a two-hourly service between Cardiff and
3306-400: Was held in Abergavenny for the first time since 1913. The Chair and Crown for 2016 were presented to the festival's Executive Committee at a ceremony held in Monmouth on 14 June 2016. The Abergavenny Food Festival is held in the second week of September each year. The Steam, Veteran and Vintage Rally takes place in May every year. The event expands year on year with the 2016 rally including
3364-422: Was originally built as a chapel to serve the adjacent almshouses and the nearby school. It has been Grade II listed since January 1974. Other listed buildings in the town include the parish Priory Church of St Mary , a medieval and Victorian building that was originally the church of the Benedictine priory founded in Abergavenny before 1100; the sixteenth century Tithe Barn near St Mary's ; the Victorian Church of
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