146-482: The Monmouthshire Beacon is a weekly tabloid newspaper covering the areas of Monmouthshire , south Herefordshire and western Gloucestershire . It has been in continuous publication since 1837. Since 1980 the newspaper has been part of the Tindle Newspaper Group of local newspapers owned by Farnham Castle Newspapers and chaired by Sir Ray Tindle (1926–2022). The newspaper's editorial office
292-587: A Welsh or as an English county, a debate only finally brought to an end in 1972. The laws establishing the 13 counties (shires), the historic counties of Wales , assigned four for the five new counties created from the Marcher Lordships along the Welsh/English border, Brecknockshire , Denbighshire , Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire , to the legal system operated in Wales, administered by
438-637: A foundry at Tintern in 1568, and the lower Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean became important centres for metalworking and mining. But the most dramatic impact was in the west of the county during the Industrial Revolution , in the South Wales Coalfield , where some of the largest pits in Wales were dug, and a major iron industry developed. The societal transformation was accompanied by great inequality and unrest. Chartism
584-618: A naturalist whose independent work on natural selection saw Charles Darwin bring forward the publication of On the Origin of Species , was born at Llanbadoc , outside Usk , in 1823. He is commemorated in a statue raised in the town's Twyn Square in 2021. Bertrand Russell , the philosopher and the only Nobel laureate from the county, was born at Cleddon Hall , outside Trellech in 1872. Charles Rolls grew up at his family seat, The Hendre , just north of Monmouth and, in partnership with Henry Royce , co-founded Rolls-Royce Limited . He
730-822: A 0.24 hectares (0.6 acres) outcrop of rock in the Severn Estuary , the southern foreshore of which is the boundary between England and Wales, is Monmouthshire's only offshore island. The battle to save Magor Marsh , the last remaining area of natural fenland on the Gwent Levels , led to the foundation of the Gwent Wildlife Trust . The county contains a range of nature reserves and areas of special scientific interest, including Graig Wood 14.3-hectare (35-acre) SSSI, Pentwyn Farm Grasslands 7.6-hectare (19-acre) SSSI and Lady Park Wood National Nature Reserve (45.0-hectare (111-acre)). The Wye Valley ,
876-579: A Methodist Chapel was built in what is now Oxford Street. St Christopher's church (Anglican), and St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, are both located in the Bulwark area. The town holds a biennial community festival, as well as an annual agricultural show and the annual Wassail and Mari Lwyd in January. There is a local Welsh society for the area, Cymdeithas Cymraeg Cas-gwent, Cil-y-coed a'r cyffiniau , holding numerous Welsh language events throughout
1022-484: A bus network, connecting Abergavenny, Monmouth, Chepstow, Raglan and Usk, with stopping points at smaller settlements on route. National coach services have stopping points at Monmouth and Chepstow. In its industrial heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries, the western part of the county was served by the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal which connected the South Wales Coalfield with the port at Newport . Today,
1168-720: A clifftop above the Wye and its bridge , is often cited as the oldest surviving stone castle in Britain. The castle was established by William FitzOsbern immediately after the Norman conquest , and was extended in later centuries before becoming ruined after the Civil War . A Benedictine priory was also established within the walled town , which was the centre of the Marcher lordship of Striguil . The port of Chepstow became noted in
1314-509: A contemporary observer, noted that "from this time onward, Owain's fortunes began to wane in that region." The first Tudor king, Henry VII , was born at Pembroke Castle in the west of Wales, and spent some of his childhood in Monmouthshire, at Raglan Castle as a ward of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke . His son and heir Henry VIII was to bring the rule of the Marcher lords to an end. The historic county of Monmouthshire
1460-558: A disciple of St. Dyfrig . This later became an Augustinian priory on what is now Kingsmark Lane, but no traces of it remain. The town is close to the southern point of Offa's Dyke , which begins on the east bank of the Wye at Sedbury and runs all the way to the Irish Sea in north Wales . This was built in the late 8th century as a boundary between Mercia and the Welsh kingdoms, although some recent research has questioned whether
1606-699: A distributor of Japanese animated films . Chepstow is primarily a centre for service industries and tourism in South West England and Wales . Due to its very good rail and road links, Chepstow has a large commuter population, commuters travel to larger centres in Bristol and in South Wales. Its location at the southern end of the Wye Valley , together with its own sights including its castle and racecourse, have contributed to its development as
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#17327902695061752-419: A feast at Abergavenny Castle . De Braose proceeded to have his men massacre the Welsh, intending the obliteration of the indigenous Gwent aristocracy, before sending them to burn Seisyll's home at Castell Arnallt and to murder his son. A wave of Welsh retaliation followed, described in detail by the contemporary chronicler, Gerald of Wales . Monmouthshire's Norman castles later became favoured residences of
1898-408: A housing estate. In the 2021 census, 45.1% of Chepstow's resident population gave their religion as Christian, with 47.4% stating "no religion". There are several churches in the town. St Mary's Priory Church was founded by about 1072 as a Benedictine priory , and retains its ornamented Norman west entrance doorway, decorated with zig zag and lozenge patterns. The priory was suppressed during
2044-737: A lower level of road usage than in 2016. Monmouthshire is served by four railway stations: in the south are the Severn Tunnel Junction railway station at Rogiet on the South Wales Main Line , which connects South Wales to London; and Chepstow railway station and Caldicot railway station on the Gloucester–Newport line ; and in the north, Abergavenny railway station on the Welsh Marches line . The county's main centres of population are served by
2190-476: A national scandal. During a debate in parliament on the establishment of a turnpike trust for the county, the local landowner Valentine Morris asserted that the inhabitants of the county travelled "in ditches". By the mid-century, commercial demands saw the first timetabled stagecoach between London and Monmouth arrive in Agincourt Square on 4 November 1763, the journey having taken four days. By
2336-604: A natural valley on the other, afforded an excellent defensive location. A Benedictine priory, now St Mary's Church , was also established nearby. This was the centre of a small religious community, the remains of which are buried under the adjoining car park. Monks , originally from Cormeilles Abbey in Normandy , were there until the Dissolution of the Monasteries . The castle was expanded by William Marshal in
2482-409: A partial proportional representation system. Fire and rescue services are provided by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service , which has fire stations in the county at Abergavenny, Caldicot, Chepstow, Monmouth and Usk. Policing services are provided by Gwent Police , whose officers cover Monmouthshire, as well as Blaenau Gwent , Caerphilly , Newport and Torfaen . Civilian oversight is provided by
2628-594: A port and trading centre. Its port functions, together with its shipbuilding industry, have now virtually ceased. The industries which developed on the shipyard sites, particularly the fabrication of major engineering structures by the Mabey Group , continued close to the town centre as well as on the Newhouse Farm industrial estate beside the M48 motorway, where wind turbine towers were assembled. In July 2015,
2774-472: A shoreline on the Severn Estuary , with crossings into England by the Severn Bridge and Second Severn Crossing . The name is identical to that of the historic county , of which the current local authority covers the eastern three-fifths. Between 1974 and 1996, the historic county was known as Gwent , recalling the medieval kingdom which covered a similar area. The present county was formed under
2920-495: A substantially lower number than in all of the adjoining principal areas; average annual earnings in 2020 were just over £41,000 compared to just over £32,000 in Wales as a whole. Total income tax payments from the county in 2013 were second only to the City of Cardiff, and the average individual payment exceeded that paid in the capital city. Agriculture continues to be an important employer, accounting for 15.3 per cent of businesses,
3066-486: A tourist centre. The Chepstow Chamber of Commerce represents businesses in the town and aims to support and encourage their development. Blue plaques for English Heritage and other groups are made in the town. Chepstow town centre has over 130 shops within easy walking distance of 1,000 car park spaces. There are 16 hotels, bars and public houses, and 15 restaurants and cafes. The town has Tesco and M&S Foodhall supermarkets, and Screwfix , within or adjoining
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#17327902695063212-595: Is Mary Ann Brocklesby. Monmouthshire elects one member to the UK parliament at Westminster , until 2024 representing the Monmouth constituency . Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies , a new constituency, Monmouthshire , came into effect at the 2024 general election , comprising 88.9% of the previous constituency. The seat was won by the Labour Party candidate Catherine Fookes who defeated
3358-424: Is Red & White Services Ltd. The nearest major airports to Chepstow are at Bristol (27 miles (43 km)) and Cardiff (43 miles (69 km)). The population of Chepstow at the 2021 census was recorded as roughly 11,900. Of this, 23.4% were between the ages of 45 and 59, above the county average of 22.5%. The largest ethnic group is White with 96.4% of the population, below the county average of 96.9%, with
3504-454: Is a county in the south east of Wales . It borders Powys to the north; the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the north and east; the Severn Estuary to the south, and Torfaen , Newport and Blaenau Gwent to the west. The largest town is Abergavenny , and the administrative centre is Usk . The county is rural, although adjacent to the city of Newport and
3650-604: Is a town and community in Monmouthshire , Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire , England. It is located on the tidal River Wye , about 2 miles (3 km) above its confluence with the River Severn , and adjoining the western end of the Severn Bridge . It is the easternmost settlement in Wales, situated 16 miles (26 km) east of Newport , 28 miles (45 km) east-northeast of Cardiff , 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Bristol and 110 miles (180 km) west of London. Chepstow Castle , situated on
3796-482: Is also retained for a limited number of public service functions which operate across principal areas, for example Gwent Police . In the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum , which resulted in a narrow "Yes" vote, 50.30 per cent in favour v. 49.70 per cent against, for the establishment of a National Assembly for Wales, Monmouthshire recorded the highest "No" vote of any principal area, its population voting 67.9 percent against to 32.1 per cent in favour. Monmouthshire
3942-462: Is at Cornwall House , Monnow Street, Monmouth . The Beacon is published every Wednesday. Its sister paper, the Ross Gazette , covers nearby south Herefordshire . The first issue was published on 14 October 1837, priced at 4½ d (1.9p). It was printed by Thomas Farror at Castle Hill, Monmouth, and published by him at Agincourt Square. The first editor was Richard Ramsey Dinnis (assisted by
4088-408: Is broadly rectangular in shape, and borders the county of Powys to the north and the county boroughs of Newport , Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent to the west, with its southern border on the Severn Estuary giving the county its only coastline. To the east, it borders the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire . The centre of the county is the plain of Gwent, formed from the basin of
4234-610: Is located on the edge of the town, in the grounds of the ruined Piercefield House . The racecourse was opened in 1926, and became the regular venue of the Welsh National in 1949. Chepstow Town F.C. was founded in 1878 and as of 2017 play in Division Three of the Welsh Football League . Chepstow RFC was also founded in 1878, by pupils and staff of Chepstow Grammar School. Matches are played at
4380-524: Is served by Chepstow School , located on Welsh Street, with over 1,300 pupils. There are four primary schools in the town: The Dell, Pembroke, Thornwell, and St Mary's Roman Catholic. Tutshill and Sedbury, on the English side of the Wye but within walking distance of Chepstow and attracting some pupils from the town, have their own schools, including Wyedean School , and the private preparatory Dean Close St John's in Tutshill . Chepstow Community Hospital
4526-528: Is serviced by Transport for Wales Rail ; the service provided by CrossCountry from Cardiff Central to Nottingham , via Birmingham New Street . The railway bridge also known as "The Great Tubular Bridge" spanning the River Wye between Chepstow and Sedbury was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1852 as part of the Great Western Railway , but the original structure was replaced in
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4672-465: Is the remnant of a once much larger forest, but remains the largest ancient woodland in Wales and the ninth largest in Britain. Once a 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) woodland, it formed the hunting ground for Chepstow Castle, and gave its name to a traditional north-south, division of the county between the cantrefi (hundreds) of Gwent Uwchcoed (above the wood) and Gwent Iscoed (below the wood). Monmouth's coastline forms its southern border, running
4818-692: The 5th Duke of Beaufort , enjoyed a long military career, serving on the staff of the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo , and as commander-in-chief of the British forces during the Crimean War . Created Baron Raglan in 1852, he died in 1855. His son was gifted Cefntilla Court , near Llandenny in his memory. William Wilson Allen , who fought with the South Wales Borderers at
4964-569: The Anglo-Saxons , their common enemy. The Book of Llandaff records such a victory over the Saxon invaders achieved by Tewdrig at a battle near Tintern in the late 6th century. An example of the alliances formed by neighbouring petty kings was the Kingdom of Morgannwg , a union between Gwent and its western neighbour, the kingdom of Glywysing , which formed and reformed between the 8th and
5110-545: The Annals of Owain Glyn Dwr , "there the English were killed for the most part and they were pursued up to the gates of the town" (of Monmouth). This was the high water mark of the revolt; heavy defeats in the county followed in 1405, at the Battle of Grosmont , and at the Battle of Pwll Melyn , traditionally located near Usk Castle , where Glyndŵr's brother was killed and his eldest son captured. The chronicler Adam of Usk ,
5256-776: The Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879, is buried in Monmouth Cemetery , the only grave in the county of a holder of the Victoria Cross . The Monmouthshire Regiment was established in 1907. Men from the regiment fought in both the First and Second World Wars , until its disbandment in 1967. HMS Monmouth was sunk at the Battle of Coronel in November 1914, with the loss of all 734 crew. The Local Government Act 1972 , which came into effect in April 1974, created
5402-777: The Caldicot and Wentloog Levels and at Monmouth . An important hoard of Bronze Age axes was discovered at St Arvans . The county has a number of hillfort sites , such as those at Bulwark and Llanmelin Wood . The latter has been suggested as the capital of the Silures , a Celtic tribe who occupied south-east Wales in the Iron Age . The Silures proved among the most intractable of Rome's opponents, Tacitus described them as "exceptionally stubborn" and Raymond Howell, in his county history published in 1988, notes that while it took
5548-577: The Catuvellauni . His final defeat in AD 50 saw his transportation to Rome, but stiff Silurian resistance continued, and the subjugation of the entirety of south-east Wales was not achieved until around AD 75, under the governor of Britain, Sextus Julius Frontinus . Monmouthshire's most important Roman remains are found at the town of Venta Silurum ("Market of the Silures"), present-day Caerwent in
5694-561: The Celtic Trail (Lôn Geltaidd) . Chepstow has also held professional and amateur street cycling events, such as the Chepstow Grand Prix. The town's leisure centre is located adjoining Chepstow School. The centre is owned by Monmouthshire County Council . Its facilities include an indoor swimming pool and both indoor and outdoor games pitches. Chepstow Harriers running club, founded in the 1880s, meets twice weekly at
5840-599: The City of Newport , including Caerleon as it had since 1974. The new Monmouthshire, covering the less populated eastern 60% of the historic county, included the towns of Abergavenny , Caldicot , Chepstow , Monmouth and Usk . In his essay on local government in the fifth and final volume of the Gwent County History , Robert McCloy suggests that the governance of "no county in the United Kingdom in
5986-715: The Court of Great Sessions . Monmouthshire was assigned to the Oxford circuit of the English Assizes . This began a legal separation which continued until 1972; for example, the administrative county of Monmouthshire and the boroughs of Newport, Abergavenny and Monmouth were explicitly listed as being in England rather than Wales in first schedule of the Local Government Act 1933 . For several centuries, acts of
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6132-605: The Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536, and became the parish church. It was substantially rebuilt during the nineteenth century, and now holds regular services as part of the Church in Wales . The Baptist Church , in Lower Church Street, was built in 1816, by Walter G. Watkin, and later enlarged. The origins of the Methodist Church lie in a visit to the town made by John Wesley in 1762. In 1801,
6278-520: The Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner . Monmouthshire's prisons are HM Prison Prescoed , a Category D open prison at Coed-y-paen and HM Prison Usk , a Category C prison, both in the west of the county. Monmouthshire's population was 93,000 at the 2021 census, increasing marginally from 91,300 at the 2011 census. 54,100 (58.2 per cent) of residents were born in Wales, while 32,300 (34.7 per cent) were born in England. Just over 20 per cent of
6424-503: The Kingdom of Gwent was established, traditionally by Caradoc , in the 5th or 6th centuries. Siting their capital at Caerwent, the settlement gave its name to the kingdom. The subsequent history of the area prior to the Norman Conquest is poorly documented and complex. The kingdom of Gwent frequently fought with the neighbouring Welsh kingdoms, and sometimes joined in alliance with them in, generally successful, attempts to repel
6570-648: The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 , which came into effect in 1996. In his essay 'Changes in local government', in the fifth and final volume of the Gwent County History , Robert McCloy writes, "the local government of no county in the United Kingdom in the twentieth century was so transformed as that of Monmouthshire". Evidence of human activity in the Mesolithic period has been found across Monmouthshire; examples include important remains on
6716-712: The M48 , originally part of the M4, which links Wales with England via the Severn Bridge at Chepstow. In the east of the county, the A449 and the A40 link with the M50 near Goodrich, Herefordshire , connecting Monmouthshire and South Wales with the English Midlands . The Department for Transport recorded traffic in Monmouthshire at 0.9 billion vehicle miles in 2022. This represented
6862-568: The Middle Ages for its imports of wine, and also became a major centre for the export of timber and bark, from nearby woodland in the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean . In the late eighteenth century the town was a focus of early tourism as part of the " Wye Tour ", and the tourist industry remains important. Other important industries included shipbuilding – one of the First World War National Shipyards
7008-569: The Norman conquest of England , Chepstow was a key location. It was at the lowest bridging point of the River Wye, provided a base from which to advance Norman control into south Wales, and controlled river access to Hereford and the Marches . Chepstow Castle was founded by William fitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford , in 1067, and its Great Tower, often cited as the oldest surviving stone fortification in Britain, dates from that time or shortly afterwards. Its site, with sheer cliffs on one side and
7154-417: The Parliament of England (in which Wales was represented) often referred to "Wales and Monmouthshire", such as the Welsh Church Act 1914 . Monmouthshire in the 1600s experienced to a high degree the political and religious convulsions arising from the English Reformation and culminating in the English Civil War . Following Henry VII's religious reforms, the county had a reputation for recusancy , with
7300-405: The Plantagenet nobility . Henry of Grosmont, Duke of Lancaster (c. 1310–1361), was reputedly born at Grosmont Castle , home of his father Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster , grandson of Henry III . Becoming the richest and among the most powerful lords in England, Grosmont developed the castle as a sumptuous residence, while the village became an important medieval settlement. Henry V (1386–1422)
7446-409: The River Usk and its tributaries. The west of the county is hilly, and the Black Mountains in the northwest are part of the Brecon Beacons National Park ( Bannau Brycheiniog ). The border with England in the east largely follows the course of the River Wye and its tributary, the River Monnow . In the southeast is the Wye Valley AONB , a hilly region which stretches into England. The county has
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#17327902695067592-445: The River Usk , while the River Wye forms part of its eastern border, running through the Wye Valley , one of the five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Wales and the only one in the county. The north and west of the county is mountainous, particularly the western area adjoining the industrial South Wales Valleys and the Black Mountains which form part of the Brecon Beacons National Park . Two major river valleys dominate
7738-416: The River Wye at Chepstow, built in 1816 to replace earlier wooden structures, carried all the road traffic between South West England and South Wales and was the lowest bridging point of the Wye. The M48 motorway now connects Chepstow by road to Newport (18 miles (29 km)) and Cardiff (31 miles (50 km)) to the west, and Bristol (18 miles (29 km)) and London (124 miles (200 km)) to
7884-410: The Shire Hall . A similar issue was published by the Monmouthshire Merlin but they took different lines. The Merlin defended the Whig government whilst the Beacon blamed it for an uprising that had led to the ring-leaders being sentenced to death. Although the Beacon did not support the uprising and realised that those involved were obliged to "be dealt with as enemies and aliens". In 1840 there
8030-464: The Wales Coast Path extending from Wye Crescent, and by the link road from Bulwark Road to the M48, where the looser reddish Mercia Mudstone (which extends under Bulwark and Sedbury and forms the cliffs at the Severn) and the lighter Hunts Bay limestone are also seen. The River Wye at Chepstow has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world. The river was established as a boundary between England and Wales by Athelstan in 928. However, after
8176-512: The Welsh to the west, but after the 14th century the castle's importance diminished. The port of Chepstow developed during the mediaeval period, one reason being that its control by a Marcher Lord , rather than by the King , meant that it was exempt from English taxation. It mainly traded in timber and bark from the Wye Valley , and with Bristol . From mediaeval times, Chepstow was the largest port in Wales; its ships sailed as far as Iceland and Turkey, as well as to France and Portugal, and
8322-424: The district of Monmouth along with the Llanelly community from Blaenau Gwent, both of which were districts of Gwent. It is a principal area of Wales. Monmouthshire is styled as a county, and includes: the former boroughs of Abergavenny and Monmouth; the former urban districts of Chepstow and Usk; the former rural districts of Abergavenny, Chepstow and Monmouth; the former rural district of Pontypool , except
8468-400: The 10th centuries. The common threat they faced is shown in Offa's Dyke , the physical delineation of a border with Wales created by the Mercian king . For a brief period in the 11th century, Monmouthshire, as Gwent, became part of a united Wales under Gruffydd ap Llywelyn , but his death in 1063 was soon followed by that of his opponent Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings , and
8614-401: The 190s in response to disturbances. The Silurian identity was not extinguished: the establishment of a Respublica Civitatis Silurium (an early town council) in around 300 testifies to the longevity of the indigenous tribal culture. The Roman abandonment of Britain from AD 383 saw the division of Wales into a number of petty kingdoms . In the southeast (the present county of Monmouthshire)
8760-407: The 1960s. Until 1959, passenger trains also operated up the Wye Valley Railway to Monmouth – this service ceased owing to heavy financial losses. The line at Chepstow was blocked by a landslide on 12 November 2009, following heavy rain. Chepstow was home to Red & White Services , one of the region's largest bus and coach operators. Their head office and central workshops were at Bulwark from
8906-401: The 19th centuries county politics was dominated by the Beauforts, and the Morgans , "an everlasting friendship between the house of Raglan and Tredegar". By the late 19th century, three families held over a fifth of the land in Monmouthshire: the Beauforts, the Morgans, and the Hanburys of Pontypool . Industrialisation came early to Monmouthshire; the first brass in Britain was produced at
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#17327902695069052-455: The 2022 local elections, the councillors are four from the Labour party , and two Conservative . The town also has its own Town Council , comprising 15 councillors elected every four years. The council elects a Town Mayor from among its number each year. The Town Mayor for 2022/23 is Cllr Margaret Griffiths. Chepstow was an electoral ward to Gwent County Council between 1973 and 1996. Its first councillor, Barney O'Neill, became leader of
9198-408: The Avon to that city's centre. Many buildings in the town remain from the late 18th and early 19th centuries; the elegant cast iron bridge across the Wye was opened in 1816 to replace an earlier wooden structure. The town became an important centre for tourism from the late eighteenth century, when the " Wye Tour " became popular. Visitors regularly took boats from Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth down
9344-425: The Chepstow Society, is housed in an elegant 1796 town house opposite the Castle entrance. Chepstow has no dedicated cinema or theatre, although film showings, theatrical and other events regularly take place in the Drill Hall, close to the Castle and riverside area. Chepstow is also home to the Electric Picture Hall, which organises regular 'pop-up' cinema events and a Welsh themed short film festival each year, with
9490-482: The English in earlier centuries. However, the name used by the Normans for the castle and lordship was Striguil (in various spellings, such as Estrighoiel), probably derived from a Welsh word ystraigyl , meaning a bend in the river. The Welsh name Cas-gwent refers to the "castle of Gwent ". The name Gwent itself derives from the Roman settlement Venta Silurum or 'Market of the Silures ', now named Caerwent , 5 miles (8 km) west of Chepstow, which had been
9636-498: The Kings of Britain , with a focus on King Arthur and Camelot which Geoffrey located at Caerleon (now in Newport ), and which remained highly influential for centuries, although modern scholars consider it little more than a literary forgery. Christmas 1175 saw an outbreak of particular violence in the gradual extension of Norman control over South Wales. The Marcher lord William de Braose invited Seisyll ap Dyfnwal , lord of Upper Gwent, and an array of other Welsh notables to
9782-403: The Merthyr paper disagreed with the Beacon despite their shared politics. The Beacon was backed by the Ironmaster Sir Joseph Bailey Bt. and local conservatives. It was said that the Beacon ' s circulation was only just over 500 and was thought to run at a loss, with copies being given away. In 1840, the Beacon produced a 200-page special report on the trial of the Chartist leaders in
9928-400: The Norman conquest, areas east of the Wye, within the former Saxon royal manor of Tidenham and including Beachley , Tutshill , Sedbury and Tidenham Chase, were included within the lordship of Striguil or Chepstow. In 1536, the river was confirmed as the boundary between Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire. Since the early 19th century, housing development has continued on the east bank of
10074-423: The Rev. George Roberts). This paper had to compete with the Monmouthshire Merlin which had started publication eight years earlier. The Merlin had been started by Charles Hough in 1829, but it had bankrupted him by 1831 and it was his co-owner Reginald James Blewitt who eventually built the Merlin to have the largest newspaper circulation in Wales by 1854. The Beacon's attacks on R.J.Blewiit were so strong that
10220-674: The River Wye and several parts of South Wales, etc. relative chiefly to Picturesque Beauty; made in the summer of the year 1770 . Although his efforts were sometimes satirised, Gilpin established what became the conventional route down the "mazy course" of the River Wye , with visitors embarking at Ross-on-Wye , and sailing past Symonds Yat , and Monmouth, before the highlight of the tour, Tintern Abbey . Voyages concluded at Chepstow. The abbey at Tintern inspired artists and writers; J. M. W. Turner painted it; William Wordsworth committed it to verse; while Samuel Taylor Coleridge almost died there. Another object of interest to artists undertaking
10366-474: The Romano-British commercial centre of south-east Wales. The oldest site of known habitation at Chepstow is at Thornwell, overlooking the estuaries of the Wye and Severn close to the modern M48 motorway junction, where archaeological investigations in advance of recent housing development revealed continuous human occupation from the Mesolithic period of around 5000 BC until the end of the Roman period, about 400 AD. There are also Iron Age fortified camps in
10512-531: The Romans five years to subdue south-east England, it took thirty-five before complete subjugation of the Silurian territories was achieved. The Roman conquest of Britain began in AD 43, and within five years they had reached the borders of what is now Wales. In south-east Wales they encountered strong resistance from the Silures, led by Caratacus (Caradog), who had fled west after the defeat of his own tribe,
10658-767: The Upton Memorial Ground, Lower Western Avenue. As of 2017 the team play in Division Three East A of the WRU National League The town also has an athletic Club for archery (St Kingsmark Bowmen), tennis, bowls, cricket and junior football. The 1976 IAAF World Cross Country Championships , won by Carlos Lopes , were held in the town. Two long routes of the National Cycle Network start in Chepstow, including
10804-750: The Wye Tour was the Monnow Bridge at Monmouth. A late 18th-century watercolour by Michael Angelo Rooker is now in the Monmouth Museum . The noted architectural watercolourist Samuel Prout painted the bridge in a study dated "before 1814", now held at the Yale Center for British Art in Connecticut. In 1795, J. M. W. Turner sketched the bridge and gatehouse during one of his annual summer sketching tours. Alfred Russel Wallace ,
10950-576: The area, dating from the time of the Silures , at Bulwark , 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the town centre, and at Piercefield and Lancaut , some 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the north. During the Roman occupation, there was a bridge or causeway across the Wye, about 0.6 miles (0.97 km) upstream of the later town bridge . Chepstow is located at a crossing point directly between the Roman towns at Gloucester ( Glevum ) and Caerwent ( Venta Silurum ). Although historians think it likely that there
11096-454: The area, including Otter Hole , one of the most decorated cave systems in Britain. The climate of the town is affected by its position close to the Severn estuary. The bedrock of Chepstow is limestone, mudstone and sandstone , overlain in places with some gravels and the clay and silt of the river's tidal flats, which are of marine origin and up to two million years old. Most of the rock
11242-519: The bow and arrow than those who come from other parts of Wales". There was a brief reassertion of Welsh autonomy in Monmouthshire during the Glyndŵr rebellion of 1400 to 1415. Seeking to re-establish Welsh independence, the revolt began in the north, but by 1403 Owain Glyndŵr 's army was in Monmouthshire, sacking Usk and securing a victory over the English at Craig-y-dorth , near Cwmcarvan . According to
11388-427: The building itself, when a fire started in its paper store. Its offices then moved to 50 Monnow Street, and in 1987 moved again to Cornwall House, where the new offices were opened during the newspaper's 150th anniversary year by Princess Margaret . Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( / ˈ m ɒ n m ə θ ʃ ər , ˈ m ʌ n -, - ʃ ɪər / MON -məth-shər, MUN -, -sheer ; Welsh : Sir Fynwy )
11534-464: The built-up area including these villages was 15,600 in 2021. The name Chepstow derives from the Old English ceap/chepe stowe , meaning market place or trading centre. The word "stow" usually denotes a place of special significance, and the root chep is the same as that in other placenames such as Chipping Sodbury and Cheapside . The name is first recorded in 1307, but may have been used by
11680-498: The canal is a popular route for leisure cruising but most of its length lies within the principal areas of Torfaen , Blaenau Gwent and Newport. The Monmouthshire villages of Gilwern , Govilon and Goetre , on the western extremity of the county, remain adjacent to the canal. Tourism remains an important element of the county's economy. It generated just under £245 million in income in 2019, from 2.28 million visitors. The sector also provides employment for over 3,000 inhabitants of
11826-473: The centre in addition to scheduled events. Since its heyday as a centre for the "Wye Tour" in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Chepstow has remained an important centre for tourism. The town has a range of hotels and guest houses. As well as its own attractions, including the castle, the town is close to other attractions including the Royal Forest of Dean , Tintern Abbey and the Wye Valley ,
11972-534: The chair of Monmouthshire County Council. The western edge of the county, bordering Newport and including the settlements of Magor , Undy , Rogiet and Caldicot , forms part of the Newport East constituency which has John Griffiths of Labour as its member. Monmouth is also one of eight constituencies in the South Wales East electoral region , which elects four additional members , under
12118-463: The cities of Bristol , Newport and Cardiff means it has a large number of commuters. It is administered as part of Monmouthshire County Council , and is within the Monmouth UK parliamentary constituency and Senedd constituency . Chepstow is on the western bank of the Wye, while adjoining villages on the eastern bank of the river, Tutshill and Sedbury , are in England. The population of
12264-642: The community of Llanfrechfa Lower ; and the parish of Llanelly from the former Crickhowell Rural District in Brecknockshire. The county is administered by Monmouthshire County Council , with its head office at Rhadyr, outside Usk , opened in 2013. In the 2022 Monmouthshire County Council election , no party gained overall control, with the Welsh Labour party forming a minority administration, its 22 councillors allying with five Independents and one Green Party councillor. The council leader
12410-417: The company announced that the site was to close with the loss of 125 jobs, following the decision by the UK government to end subsidies for onshore wind generation. Other local industries have included the material for artificial ski slopes , developed at the "Dendix" brush factory, which in its time was a producer of all sizes of industrial brushes. The works, now operated by Osborn-Unipol, relocated out of
12556-480: The control of a Local Board from 1864, and an urban district council was formed in 1894. Chepstow Urban District Council was abolished in 1974, when many of its functions were taken over by the new Monmouth District Council . This was renamed Monmouth Borough Council in 1988, and formed one of the five districts of Gwent until both authorities were abolished in 1996. The town's representation in Parliament
12702-471: The council in 1974. Chepstow was granted a town charter in 1524 by its Marcher Lord, Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester . After the county of Monmouth was formed, Chepstow was included within the Hundred of Caldicot in 1542. A Corporation of bailiffs and burgesses controlled the town until the time of Charles II , when its charter lapsed, apparently as a result of a dispute. The town came under
12848-557: The county is Chwarel y Fan in the Black Mountains, with a height of 679 metres (2,228 ft). The Sugar Loaf (Welsh: Mynydd Pen-y-fâl or Y Fâl ), located three kilometres (two miles) northwest of Abergavenny, offers far-reaching views; although its height is only 596 metres (1,955 ft), its isolation and distinctive peak shape make it a prominent landmark. Wentwood , now partly in Monmouthshire and partly in Newport ,
12994-497: The county of Gwent, confirmed it as part of Wales, and abolished the historic administrative county of Monmouthshire and its associated lieutenancy . It also subsumed Newport County Borough Council , creating a two-tier system of local government across the county. The entire county was administered by Gwent County Council , based at County Hall, Cwmbran , with five district councils below it: Blaenau Gwent , Islwyn , Monmouth , Newport and Torfaen . The largest five towns in
13140-555: The county of Monmouthshire, although only with the eastern three-fifths of its historic area, and with a substantially reduced population. The western two-fifths of the county were included in other principal areas: Caerphilly County Borough , part of which came from Mid Glamorgan, including the towns of Newbridge , Blackwood , New Tredegar and Rhymney ; Blaenau Gwent County Borough , including Abertillery , Brynmawr , Ebbw Vale and Tredegar ; Torfaen County Borough , including Blaenavon , Abersychan , Pontypool , and Cwmbran ; and
13286-408: The county's only National Landscape , has its largest population of deer and the UK's largest population of Lesser horseshoe bats . The Wye itself was once one of the country's major centres of salmon fishing, but this has suffered very rapid decline in the 21st century due to river pollution . The current unitary authority of Monmouthshire was created on 1 April 1996 as a successor to
13432-472: The county's population is over the age of 65. It remains one of the least densely-populated of Wales' principal areas . The 2021 census recorded that Welsh is spoken by 8.7 per cent of the population of the county, a decrease from 9.9 per cent in 2011. The number of non-Welsh speakers increased by 3,000 over the decade. In 2021, 96.9 per cent of Monmouthshire residents identified as "white European", marginally lower than in 2011, compared with 98 per cent for
13578-534: The county, approximately 10 per cent of the total working population. The county has neither a university nor any satellite campus. The former University of Wales, Newport operated a campus at Caerleon which closed in 2016, following the 2013 merger which created the University of South Wales . Higher education courses in the county are provided through the campus of Coleg Gwent at Rhadyr, near Usk . Chepstow Chepstow ( Welsh : Cas-gwent )
13724-654: The current member is David Davies , first elected in 2005. In elections for the Senedd , the town is part of the Monmouth constituency ; the current MS is Peter Fox (Conservative). Until January 2020 Chepstow was within the Wales constituency for the European Parliament . The Laws in Wales Acts created an anomaly in that, although Monmouthshire was noted as being in the 'Country or Dominion of Wales', it
13870-466: The dark side of Morris dancing. We’re the punk rockers of the morris world. We are drinkers with a dance problem." Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC Cymru Wales and BBC West on BBC One , and by ITV Cymru Wales and ITV West Country on ITV1 . Television signals are from either the Wenvoe TV transmitter, supplemented by a low power relay transmitter situated north east of
14016-430: The early 1930s to mid-1980s. Red & White was a major employer in Chepstow for the fifty years it existed. The company became defunct as part of the privatised National Welsh bus company but was re-established as Stagecoach Red & White following the acquisition of the assets of National Welsh by Stagecoach . Although the name Stagecoach Red and White was subsequently dropped, the legal name of Stagecoach South Wales
14162-700: The early 19th century, as Cardiff, Newport and Swansea became more suitable for handling the bulk export of coal and steel from the Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire valleys. However, shipbuilding was briefly revived when the National Shipyard No.1 was established during the First World War and for a short period afterwards, when the first prefabricated ships, including the War Glory , were constructed there. The influx of labour for
14308-578: The east. To the north, the A466 up the Wye valley connects the town with Monmouth (16 miles (26 km)), and to the north-east the A48 links it with Gloucester (29 miles (47 km)). Chepstow railway station is on the main line between Maesteg and Cheltenham Spa . Most connections to Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington are via Newport or Severn Tunnel Junction (8 miles (13 km)). Chepstow
14454-593: The end of the century, the need for access to exploit the South Wales coalfields saw the development of trams and canals. Tourism became prominent in Monmouthshire at the end of the 18th century, when the French Revolution and the subsequent Napoleonic Wars precluded travel to Continental Europe . The focus of activity was the Wye Tour , first popularised by the Rev. William Gilpin , in his Observations on
14600-505: The incumbent, David TC Davies , a Conservative Party politician who had held the previous seat since 2005 and who served as the Secretary of State for Wales in the prior government. Monmouthshire directly elects two members to the Senedd , the Welsh parliament. The Monmouth constituency covers most of the county and since May 2021 the directly elected member is Peter Fox , a Conservative Party politician who previously served as
14746-500: The late twelfth century and, a century later, by Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk . Bigod was also responsible for establishing a weekly market and annual fair, in the town which had grown up on the slopes between the castle and priory, and for building the Port Wall around it shortly after 1274. A toll gate controlled entry to the market area; this Town Gate was rebuilt in the 16th century. The town faced some hostile attacks from
14892-498: The length of the Severn Estuary from Chepstow in the east to the shore south of Magor in the west. The distance, roughly 15 miles (24 km), can be walked via the Wales Coast Path . The coastline includes the eastern part of the Caldicot and Wentloog Levels , also known as the Monmouthshire or Gwent Levels, an almost entirely man-made environment that has seen land reclamation since Roman times . Denny Island ,
15038-499: The long-term goal of establishing a dedicated cinema and art space for the town. Group community activities also take place in the Palmer Community Centre and Bulwark Community Centre. The town had, for a short period, its own online local radio station, Chepstow Radio. Chepstow is twinned with Cormeilles , France . The town is the base for The Widders Border Morris Men who were formed in 2001. Some of
15184-510: The lords as sicut regale ("like unto a king"). The lords established castles, first earth and wood motte-and-bailey constructions, and later substantial structures in stone, such as Chepstow Castle , begun by William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford as early as 1067, and that at Tregrug , near Llangybi , by de Clare's son, Gilbert . In the early Norman period, the cleric and chronicler, Geoffrey of Monmouth (c. 1095 – c. 1155), who may have been born at Monmouth, wrote his The History of
15330-518: The lowlands: the scenic gorge of the Wye Valley along the border with Gloucestershire adjoining the Forest of Dean , and the valley of the River Usk between Abergavenny and Newport. Both rivers flow south to the Severn Estuary . The River Monnow is a tributary of the River Wye and forms part of the border with Herefordshire and England, passing through the town of Monmouth. The highest point of
15476-455: The many mills on the tributaries of the Wye. An important aspect of Chepstow's trade was entrepôt trade: bringing larger cargoes into the manageable deep water of the Wye on high tide and breaking down the load for on-shipment in the many trows up the Wye to Hereford past the coin stamping mill at Redbrook, or up the Severn to Gloucester and beyond. Chepstow also traded across the estuary to Bristol on suitable tides to work vessels up and down
15622-404: The marquess died in captivity and his son spent time in prison and in exile abroad. John Arnold was a firm enemy of Catholics and pursued a policy of harassment throughout the 1670s. Monmouthshire’s only dukedom was created in 1663 for James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth , but became forfeit following Scott’s execution after the failed Monmouth Rebellion in 1685. In the 18th and much of
15768-462: The members were bikers who coined the group's name, claiming they looked like the 'Black Widows', a bike gang from film Every Which Way but Loose . In 2010 the team were invited to represent Wales in a Celtic music festival in France. The black, skull-like face-paint, used by the team members, was originally used to mask identities. The team's foreman Mick Widder has described the group: "We’re from
15914-426: The new county were Newport , Cwmbran , Pontypool , Ebbw Vale and Abergavenny . The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 created the present local government structure in Wales of 22 unitary authority areas , the principal areas , and abolished the previous two-tier structure of counties and districts . It came into effect on 1 April 1996. It brought to an end the 22-year existence of Gwent, and re-created
16060-456: The re-established unity of the country was to come from Norman dominance. The Norman invasion of South Wales from the late 1060s saw the destruction of the Kingdom of Gwent, and its replacement by five Marcher lordships based at Striguil (Chepstow), Monmouth, Abergavenny, Usk and Caerleon. The Marcher Lord of Abergavenny, Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Gloucester , described the rule of
16206-435: The remainder reporting themselves as Buddhist (0.4 percent); Hindu (0.2 per cent); Jewish (0.1 per cent); Muslim (0.5 per cent); Sikh (0.1 per cent) or Other (0.6 per cent). Monmouthshire is now primarily a service economy , with professional, scientific and technical businesses, financial services, IT and business administration, retail, hospitality and arts and entertainment businesses accounting for just over 50 per cent of
16352-399: The river has also been landscaped in association with a flood defence scheme. Chepstow is located on the west bank of the River Wye, some 3 miles (4.8 km) north of its confluence with the Severn estuary. To the north of the town, the Wye passes through a limestone gorge, and there are limestone cliffs at Chepstow both north and south of the town centre and on the opposite (east) side of
16498-480: The river opposite Chepstow, at Tutshill and Sedbury. Those areas, though located in England rather than Wales, are now effectively suburbs of the town. Chepstow is administered by Monmouthshire County Council , one of the 22 unitary local authorities in Wales formed in 1996. As of 2022, the town elects six county councillors, for the wards of Bulwark and Thornwell (2 members); Chepstow Castle and Larkfield (2 members); Mount Pleasant; and St Kingsmark. Following
16644-575: The river, visiting, drawing and painting the " picturesque " views of the area, which included those of Tintern Abbey , Piercefield House , and the ruined Chepstow Castle . In the 19th century a shipbuilding industry developed, and the town was also known for the production of clocks, bells, and grindstones. In 1840 leaders of the Chartist insurrection in Newport were transported from Chepstow to Van Diemen's Land . The port's trade declined after
16790-465: The river. The town is overlooked by the inland cliffs at Wyndcliff near St Arvans , about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the town, and, from parts of the town, the Severn estuary and its bridges can be seen. The historic centre of Chepstow occupies part of a bend in the River Wye, and slopes up from the river to the town centre and beyond. As well as cliffs used for rock climbing, percolation of acidic groundwater has dissolved limestone to produce caves in
16936-494: The second largest being Asian/Asian British who make up 1.1% of the population, below the county average of 1.3%. The largest religious group is No religion with 47.4% of the population, above the county average of 43.4%, with the second largest being Christian at 45.1%, below the county average of 48.7%. According to the 2021 census, 9.4% of Chepstow residents could speak, read or write Welsh , 2% could understand spoken Welsh only and 88.6% had no skills in Welsh at all. The town
17082-577: The second largest single sector after professional, scientific and technical enterprises. The Monmouthshire Show , an annual agricultural show , is one of the largest such events in Wales and has operated since 1790. The third largest individual employment sector is construction. The only motorways are in the south of the county: the M4 which connects Wales with England via the Second Severn Crossing with its Welsh end near Sudbrook ; and
17228-464: The shipyards, from 1917, led to the start of " garden suburb " housing development at Hardwick (now known locally as "Garden City") and Bulwark . The shipyard itself became a works for fabricating major engineering structures. From 1938, Chepstow housed the head office of the Red & White bus company, on Bulwark Road. New housing development in the twentieth century took place to the north and south of
17374-416: The south of the county. The town was established in AD 75, laid out in the traditional rectangular Roman pattern of twenty insulae with a basilica and a temple flanking a forum . Other Roman settlements in the area included Blestium (Monmouth). The Romanisation of Monmouthshire was not without continuing civil unrest; the defences at Caerwent, and at Caerleon, underwent considerable strengthening in
17520-514: The stretch near Chepstow formed part of the original Dyke. It is possible, though not clearly substantiated, that Chepstow may have superseded Caerwent as a trading centre, and been used by both Saxons and the Welsh. The Lancaut and Beachley peninsulas, opposite Chepstow, were in Welsh rather than Mercian control at that time, although by the time of the Domesday Book Striguil was assessed as part of Gloucestershire. After
17666-403: The strongly Catholic Marquesses of Worcester (later Dukes of Beaufort) at its apex, from their powerbase at Raglan Castle . The outbreak of war saw the county predominantly Royalist in its sympathies; Henry Somerset, 1st Marquess of Worcester expended a fortune in support of Charles I and twice entertained him at Raglan. His generosity was unavailing; the castle fell after a siege in 1646;
17812-400: The total number of enterprises in the county. Employers are generally small, with 91 per cent of businesses employing fewer than 10 people. It is a relatively prosperous county in comparison with the average in Wales; 80.0 per cent of people of working age are in employment compared with the Welsh average of 72.8 per cent; just under 3,000 people were in receipt of the main unemployment benefit,
17958-528: The town centre to a new site beside the motorway in 2011. There are smaller industrial estates in Bulwark, and close to the town's railway station, and the Newhouse Farm industrial estate is also a major distribution centre. Other notable locally based businesses have included Architen Landrell, a manufacturer of tensile architectural structures , whose closure was announced in December 2015; and MVM Films ,
18104-593: The town centre, and more recently beyond the A466 road to the west of the town. The town developed rapidly after the opening of the Severn Bridge in 1966, which replaced the car ferry between Beachley and Aust and allowed easier commuting between Chepstow and larger centres including Bristol and Cardiff. Over £2 million was invested in regenerating the town centre in 2004–05. This scheme, which includes sculptures and other public art , encountered some local criticism over its high cost, but gained several national awards reflecting its high design quality. The area beside
18250-616: The town centre, together with a Lidl store at Bulwark and a B & M store close to the motorway junction at Thornwell. The town has one bank and many independent cafes and restaurants. It also has several independent shops, though the family-run department store, Herbert Lewis, closed in 2018 after 140 years. National chains represented include W.H. Smith , Peacocks , Boots , Superdrug , and Poundland . The pedestrianised St Mary's Street contains antique shops, gift shops, an independent book shop, coffee shops and restaurants. There are also regular farmers' markets and produce markets in
18396-518: The town centre. A regular open air weekly market at the racecourse closed in 2014. The town's livestock market closed in the early 1960s. According to the 2001 Census, Chepstow had relatively high proportions of its population working in the retail and wholesale sectors of the economy (19.6%, compared with 16.3% for Wales as a whole), property services (11.3%, compared with 8.5% across Wales), and transport and communications (9.4% compared with 5.5% across Wales). The proportion working in manufacturing
18542-549: The town was known for its imports of wine . Chepstow was given its first charter in 1524, by Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester , and became part of Monmouthshire when the county was formed. The town appears as "Strigulia", "Chepstowe" and "Castelh Gwent" on the Cambriae Typus map of 1573. The castle and town changed hands several times during the English Civil War , and the regicide Henry Marten
18688-483: The town, or the Mendip TV transmitter. Local radio stations are BBC Radio Wales , BBC Radio Cymru , BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Radio Gloucestershire both can also be heard, Heart South Wales , Nation Radio Wales and Sunshine Radio . The town is served by the local newspapers, Chepstow Beacon and South Wales Argus Chepstow Racecourse is the leading horse racing facility and course in Wales. It
18834-466: The twentieth century was so transformed as that of Monmouthshire". The title of Gwent continues as a preserved county , one of eight such counties in Wales, which have mainly ceremonial functions such as the Lords Lieutenant and High Sheriffs . The current Lord Lieutenant of Gwent from 2016 is Brigadier Robert Aitken. The current High Sheriff for 2023–2024 is Professor Simon J. Gibson. It
18980-424: The urbanised South Wales Valleys ; it has an area of 330 square miles (850 km ) and a population of 93,000. After Abergavenny (12,515), the largest towns are Chepstow (12,350), Monmouth (10,508), and Caldicot (9,813). The county has one of the lowest percentages of Welsh speakers in Wales, at 8.2% of the population in 2021. The lowlands in the centre of Monmouthshire are gently undulating, and shaped by
19126-436: The whole of Wales. 41.9 per cent of the population identified as "Welsh", down from 44.0% in 2011. The percentage of residents in Monmouthshire that identified as "British only" increased from 23.5% to 27.0%. In the 2021 census 43.4 per cent of Monmouthshire residents reported having "No religion", an increase of nearly 15 per cent from the 28.5 per cent in the 2011 census. 48.7 per cent described themselves as "Christian" with
19272-452: The year that are open to all. In the early 2000s the community organised major son et lumière pageants covering aspects of local history, using local residents under professional direction. Since 2012, an annual series of "Castell Roc" music events has been held inside Chepstow Castle each August, featuring performances by artists such as Leo Sayer , Dr Hook , Bad Manners , and Jools Holland . The Chepstow Museum , first established by
19418-439: Was a small Roman fort in the area, the only evidence found so far has been of Roman material and burials, rather than buildings. After the Romans left, Chepstow was within the southern part of the Welsh kingdom of Gwent , known as Gwent Is-coed (i.e. Gwent this side of the woods ). To the north of the modern town centre, a small church was established dedicated to St. Cynfarch (alternatively Cynmarch, Kynemark or Kingsmark),
19564-558: Was also a Monmouthshire Advertiser but this was absorbed into the Monmouthshire Beacon and Advertiser by 1850. Around 1840, John Dix claimed to have been editor of this paper but supporting evidence is not available. The Beacon' s printing works and offices moved to the new Market Hall in Priory Street in 1876. In 1963, the newspaper's offices and print works were completely destroyed, together with much of
19710-660: Was also an aviation pioneer, and died in a plane crash in 1910. He is commemorated by a statue in Agincourt Square in Monmouth. The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers was founded in 1539, making it the second oldest regiment in the British Army . Originally a county militia, it was amalgamated into the Royal Engineers in 1877. It is based at Monmouth Castle . Fitzroy Somerset , a younger son of
19856-495: Was as part of the county of Monmouth seat, from 1536. Between 1885 and 1918 it formed part of the South Monmouthshire constituency, and since then has been within the Monmouth county constituency . The town has remained within the Monmouth constituency in subsequent elections, although the constituency boundary has changed several times. The constituency has returned a Conservative MP at most recent elections;
20002-564: Was born at his father's castle at Monmouth in 1386, and his birth, and his most famous military victory , are commemorated in Agincourt Square in the town, and by a statue on the frontage of the Shire Hall which forms the square's centrepiece. In Henry V's wars in France, he received strong military support from the archers of Gwent, who were famed for their skill with the Welsh bow . Gerald recorded, "the men of Gwent are more skilled with
20148-596: Was declared by campaign group Surfers Against Sewage to be the first "Plastic Free Town" in south Wales. Chepstow is located close to junction 2 of the M48 motorway , at the western end of the Severn Bridge . The bridge was opened in 1966 and has the second longest span of any bridge in the UK; it replaced the Aust-Beachley ferry . Before the Severn Bridge was opened, the Old Wye Bridge across
20294-425: Was established in the town – and heavy engineering, including the prefabrication of bridges and wind turbine towers. Chepstow is also well known for its racecourse , which has hosted the Welsh National each year since 1949. The town had a population of 12,350 at the 2011 census, decreasing to 11,900 (rounded to the nearest 100) at the 2021 census . It is served by the M48 motorway , and its accessibility to
20440-501: Was firmly embedded in Wales, and in 1840 the Chartist leaders John Frost , Zephaniah Williams and William Jones were tried for sedition and treason at the Shire Hall, Monmouth , after a failed insurrection at Newport . Their death sentences were subsequently commuted to transportation to Australia. Industrialisation also drove improvements in transportation; in the 18th century, the poor state of Monmouthshire's roads approached
20586-526: Was formed from the Welsh Marches by the Laws in Wales Act 1535 . The Laws in Wales Act 1542 enumerated the counties of Wales and omitted Monmouthshire, implying that the county was no longer to be treated as part of Wales. Though for all purposes Wales had become part of the Kingdom of England , and the difference had little practical effect, it did begin a centuries-long dispute as to Monmouthshire's status as
20732-496: Was later imprisoned and died in the castle. The port continued to flourish; during the period 1790 to 1795, records show a greater tonnage of goods handled than Swansea , Cardiff and Newport combined. Chepstow reached the peak of its importance during the Napoleonic Wars , when its exports of timber, for ships, and bark, for leather tanning , were especially vital. There were also exports of wire and paper , made in
20878-483: Was lower than the average (15.2% compared with 17.3% across Wales), as was the proportion working in health and social work (9.3% compared to 13.0% across Wales). In terms of occupational groups, the proportions of residents in higher status managerial, professional and associate technical posts was higher than average (totalling 44.1% compared with 35.4% across Wales), and the proportions in administrative, personal services and processing work were lower. In 2018 Chepstow
21024-469: Was made directly responsible to the courts of Westminster rather than falling under the Court of Great Sessions in Wales . Most legislation for Wales was applied to it using the phrase "Wales and Monmouthshire", and the issue of whether Monmouthshire should be considered as part of Wales for administrative purposes was finally clarified in law by the Local Government Act 1972 which incorporated it within Wales. Chepstow developed from mediaeval times as
21170-518: Was opened in 2000, having been developed under the United Kingdom Government's Private Finance Initiative . It was built and is operated by Kintra Ltd, at an annual charge of £1.2m to Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust . The hospital building incorporates mementoes from the past, including the old Admiralty portico moulding from the front facade of the former Mount Pleasant Hospital, which was located on an adjacent site now developed as
21316-460: Was produced in a warm, tropical marine environment, when Europe was closer to the equator. The rock of Sedbury cliffs and those under Chepstow Castle are Carboniferous Limestone , hundreds of metres thick in the area, made of particles and shells of sea creatures from 330 to 360 million years ago. Layered outcrops of darker Black Rock Limestone, which makes up a broad part of Chepstow's bedrock, are very clear in cliffs along Craig yr Afon, part of
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