91-523: The Port Wall in Chepstow , Monmouthshire , Wales , is a late thirteenth century stone wall, which was constructed for the twin purposes of defence and tax collection by permitting users of the town's market only one point of access through the wall at the Town Gate . The wall originally formed a semi-circle extending for some 1,100 metres (3,600 ft), roughly southwards from Chepstow Castle to
182-579: 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
273-720: 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
364-558: 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
455-699: 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
546-541: A dual carriageway and forms part of the main trunk road between Pont Abraham Services to Carmarthen where the A48 ends. The original (1923) route of the A48 was Worcester to Carmarthen via Malvern , Ledbury , Ross-on-Wye , Monmouth , Newport, Cardiff, Bridgend, Neath and Llanelli . In 1935 it was rerouted east of Newport, replacing the A437 between Newport and Gloucester. The road from Worcester to Newport became part of
637-408: 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
728-604: 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
819-594: 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,
910-486: 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
1001-495: A walkway along the inside and battlements along the top, and at least 11 outward-facing semi-circular towers, each about 8 metres in diameter. In some stretches there was a dry ditch outside the wall. It is uncertain whether the wall originally extended from the castle wall itself, or from a point across the Dell, a steeply sided valley which forms a natural moat on the south side of the castle. The wall remained wholly intact until it
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#17327980955851092-424: 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
1183-733: Is a trunk road in Great Britain running from the A40 at Highnam , 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Gloucester , England , to the A40 at Carmarthen , Wales . Before the Severn Bridge opened on 8 September 1966, it was a major route between England and South Wales . For most of its route, it runs almost parallel to the M4 motorway . During times of high winds at the Severn Bridge, the A48
1274-596: Is a dual carriageway again. From Bridgend it becomes a single carriageway, until Port Talbot where it is a dual carriageway, and originally known as the A48(M) (Port Talbot Bypass) until the M4 was extended. The A48 then ends on the western end of the Briton Ferry Bridge at junction 42 of the M4 and starts again at junction 44 where again it is a single carriageway until the end of the M4 at junction 49 where it becomes
1365-718: 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
1456-610: 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
1547-579: 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
1638-528: 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
1729-693: Is still a primary route of some importance for the Forest of Dean. From the M4 Motorway at J15 near Swindon, traffic is directed for Wales if it is over the Severn Bridge weight limit of 44 tonnes. Traffic is directed onto the A419, then onto the A417 after Cirencester, and at Gloucester, onto the A40. This road has some speed cameras, as there have previously been incidents here, and have been erected to prevent them from happening again. During busy periods, such as
1820-540: Is used as part of the diversion route and is still marked as a Holiday Route. From Gloucester, the A48 runs through the villages of Minsterworth , Westbury-on-Severn , connects to a link road to Cinderford in the Forest of Dean then through Newnham , Blakeney and since 1995, bypassing Lydney on the west bank of the River Severn . It crosses the England–Wales border at Chepstow and continues westwards close to
1911-629: The A449 , apart from the section between Ross and Monmouth (which became part of the A40). In June 2008, the 27-mile (43 km) Gloucester – Chepstow stretch of the A48 was named as the most dangerous road in South West England. This single carriageway had 45 fatal and serious injury collisions between 2004 and 2006, and was rated as medium risk in the EuroRAP report published by
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#17327980955852002-561: 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
2093-605: 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,
2184-499: The Marcher Lordship of Striguil , the town's name deriving from ceape stowe meaning a trading place. The town and its priory were defended by its castle, established in 1067 and reconstructed and extended in stone on several occasions. The port was known for its exports of timber and bark, and its imports of wine from Gascony , Spain and Portugal . Because of its status as a Marcher lordship, dues were levied by
2275-1009: The Marriott St Pierre Hotel and Country Club, and the National Diving and Activity Centre at Tidenham . Several long distance trails – the Offa's Dyke Path , the Wye Valley Walk , the Wales Coast Path , and the Gloucestershire Way – pass through, or very close to, the town. Chepstow Golf Club (now defunct) was founded in 1914. The club disappeared in the 1960s. A48 road [REDACTED] A449 [REDACTED] M4 [REDACTED] A4042 [REDACTED] A48(M) [REDACTED] A4232 [REDACTED] A470 [REDACTED] A465 [REDACTED] A4138 The A48
2366-568: 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
2457-569: 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
2548-472: 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
2639-542: The River Wye . It enclosed an area of 53 hectares (130 acres), including the entire town and port as it existed at that time. Substantial sections of the wall remain intact, and both the Port Wall and the Town Gate are Grade I listed buildings . The Port Wall is a Scheduled monument . After the Norman conquest of England and parts of south Wales , Chepstow developed as an important port and trading centre within
2730-517: 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
2821-613: 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
Chepstow Port Wall - Misplaced Pages Continue
2912-475: 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
3003-507: 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
3094-620: The A466, a road that provides access to the Wye Valley and to the M48 motorway , originally the M4. Access to the M4 is available on this road. The A48 becomes a secondary route here, and continues bypassing Caldicot , Caerwent and Langstone . The A48 then continues to M4 junction 24, from which oint it is also known as the Southern Distributor Road , which is entirely a dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction around
3185-459: 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
3276-677: 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
3367-642: 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
3458-723: The Gabalfa Interchange, where it is known as the Western Avenue and is largely a single carriageway with four lanes until Culverhouse Cross interchange. From the Culverhouse Cross interchange on the western boarder of Cardiff the road is mostly a single carriageway with two lanes until Cowbridge, where it becomes the Cowbridge Bypass which is a dual carriageway , until again it becomes a single carriageway with two lanes until Bridgend when it
3549-453: 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
3640-596: 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
3731-579: The Severn Bore, this road may become busy with parked cars near the river's edge. Apart from morning and evening rush hours, the road is generally quite empty and free running, with no heavy traffic reports. The road also runs next to the Forest of Dean . The woods may be viewed from the roadside, as may the hills of the Dean. There is a level crossing in Lydney. Until Chepstow, there is a height limit under
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3822-411: The South Wales coast passing Newport , Cardiff , Cowbridge , Bridgend , Pyle , Port Talbot , Neath and Swansea , before terminating at the junction with the A40 near the centre of Carmarthen . The A48 from Highnam to Newport runs adjacent to the River Severn . After running through a series of villages, it crosses the England–Wales border at Chepstow . The section between Higham and Chepstow
3913-399: The Town Gate; and, in 1294, for granting to his close associate, John ap Adam of Sedbury , the right to hold a regular market at Chepstow. The Port Wall and Town Gate together ensured that only those paying tolls to the lord could attend the market; and had the additional purpose of keeping out undesirable elements, including the occasionally hostile Welsh people living in the countryside to
4004-767: 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
4095-524: 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
4186-401: 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
4277-405: 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
4368-412: 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 ,
4459-403: 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
4550-417: 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
4641-422: 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
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#17327980955854732-417: 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
4823-422: 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
4914-410: 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
5005-428: The death of his uncle . Bigod undertook a substantial building programme within and around Chepstow, including, at the castle, a new range of buildings for accommodation for himself and his family, and a massive new defensive tower (now known as "Marten's Tower"); and also, a few miles to the north, the rebuilding of Tintern Abbey . He was also responsible for the building of the Port Wall, usually dated at 1274–78, and
5096-430: 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
5187-446: 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
5278-432: 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
5369-444: 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
5460-410: The local lord, outside any direct control by the English crown . It has been suggested, but not confirmed, that the priory, castle and river crossing may originally have been defended by earthworks in a line some way to the east of the later stone wall, and that the market place initially grew up outside that line. In 1270 the lordship came under the control of Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk , after
5551-423: 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
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#17327980955855642-423: The low railway bridges . Tall vehicles are directed to Newport on the A40. For some parts of this route, short distance dual carriageways occur, especially on steep hills. At Chepstow, the road links Gloucestershire with Monmouthshire . The road runs through Chepstow. There is access to the Forest of Dean in Chepstow. At the end of the road in Chepstow (at the roundabout), the Primary Route ends here, and it meets
5733-455: 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
5824-409: 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
5915-399: 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
6006-480: 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
6097-465: 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
6188-465: 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
6279-494: 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
6370-416: 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
6461-413: The southern end of Newport until M4 junction 28. From junction 28 it remains a dual carriageway until just after the Celtic Way roundabout where it becomes a single carriageway with four lanes past Castleton , and then merges with the junction 29A of the A48(M) motorway at St Mellons , where it again becomes a dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction, where it is known as the Eastern Avenue until
6552-514: 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
6643-528: 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 ,
6734-643: 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
6825-616: 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
6916-518: 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
7007-549: 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
7098-483: 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
7189-458: The wall, pedestrian access to their school. Gaps in the wall were later opened to give vehicle access to the main town car park at Welsh Street in the 1960s, and for a new relief road ( A48 ) in the early 1970s. The Port Wall was given Grade I Listed Building status on 24 March 1975. 51°38′25″N 2°40′33″W / 51.640153°N 2.67571°W / 51.640153; -2.67571 Chepstow Chepstow ( Welsh : Cas-gwent )
7280-419: The west of the town. Much of the land within the walls was never built on, but was used as pasture, orchards and gardens, with wharves and shipyards on the river. The wall is, on average, about 5 metres (16 ft) high and 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) thick. It was built without any substantial foundations, and is faced with roughly squared blocks of stone ashlar and filled with rubble. It originally had
7371-452: 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
7462-492: 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),
7553-606: 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;
7644-578: Was breached in 1846 to allow the construction of the railway line between Chepstow and Newport . The stretch of wall running south of the railway line to the river was then demolished in 1916 for the development of the National Shipyard No.1 during the First World War , and a further gap was opened up in the wall shortly afterwards to enable the children of shipyard workers in the newly built Hardwick Garden City estate, just outside
7735-581: 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
7826-425: 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
7917-496: 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
8008-483: 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
8099-591: 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
8190-518: 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
8281-460: 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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