Abergavenny
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Abergavenny | ||
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | ||
| Population: | 14,055 | |
| Ordnance Survey | ||
| OS grid reference: | Maps for SO295145 | |
| Administration | ||
| Principal area: | Monmouthshire | |
| Constituent country: | Wales | |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom | |
| Other | ||
| Police force: | Gwent Police | |
| Ceremonial county: | Gwent | |
| Historic county: | Monmouthshire | |
| Post office and telephone | ||
| Post town: | ABERGAVENNY | |
| Postal district: | NP7 | |
| Dialling code: | 01873 | |
| Politics | ||
| UK Parliament: | Monmouth | |
| European Parliament: | Wales | |
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Abergavenny (signposted Welsh: Y Fenni), meaning "Mouth of the River Gavenny", is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales.
It is 15 miles (24 km) west of Monmouth. Situated at the confluence of the small stream called the Gavenny with the River Usk, it is almost surrounded by lofty hills. The town was formerly walled, and contains the remains of a castle built soon after the Norman Conquest, frequently the scene of border strife. It is in the Welsh Marches.
A sign on the Town Hall gives Abergavenny the title 'Gateway to Wales' — this is thought to refer to the fought-after border running north-south through the town to other castles including Ewyas Harold and Usk. When formed, the county of Monmouthshire (referred historically as 'Wales and Monmouthshire') comprised a 'Welsh sector' to the west and English to the east. Today, as well as a local Monmouth accent, those from the nearby Welsh valleys, Herefordshire and the Forest of Dean can be heard in the town.
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[edit] History
The church of St Mary belonged originally to a Benedictine monastery founded early in the 12th century. The existing building, however, is Decorated and Perpendicular.
Abergavenny, often known as 'Aber' to the locals, was the Roman Gobannium, a small fort guarding the road along the valley of the Usk for keeping the peace among the hill tribes. Remains of the walls of this fort were discovered not too far west of the castle when excavating the foundations of the then new Post Office in the mid 1960s.
The name is associated with the Celtic smith god Govannon. Abergavenny (Bergavenny) grew under the protection of the lords of Abergavenny, whose title dated from William I (the Conqueror).
Owing to its situation, the town was frequently embroiled in the border warfare of the 12th and 13th centuries, and Giraldus Cambrensis relates how in 1173 the castle was seized by the Welsh. Hamelyn de Baalun, first lord of Abergavenny, founded the Benedictine priory, which was subsequently endowed by William de Braose with a tenth of the profits of the castle and town. At the dissolution of the priory part of this endowment went towards the foundation of a free grammar school, the site itself passing to the Gunter family. During the Civil War prior to the siege of Raglan Castle in 1645, Charles I visited Abergavenny, and presided in person over the trial of Sir Trevor Williams and other Parliamentarians.
In 1639 Abergavenny received a charter of incorporation under the title of bailiff and burgesses. A charter with extended privileges was drafted in 1657, but appears never to have been enrolled or to have come into effect. Owing to the refusal of the chief officers of the corporation to take the oath of allegiance to William III in 1688, the charter was annulled, and the town subsequently declined in prosperity.
Chapter 28 of the 1535 Act of Henry VIII, which provided that Monmouth, as county town, should return one burgess to Parliament, further stated that other ancient Monmouthshire boroughs were to contribute towards the payment of the member. In consequence of this clause Abergavenny on various occasions shared in the election, the last instance being in 1685. Reference to a market at Abergavenny is found in a charter granted to the prior by William de Braose (d. 1211). The right to hold two weekly markets and three yearly fairs, as held ever since, was confirmed in 1657. Abergavenny was celebrated for the production of Welsh flannel, and also for the manufacture, whilst the fashion prevailed, of goats' hair periwigs.
The title of Baron Abergavenny, in the Nevill family, dates from Edward Nevill (d. 1476), who was the youngest son of the 1st Earl of Westmoreland by Joan Beaufort, daughter of John of Gaunt. He married the heiress of Richard, Earl of Worcester, whose father had inherited the castle and estate of Abergavenny, and was summoned in 1392 to parliament as Lord Bergavenny. Edward Nevill was summoned to parliament with this title in 1450. His direct male descendants ended in 1387 in Henry Nevill, but a cousin, Edward Nevill (d. 1622), was confirmed in the barony in 1604. From him it has descended continuously, the title being increased to an earldom in 1784; and in 1876 William Nevill (sic) 5th earl (b. 1826), an indefatigable and powerful supporter of the conservative party, was created 1st Marquess of Abergavenny.
Referring to the town, Abergavenny is the title of a 1969 hit by Marty Wilde.
Abergavenny is the home of Abergavenny Thursdays Football Club, which was formed in 1927 and is currently a member of the Gwent County League Division 3. The club's current position comes within 15 years of their being one of the top sides in Welsh football, winning the old format Welsh Football League in 1991 and 1992 but being relegated in 1993 after just one season in the newly formed League of Wales. The club suffered relegation from the Welsh Football League in 2001 and has since slipped through the next two divisions into its current position, although the future is now looking brighter.
[edit] Etymology
The name Abergavenny is derived from the Welsh language Aber (meaning 'mouth of') and the river Gavenny. As with many other Welsh places a new Welsh name Y Fenni was assigned in the latter part of the 20th century. This can loosely be derived from Y (meaning 'the') and Fenni (the last syllable of the river name). English and Welsh speakers generally continue to use the original.
[edit] Recent developments
Abergavenny residents have been battling with local council chiefs over the planned construction of an ASDA superstore on the site of the town's cattle market. Many residents believe it will upset the carefully cultivated 'traditional market town' feeling Abergavenny has and lose visits by many tourists, as well as taking business from the town. 3,ooo letters of protest were received, and on 3rd October 2006, the planning committee turned down the Henry Boot scheme incorporating the ASDA superstore.
[edit] Abergavenny Cattle Market
A Cattle Market has been held in Abergavenny on its current site since 1863. Before 1863 a sheep market was held at a site in Castle Street between 1825-1863 to stop the sale of sheep on the streets of the town.
Today the market is leased and operated by Abergavenny Market Auctioneers LTD who holds regular livestock auctions on the site.
Market days:
Monday – The sale of finished lambs and cull stock.
Tuesday – The sale of finished sheep, cull ewe/store, a Fodder auction and sale of hay.
Some Fridays – The sale of Cattle.
A few other sales are held on the site on other days throughout the year.
The market however is soon to be moved probably to Raglan to make room for a new development.
[edit] Abergavenny Market and Fairs
Tuesdays – One of the best (possibly the best) retail markets held in Wales. Held in the Market hall, Town hall car park and Brewery yard car park.
Wednesday – Flea Market held in the Market Hall.
Every 4th Thursday of the month a Farmers market is held in the Market hall, which sells products direct from the producer.
Friday – Retail market held in the Market Hall.
Saturday – Retail market held in the Market Hall and Town hall car park.
Every 3rd Sunday of the month is an Antique Fair in the Market Hall.
A Craft fair is held in the Market Hall on the 2nd Saturday of the month.
[edit] Trivia
- Abergavenny hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1913.
- The novelist Alexander Cordell is buried in the nearby village of Llanfoist.
- Abergavenny is twinned with Östringen in Germany, Beaupreau in France and Sarno in Italy.
- In 1968, the town was immortalised in the song "Taking a trip up to Abergavenny" by Marty Wilde.
- In 1404 Abergavenny was declared its own nation by Ioan Ap Howell, illegitimate son of Owain Glyndŵr. The arrangement lasted approximately two weeks.
- Each September, Abergavenny holds a very successful Food Festival throughout the town centre and castle.
- The Beatles played at the Borough Theatre in Abergavenny on Saturday June 22, 1963.
- The Knight Bus in Harry Potter stops at Abergavenny.
- In the Dangermouse episode The Four Tasks of Dangermouse it is mentioned that Penfold has an aunt in Abergavenny.
[edit] External links
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- Mapping from Multimap or GlobalGuide or Google Maps
- Aerial image from TerraServer
- Satellite image from WikiMapia
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
