Bedwas

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Bedwas
Statistics
Population: 8,512
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference: Maps for ST175895
Administration
Principal area: Caerphilly
Constituent country: Wales
Sovereign state: United Kingdom
Other
Police force: Gwent Police
Ceremonial county: Gwent
Historic county: Monmouthshire
Post office and telephone
Post town: CAERPHILLY
Postal district: CF83
Dialling code: +44-29
Politics
UK Parliament: Caerphilly
European Parliament: Wales
Wales

Bedwas is a village 2 miles north-east of Caerphilly, south Wales, situated in the Caerphilly borough and traditional county of Monmouthshire. It neighbours Trethomas and Machen, and forms a council ward in conjunction with those communities.

Bedwas owes much of its history to the Welsh coal mining industry. In the late 18th century it was home to four coal pits, and the construction of a large-scale colliery had been completed by 1913. At its peak, the colliery's workers raised 675,000 tons of coal in one year (1939). It was closed, along with others, in the Miners' Strike of 1984-85, and did not reopen. Light industry replaced mining as the main local employer.

Bedwas is home to a rugby union club and comprehensive school.