Rhymney

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Statistics
Rhymney
Population:	7,011
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference:	Maps for SO115075
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:	TREDEGAR
Postal district:	NP22
Dialling code:	+44-1685
Politics
UK Parliament:	Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
European Parliament:	Wales

Rhymney (Welsh: Rhymni) is a town located in the county borough of Caerphilly, traditional county of Monmouthshire, south Wales, United Kingdom. The place was well known for its neighboring coal mines, which used to employ almost the entire population, in the beginning of the 20th century.

It is also famous due to a poem by Idris Davies called "Bells of Rhymney", about a serious coal mine accident that happened there. Later, Pete Seeger composed a song, and turned the poem into the lyrics of the music, which was later notably recorded by The Byrds, as well as by Robyn Hitchcock and other musicians.

The history of Rhymney is described quite eloquently in Rhymney Memories, a book by Dr Thomas Jones CH, who was born there and whose daughter, the Labour politician Eirene White was later granted the title Baroness White of Rhymney.