| Goldcliff | |
| Welsh: Allteuryn | |
A reen near Goldcliff . |
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Goldcliff
Goldcliff shown within Newport |
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| Population | 233 (2001 census[1]) |
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| Principal area | Newport |
| Ceremonial county | Gwent |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWPORT |
| Postcode district | NP18 2 |
| Dialling code | +44-1633 Maindee exchange |
| Police | Gwent |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Newport East |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Newport | |
Goldcliff (Welsh: Allteuryn) is a village and community parish to the south east of the city of Newport in South Wales. It lies within the Newport city boundaries, in the historic county of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent.
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The name is said to have originated from the silicious limestone cliff, about 60 feet high, at Hill Farm, rising over a great bed of yellow mica which breaks the level at the shore and has a glittering appearance in sunshine, especially to ships passing in the Bristol Channel.
Giraldus Cambrensis, who toured Wales in 1188 refers to it as "Gouldclyffe" and describes it in Latin as "...glittering with a wonderful brightness".[2]
Together with the neighbouring parishes of Nash and Whitson, it is one of "The Three Parishes" which have long been a unit - geographical, socially, economically and ecclesiastically. All three parishes are typical of the Caldicot Levels.
At the highest tides the village lies below sea-level. The entire area is drained by a vast network of inter-linking ditches or 'reens' [3]. A main drainage ditch, with an origin near Llanwern, known as "Monksditch" or "Goldcliff Pill" [4] (probably from the Welsh "pwll" for pool) passes through the village on its way to the sea. Local folklore maintains that the sides of the Monksditch are laced with smuggler's brandy.
Fields are drained by low depressions, running the width of the fields, known locally as grips. The field area between grips is termed a span or spain. The grips drain into the reens which are slow-moving and, in Summer months, often stagnant. Reens run towards the sea where they empty into the sea, between tides, at a gout. The level of reens is controlled by means of a series of sluices or stanks, separate boards in which may be raised or lowered to keep water levels high enough for livestock to drink. The faster flowing Monksditch carries water from more distant higher ground, above tbe level of the reens, some of which pass underneath the ditch by means of culverts.
Hidden in the laminated silts of the Severn estuary foreshore at Goldcliff are 8,000-year-old (mesolithic) human footprints [5] and the intertidal region of the coast near Goldcliff has attracted considerable archaeological interest (see Archaeology below). Goldcliff has notable evidence of occupation by the Silures.[6]
A connection with Roman activity was firmly established with the discovery near Goldcliff Point in 1878 of the inscribed "Goldcliff Stone" recording the work of legionaries on a linear earthwork, presumably a sea wall.[7] Further evidence of occupation was found when ash pits were dug at Nash during construction of the Uskmouth Power Station.
Goldcliff was originally owned by the native princes of Wales, but was taken from Owen Wan by the Norman nobleman Robert de Chandos who, shortly before 1113, founded a priory there.[2]
The higher coastal parts of the area were certainly reclaimed by the late 11th century and early 12th century when Goldcliff and Nash were granted to the Benedictine priory. Lower-lying areas inland were enclosed and drained [3] by the 13th century and 14th century.
On the site of Hill Farm, situated on a prominent knoll of high ground, south of the village and next to the sea, stood Goldcliff Priory. Founded in 1113 as a subject house of the Abbey of Bec in Normandy, it passed during the fifteenth century into the control of Tewkesbury Abbey and then of Eton College.
Goldcliff has long been associated with the tidal putcher fishing of salmon, which may well have had its origins with the Priory or even in Roman times. The technique used the so-called "putcher" basket traditionally made from hazel rods and withy (willow) plait, set out against the tides in huge wooden "ranks". The last main exponent of the art of wooden putcher-making at Goldcliff was George Whittaker, although a working knowledge of the technique was also kept into the 1970s by Wyndham Howells of Saltmarsh Farm, the last fulltime fisherman at Goldcliff. Deeds for Saltmarsh Farm for 1867–1918 are held by Gwent Record Office [8]
The mixed school for the parishes of Goldcliff and Whitson was erected in 1872 for 60 children and in 1901 had an average attendance of 46, with a Miss Mary Edith Tomlinson as the mistress.[9] Until it closed in July 1954, the school received an annual gift of £2 from Eton College[10]
Kelly's 1901 Directory lists the only private residence in the village as "The Moorlands", but has no fewer than 27 commercial concerns, mostly farmers, but also including a haulier, two fishermen, a female publican, a farm bailiff, a hay dealer, a mason and a shoe maker. The Directory also lists a Mrs Annie Louise Taylor as hotellier at "The Temperance Hotel".[9] The hotel, situated at the end of the Sea Wall Road, was a well-known landmark as late as the 1950s.
A small enclosure on Chapel Lane, to the north of the present parish church, is thought to hold the remains of an ancient chapel, probably connected with the Priory. Also lying off Chapel Lane, the farmhouse and barn at Great Newra Farm has Grade II Listed buildings.[11]
The quaint Congregational (later United Reformed Church) chapel [12] near the junction of the Sea Wall Road, built in 1840 and restored 1900/1901, is now also a private dwelling, but was still active as late as the 1980s.
The church of Saint Mary Magdelene[13] has a well maintained churchyard with a beautiful tree arch canopy and many old gravestones. [14] It is an ancient stone building in the Early English style and is located directly behind The Farmer's Arms public house. At the front of the churchyard are the remains of an ancient mounded cross. The church itself has a small brass plaque, on the north wall near the altar, commemorating the Great Flood of 1607 when a tidal wave (possibly tsunami) swept along the Bristol Channel drowning 2,000 people. The plate, about three feet above ground level today at this point, marks the height of the flood waters. [15]
The tower contains one bell, recast by Taylors of Loughborough in 1969.[16]
The former vicarage for the Three Parishes, located in Whitson, is now a private dwelling. The minister for the Rectoral Benefice of Magor, which includes Magor, Nash, Undy, Llanwern, Wilcrick, Bishton, Llanmartin, Langstone and Redwick is based in Magor.[17]
Following interior re-decoration in 2006, including the removal of the old pews and pulpit, a service of re-dedication was held on 4 February 2007 with the Bishop of Monmouth. The interior is now tastefully decorated with individually dedicated chairs and matching carpet.[18]
A considerable amount of archaeology has centred on Goldcliff. A useful report, published jointly by CBA and CADW, has been produced by Martin Bell and colleagues.[19] Bell was instrumental in the discovery of the mesolithic human footprints.(see History above) and in 2004 his work at Goldcliff featured on Channel 4's Time Team television programme.[20] Further archaeological excavation has also been carried out by Martin Locock and colleagues prior to the introduction of the Wetlands Reserve, for example at Hill Farm.[21]
Goldcliff is home to part of the extensive Newport Wetlands Reserve [22], opened in March 2000 as a mitigation for the loss of mudflats caused by the building of the Cardiff Bay Barrage.[23] Parts of Goldcliff and Whitson together are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest SSSI.[24]
The village pub is The Farmer's Arms [25], located close to the church. The village still has use of a communal parish room located in the Old School at the side of the Monksditch, which there forms the border with Whitson.
The village enjoys a regular public bus service (Route 63, seven a day, six days a week) provided by Veolia Transport Cymru. The local newspaper is the South Wales Argus which is published in Newport.
Goldcliff Community Council is a member of the Campaign Against the Levels Motorway (CALM) Alliance formed in 2006 by the Friends of the Earth Cymru [26]
Goldcliff is a popular venue for sea fishing [27] and for ornithology.[28]
The area is governed by the Newport City Council and the Goldcliff, Newport community council.