Aberga Venny

DIRECTORY. MONMOUTHSHIRE --· -- --- - • • ABERGAVENNY, WITH THE PARISHES OF LL.A.NFOIST, LLANWENARTH-CITRA, LLANWENARTH-ULTRA, LLANELLEN, LLANOVER, LLANVIHANGEL-CRUCORNEY, LLANTILLIO-PERTHOLEY, AND THE VILLAGES AND HAMLETS OF HARDWICK, PENBIDDLE, MARDY, GOVILON AND LLOYNDU. ABERGAVENNY is a parish, partly in the upper, but junction with the railways in forwarding the produce of the chiefly in the lower divisions of the hundred of its name. mines and ilonworks to every pal.'t of the kingdom. The The town is 144 miles w. by N. from London, 16 w. by N. Great Western P.ailw<:ty Company's line (South Wales divi from Monmonth, 20 from Brecon, 20 from Merthyr, 8 from sion), anu also that of the London and North-Western Bryu Mawr, 9~ from Pontypool, and 6 s.E. from Crick- Railway Company (Merthyr, TreO.egar, and Abergavenny bowell, ind South Wales; delightfully situated at the section) run close to the town, and have neat and corn extremity of a pass, where the mountains abruptly termi- modious stations for goods and passengers. Previous to nate, and at the confluence of the brook Gaveno.v (or the Ievolution of 1688 this was a corporate town, and its Kenvy), with the river L' sk-the latter being crossed by a government vested in a bailiff and twenty-seven burgesses; beautiful ancient brid,Cie of seven arches. This was the but the attachment ef the inhabitants to the successful Gobannium of Antonius, a Roman station so called from party being considered somewhat equivocal, William de the river Gabanm:us, now the Gavenoy, from which, with privec1 tllem of their charter. The local affairs of the town the prefix Aber, denoting its situation at or near the mouth are managed by Commissioners, the possession of freehold of that river, the present name of the town is formed. It property of the annual value of £20 constituting the eligi is described by Leland as " a faire walled towne, well in- bility of persons to act in that capacity. The justices sit babited "; and in a l\1S. description of the county, col- in petty session every Wednesday, in a spacious room at lected by George Owen in 1602, it is mentioned as "a fine the Police Hall, in Baker street; and the lord of the manor, town, wealthy and thriving, and the very best in the the Earl of Abergavenny, holds comts lee~ and baron an shire." Shortly after the Norman Conquest a castle was nually. Abergavenny is included in the twenty-fourth erected here-tradition says by giant Agros, but according circuit of county court towns, under the act for the recovery to ancient records by Hamelin de Balun, or Baladun, one of debts to any amount not exceeding £50; the Court is of William's followers, who also founded a priory for held monthly in the above-nameci building. 'l'he general monks of the Benedictine order; the latter stood in Monk quarter sessions of the c6unty, which were formerly held street, and its site is now occupied by a modern dwell- here, have been removed to Usk. Abergavenny is a polling ing, called the " Priory House!' The only ~emains of the station at the election of members to represent the county castle are the outer walls, which were erected in the reign in Parliament. of Henry II. after having been destroyed by the ·welsh; The parish church of Saint 1\fary was some year since and is now, after undergoing a variety of changes and re-built at a great expense, and is one of the handsomest improvements, cn;J.verted into a most picturesque and in the county; it contains several very ancient monuments, secluded retreat, tllo abode of Mrs. Bellamy. The scenel'y chle:fty of the Herberts. The living is a discharged vicar to be viewed from this position is peculiarly bold and pie- age, in the patronage of the family of Tynte. Trinity turesque. 'l'he Joint Counties Asylum, erected in 1850, at Ullmch was erected and endowed in 1839, by Miss Rachael a cost of £40,000, for the panper lunatics of the counties Herbm·t, of Little Hill House. This benevolent lady h1.s of ::\fonmouth, Radnor and Brecon, is situate on an emi- also founded almshouses for the support of eight poor per nonce in the immediate vicinity of the town, on the old sons. Thero aro places of worship for Baptists, Inde road to Monmouth, and commands a most magnificent pendents, Wesleyan Methodists, and Roman Catholics, the view of the surrounding country. It is an ec::tensive and latter body occupying a building at the upper end of the handsome structure, in the early period style, and was town. In 1877 a handsome stone building was erected at opened in 1851 for the reception of patients. The number. the ea>;t end of Frogmore street- for the Baptists. The for which it was originally adapted was 214; since then it Free Grammar School here was founded by Henry VIII: in has been altered, and contained, in January, 1877, 51\J. 1543; it was forme:-ly under the management of the Cor Some of the streets are narrow, but of late years the town pomtion, but on tl1e forfeiture of their charter was placed has been considerably improved by the removal of many under the control of the masters and.fellows Q.f Jesus Col unsightly projections; and in 1838 the market place was lege, Oxford, who appoint the master. The school house re-built and enlarged, and laid out on a judicious plan. was formerly the parochial church of Saint John, which The town is gas-lighted, and the inhabitants are plen- wr1s convm·tec1 to tbis purpose at tlle dissolution. About teously supplied with water,~onveyed by pipes from springs the middle of the last century it was re-built, but still, in the immediate vicinity. 'l'here are several goqd inns· from its embattled iower, it has the appearance of an eccle and h(>tels in the town. A cattle market of considerable siast)cal skuctw:e. The other charities comprise a valuable extent has also been formed, enclosed by a high wall on Dispensary, e~ Lyiog-in charity, supported by ladie'3, and three sides, and iron railings on the front, abutting on Lion some benefits to the poor 0f minor importtmce. street, while the interior is arrayed in separate depart- The neighboru:hood of Abergavenny is distinguished by menta for the sale of horses, cattle, sheep, &c. ; and a some o~Jjec~s of g1eat attraction. 'J'he castle before men large shed, roofed with corrngflted iron, is provided for the tioned is one of them, and the mountains are calculated to sale of agricultural implements, manures, &c. inspire the beholder with wonder and interest. The This town was once celebrated for the manufacture of the Blorenge is a magnificent eminence, towering 1,720 feet justly-famed Welsh flannels, and subsequently for making above the level of the l'iver. The Sugar Loaf, an im periwigs of goats' hair, which were valued in proportion to pressive and fine cone ri&s from the summits of the Derry, their extreme whitenesA, and occasionally sold as high as Holben, and Graig Llanwemarth, 1,852 fe6t above the same forty guineas each. The method of blear:hing the hair is level, aud being the highest point in the neighbourhood, is said to have been invented here. The iniroduction of a prominent olJject in the distance, and ten counties may machinery has destroyed its flannel trade, and the caprice be seen from the top of it. The Skyrrid Vwar, or Saint of fashion has annihilated the other. At the present time :Th1ichrwl's :IIlount, is perhaps the most interesting mountain there are four breweries, two engireering works, and an in the county ; it stands alone, rising like a tumulus from iron foundry, and malting is carried on to some ex- a rich champaign country, to the he.ight of 1,498 feet abovo tent. 'l'he general retail trade of the place is usually the level of the river. A variety of Homan coins and a flourishing, being materially assisted by the numerous sudatory have been Jiscove1·ed in the town, and within half opulent families in the town and its vicinity. The a mile of it are the remains of a Roman camp, near which adjtlCent mountains abound with--coal and ironstont} ; was a ahapel of ease, now converted into a farm house. At and the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal, which passes LLaYNnu :is 11 minora! spring. ~id to h•ve 'been efficacious within half a mile of the town, affords great facility in con- in cases of scrofulous complaints. Aberga.venny confers In 3 .

Load more