Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire (/ˈmɒnməθʃər, ˈmʌn-/ MON-məth-shər, MUN-; Welsh: Sir Fynwy) is a county in the south east of Wales. It borders Powys to the north; the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the north and east; the Severn Estuary to the south, and Torfaen, Newport and Blaenau Gwent to the west. The largest town is Abergavenny, and the administrative centre is Usk.

This article is about the principal area. For the historic county, see Monmouthshire (historic). For other uses, see Monmouthshire (disambiguation).
County of Monmouthshire
Sir Fynwy (Welsh)
County
The image is taken from a height, and looks down on the town of Monmouth in the foreground. The buildings are mostly white, with slate roofs, and the only tall structure is the church spire. Beyond are some suburbs, giving way to rolling green fields and woodland. In the distance the Black Mountains are visible. Besides Sugar Loaf, which is sharply pointed, they are low and broad.
A view across Monmouth from near The Kymin, looking toward the Black Mountains. The conical peak of Sugar Loaf is prominent.
Coat of arms of County of Monmouthshire
Coat of arms
Location within Wales
Location within Wales
Coordinates: 51°47′N 2°52′W
CountryWales
Admin HQUsk
Largest townAbergavenny
Government
 • MPDavid Davies
 • MSPeter Fox
 • Leader of Monmouthshire CouncilMary Ann Brocklesbly
Area
 • Total850 km2 (330 sq mi)
 • RankRanked 7th
Population
 (2021)
 • Total93,194
 • RankRanked 17th
 • Density110/km2 (300/sq mi)
  • RankRanked 15th
Ethnicity
 • White97.5%
Welsh language
 • Rank22nd
 • Speakers8.7%[1]
Time zoneGMT
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ISO 3166 codeGB-MON
ONS code00PP (ONS)
W06000021 (GSS)

The county is rural, although adjacent to the city of Newport and the urbanised South Wales Valleys; it has an area of 330 square miles (850 km2) and a population of 93,000. After Abergavenny (12,515), the largest towns are Chepstow (12,350), Monmouth (10,508), and Caldicot (9,813). The county has one of the lowest percentages of Welsh speakers in Wales, at 8.2% of the population in 2021.[2]

The lowlands in the centre of Monmouthshire are gently undulating, and shaped by the River Usk and its tributaries. The west of the county is hilly, and the Black Mountains in the northwest are part of the Brecon Beacons National Park (Bannau Brycheiniog). The border with England in the east largely follows the course of the River Wye and its tributary, the River Monnow. In the southwest is the Wye Valley AONB, a hilly region which stretches into England. The county has a shoreline on the Severn Estuary, which is crossed at this point by the Severn Bridge and Second Severn Crossing.

The name derives from the historic county of the same name, of which the contemporary county covers the eastern three-fifths.

Historic county
Main article: Monmouthshire (historic)

The historic county of Monmouthshire was formed from the Welsh Marches by the Laws in Wales Act 1535 bordering Gloucestershire to the east, Herefordshire to the northeast, Brecknockshire to the north, and Glamorgan to the west. The Laws in Wales Act 1542 enumerated the counties of Wales and omitted Monmouthshire, implying that the county was no longer to be treated as part of Wales. However, for all purposes Wales had become part of the Kingdom of England, and the difference had little practical effect.

For several centuries, acts of the Parliament of England (in which Wales was represented) often referred to "Wales and Monmouthshire", such as the controversial Welsh Church Act 1914. However, the Local Government Act 1972, which came into effect in April 1974, confirmed the county as part of Wales, with the administrative county of Monmouthshire and its associated lieutenancy being abolished. Most of its area was transferred to a new local government and ceremonial county called Gwent, with the same eastern and southern boundaries as the historic county, the River Wye and the Severn Estuary. The western two-fifths are now administered by other principal areas: Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Caerphilly, and Newport.

Principal area
Main article: Monmouthshire County Council

The current unitary authority of Monmouthshire was created on 1 April 1996 as a successor to the district of Monmouth along with the Llanelly community from Blaenau Gwent, both of which were districts of Gwent. The use of the name "Monmouthshire" rather than "Monmouth" for the area was controversial, being supported by the member of parliament (MP) for Monmouth, Roger Evans, but being opposed by Paul Murphy, MP for Torfaen (inside the historic county of Monmouthshire but being reconstituted as a separate unitary authority).[3] By area it covers some 60% of the historic county, but only 20% of the population. A new council headquarters building at the site of Coleg Gwent, Usk was proposed and developed.[4] The new county hall in Usk was opened in 2013.[5][6]

Under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, Monmouthshire is styled as a county.[7]

In comparison to the pre-1974 areas, it covers:

  • the former boroughs of Abergavenny and Monmouth
  • the former urban districts of Chepstow and Usk
  • the former rural districts of Abergavenny, Chepstow and Monmouth
  • the former rural district of Pontypool, except the community of Llanfrechfa Lower
  • the parish of Llanelly from the former Crickhowell Rural District in Brecknockshire

Places of interest
Raglan Castle, medieval castle in Raglan, Monmouthshire, south east Wales
For a list of settlements in the principal area, see List of places in Monmouthshire.

Scenic Railway Line:

Geography

Much of Monmouthshire is hilly, particularly the western area adjoining the industrial South Wales Valleys and the Black Mountains to the north. Two major river valleys dominate the lowlands - the scenic gorge of the Wye Valley along the border with Gloucestershire adjoining the Forest of Dean, and the valley of the River Usk between Abergavenny and Newport. Both rivers flow south to the Severn Estuary. The River Monnow is a tributary of the River Wye and forms part of the border with Herefordshire and England, passing through the town of Monmouth. The Black Mountains are part of the Brecon Beacons National Park, whilst the Wye Valley is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which straddles the England–Wales border.

Hand-drawn map of Monmouthshire by Christopher Saxton from 1577

The highest point of the county is Chwarel y Fan in the Black Mountains, with a height of 679 metres (2,228 ft). The Sugar Loaf (Welsh: Mynydd Pen-y-fâl or Y Fâl), located three kilometres (two miles) northwest of Abergavenny, is probably the best known hill in the county. Although its height is only 596 metres (1,955 ft), its isolation and distinctive peak shape makes it a prominent landmark for many miles around.

Education
See also: List of schools in Monmouthshire

References
  1. https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/W06000021/
  2. "How life has changed in Monmouthshire: Census 2021". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  3. "Hansard, House of Commons, March 15, 1994, Column 782". Parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  4. "Monmouthshire County Council press release, "This council is coming home", 12 January 2010". Monmouthshire.gov.uk. 12 January 2010. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  5. "Monmouthshire move into new HQ". Willmott Dixon.
  6. Gabriel, Clare (18 April 2013). "'Agile working' office savings aim". BBC News. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  7. Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, Schedule 1. Retrieved 13 August 2021
  8. "Chepstow Castle from the 1816 Bridge:: OS grid ST5394 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  9. "Raglan Castle:: OS grid SO4108 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  10. "Monnow Bridge, Monmouth:: OS grid SO5012 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  11. "Harold's Stones, Trellech:: OS grid SO4905 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  12. "Abergavenny Castle:: OS grid SO2913 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  13. "Wye Valley View from Eagle's Nest on Wynd Cliff:: OS grid ST5296 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  14. "The Sugar Loaf, near Abergavenny:: OS grid SO2718 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  15. "Looking NNE from the Sugar Loaf:: OS grid SO2620 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  16. "White Castle:: OS grid SO3716 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  17. "Skenfrith Castle:: OS grid SO4520 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  18. "Grosmont Castle:: OS grid SO4024 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  19. "The Three Castles Walk:: OS grid SO4421 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  20. "Devil's Pulpit:: OS grid ST5499 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  21. "Llanthony Priory:: OS grid SO2827 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  22. "Tintern Abbey:: OS grid SO5300 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. 30 March 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  23. "View from Usk Castle:: OS grid SO3700 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  24. "Clytha Castle:: OS grid SO3608 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  25. "Market Hall clock tower, Abergavenny:: OS grid SO2914 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  26. "Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, Govilon:: OS grid SO2713 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  27. "Stream at Dolydd y Castell, Abergavenny:: OS grid SO3013 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. 1 April 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  28. "The Monnow Valley:: OS grid SO4323 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  29. "Caldicot Castle:: OS grid ST4888 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  30. "The Round House, The Kymin, Monmouth:: OS grid SO5212 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  31. "Sugar Loaf and Usk Valley". National Trust.
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