Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire (Welsh: Sir Fynwy) is a principal area with the style of 'county' in South East Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire of which it covers the eastern 60%. The largest town is Abergavenny. Other towns and large villages are Caldicot, Chepstow, Monmouth, Magor and Usk. It borders Torfaen, Newport and Blaenau Gwent to the west; Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the east; and Powys to the north.

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
County
Coat of arms
Location within Wales
Coordinates: 51°47′N 2°52′W
Admin HQUsk
Largest townAbergavenny
Government
 • MPDavid Davies
 • AMNick Ramsay
 • Leader of Monmouthshire CouncilPeter Fox
Area
 • Total850 km2 (330 sq mi)
Area rankRanked 7th
Population
 (2017)
 • Total94,142
 • RankRanked 17th
 • Density111/km2 (290/sq mi)
 • Density rankRanked 15th
Ethnicity
 • White97.5%
Welsh language
 • Rank22nd
 • Any skills12.9%
Time zoneGMT
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ISO 3166 codeGB-MON
ONS code00PP (ONS)
W06000021 (GSS)

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". 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 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 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).[1] 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.[2] Planning permission was granted in September 2011.[3] The new county hall in Usk was opened in 2013.[4][5]

In comparison to the pre-1974 areas it covers:

Places of interest
Raglan Castle
For a list of settlements in the principal area, see List of places in Monmouthshire.

Scenic Railway Line:

  • Gloucester to Newport 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 (AONB) which straddles the England-Wales border.

The highest point (county top) 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 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) 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.

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References
  1. Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster. "Hansard, House of Commons, March 15, 1994, Column 782". Parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved 2011-05-21.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "Monmouthshire County Council press release, "This council is coming home", 12 January 2010". Monmouthshire.gov.uk. 2010-01-12. Archived from the original on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  3. Free Press, Plans for new Monmouthshire council HQ in Usk are approved, 29 September 2011
  4. "Monmouthshire move into new HQ". Willmott Dixon.
  5. Gabriel, Clare (18 April 2013). "'Agile working' office savings aim". Retrieved 21 March 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  6. "Chepstow Castle from the 1816 Bridge:: OS grid ST5394 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  7. "Raglan Castle:: OS grid SO4108 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  8. "Monnow Bridge, Monmouth:: OS grid SO5012 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  9. "Harold's Stones, Trellech:: OS grid SO4905 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  10. "Abergavenny Castle:: OS grid SO2913 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  11. "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 2011-05-21.
  12. "The Sugar Loaf, near Abergavenny:: OS grid SO2718 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  13. "Looking NNE from the Sugar Loaf:: OS grid SO2620 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  14. "White Castle:: OS grid SO3716 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  15. "Skenfrith Castle:: OS grid SO4520 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  16. "Grosmont Castle:: OS grid SO4024 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  17. "The Three Castles Walk:: OS grid SO4421 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  18. "Devil's Pulpit:: OS grid ST5499 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  19. "Llanthony Priory:: OS grid SO2827 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  20. "Tintern Abbey:: OS grid SO5300 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. 2005-03-30. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  21. "View from Usk Castle:: OS grid SO3700 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  22. "Clytha Castle:: OS grid SO3608 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  23. "Market Hall clock tower, Abergavenny:: OS grid SO2914 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  24. "Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, Govilon:: OS grid SO2713 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  25. "Stream at Dolydd y Castell, Abergavenny:: OS grid SO3013 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. 2007-04-01. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  26. "The Monnow Valley:: OS grid SO4323 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  27. "Caldicot Castle:: OS grid ST4888 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  28. "The Round House, The Kymin, Monmouth:: OS grid SO5212 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  29. "Sugar Loaf and Usk Valley". National Trust.
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