Maesycwmmer
Encyclopedia
Maesycwmmer is a village
and community
in the centre of Caerphilly County Borough
in Wales
, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire
.
, on the east bank of the Rhymney River
, opposite Hengoed
, which is within the historic boundaries of Glamorgan
.
, which dates from 1853 and which carried the Taff Vale Extension of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway
over the Rhymney valley
. In 2000 the viaduct was re-opened for public pedestrian access.
Today the village features the "Wheel o Drams" (locally known as "The Stargate") sculpture by Andy Hazell, an unusual piece of modern art formed from a circle of coalmining dram trucks to commemorate the industrial heritage
of this locality within the history of the South Wales Valleys
. The village shared three railway stations with neighbouring Hengoed over the years (see Hengoed railway station
).
There are three pubs in Maesycwmmer: The Maesycwmmer Inn, The Butchers Arms and The Angel.
Maesycwmmer was a creation of the Industrial Revolution
in the South Wales Coalfield
. The houses built along the main road were purpose built for the workers that built the Maesycwmmer to Hengoed Viaduct. There is also a disused quarry in a field behind the houses of St Annes Gardens.
Maesycwmmer has both a junior and a senior football team. The senior team, Maesycwmmer FC, was founded in 2010 and plays in the North Gwent Football League
. Matches are played at The Bryn, just outside of Maesycwmmer. The Angel pub, which the team used for its post match entertainment, is the main club sponsor.
, most noted for his role in the BAFTA nominated CBBC
programme Young Dracula
. He also appeared in later series of The Story of Tracy Beaker
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and community
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
in the centre of Caerphilly County Borough
Caerphilly (county borough)
Caerphilly is a county borough in southern Wales, straddling the ancient county boundary between Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.Its main town is Caerphilly, and also the largest...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
.
Origin of the name
Some have claimed that the village name should be spelled as Maes-y-Cymer, meaning "the field of the confluence of streams". As Maesycwmer, however, the name is probably derived from Maes (field) + cwmwr (footbridge). A local tradition holds that a large tree was blown down during a storm, forming a natural footbridge across the river. The footbridge was used by noted preacher and local pioneer of the printing press, the Rev. John Jenkins (also known as Shôn Shincyn), to cross the river to his house. Jenkins' house "Maesycwmmwr House" was built in 1826 and stood on the east side of the river. In the 1840 Tithe Map for the village is given as Maesycwmwr, with the spelling then varying to Maesycmwer over time.Location
Maesycwmmer is located 5 miles (8 km) north of CaerphillyCaerphilly
Caerphilly is a town in the county borough of Caerphilly, south Wales, located at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley, with a population of approximately 31,000. It is a commuter town of Cardiff and Newport, which are located some 7.5 miles and 12 miles away, respectively...
, on the east bank of the Rhymney River
Rhymney River
The Rhymney River is a river in the Rhymney Valley, south-east Wales, flowing through Cardiff into the Severn estuary.The river forms the boundary between the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.-Path of the river:...
, opposite Hengoed
Hengoed
Hengoed ) is a village on the west side of the Rhymney Valley - between Ystrad Mynach to the South and Cefn Hengoed to the North. Across the valley it looks towards Maesycwmmer...
, which is within the historic boundaries of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
.
History & amenities
Maesycwmmer is still overshadowed by the vast Hengoed ViaductHengoed Viaduct
Hengoed Viaduct is a Grade II* listed railway viaduct, located above the village of Maesycwmmer, in Caerphilly county borough, South Wales. Originally built to carry the Taff Vale Extension of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway across the Rhymney River, it is now part of National Cycle...
, which dates from 1853 and which carried the Taff Vale Extension of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway
Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway
The Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway was a railway line connecting the Welsh port city of Newport via Abergavenny, to the major English market town of Hereford.Sponsored by the LNWR, it opened on 6 December 1853...
over the Rhymney valley
Rhymney River
The Rhymney River is a river in the Rhymney Valley, south-east Wales, flowing through Cardiff into the Severn estuary.The river forms the boundary between the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.-Path of the river:...
. In 2000 the viaduct was re-opened for public pedestrian access.
Today the village features the "Wheel o Drams" (locally known as "The Stargate") sculpture by Andy Hazell, an unusual piece of modern art formed from a circle of coalmining dram trucks to commemorate the industrial heritage
Industrial heritage
Industrial heritage is an aspect of cultural heritage dealing specifically with the buildings and artifacts of industry which are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations, often forming a significant attraction for tourism.The...
of this locality within the history of the South Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
. The village shared three railway stations with neighbouring Hengoed over the years (see Hengoed railway station
Hengoed railway station
Hengoed railway station is the name of an operational National Rail station situated in Hengoed on the Rhymney Line of the Valley Lines network.The current station was initially named Hengoed & Maesycwmerr when opened by the Rhymney Railway in 1858...
).
There are three pubs in Maesycwmmer: The Maesycwmmer Inn, The Butchers Arms and The Angel.
Maesycwmmer was a creation of the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
in the South Wales Coalfield
South Wales Coalfield
The South Wales Coalfield is a large region of south Wales that is rich with coal deposits, especially the South Wales Valleys.-The coalfield area:...
. The houses built along the main road were purpose built for the workers that built the Maesycwmmer to Hengoed Viaduct. There is also a disused quarry in a field behind the houses of St Annes Gardens.
Maesycwmmer has both a junior and a senior football team. The senior team, Maesycwmmer FC, was founded in 2010 and plays in the North Gwent Football League
North Gwent Football League
The North Gwent Football League is a football league in South Wales...
. Matches are played at The Bryn, just outside of Maesycwmmer. The Angel pub, which the team used for its post match entertainment, is the main club sponsor.
Notable residents
Maesycwmmer's most famous resident is the actor Craig RobertsCraig Roberts
Craig Roberts is a Welsh actor. He is best known for playing the lead role of Oliver Tate in the coming-of-age comedy-drama film Submarine, and for playing the character Rio in The Story of Tracy Beaker.-Life and Career:...
, most noted for his role in the BAFTA nominated CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
programme Young Dracula
Young Dracula
Young Dracula is a British children's fantasy television series airing on CBBC, loosely based on Young Dracula AND Young Monsters, a children's book by Michael Lawrence. Directed by Joss Agnew, the first series was broadcast in 2006, and the second series, which started in late 2007, concluded in...
. He also appeared in later series of The Story of Tracy Beaker
The Story of Tracy Beaker
The Story of Tracy Beaker is a British children's book first published in 1991, written by Jacqueline Wilson and illustrated by Nick Sharratt.-Background:...
.