Wolvesnewton
Encyclopedia
Wolvesnewton is a small village in Monmouthshire
, south east Wales
, in the United Kingdom
, located 6 miles north west of Chepstow
between the villages of Devauden
and Llangwm
.
and came to the area with the Romans
.
, which covered a larger area than today. Forest clearances under the Normans
led to the establishment of several other "new" villages in the area around the same time, and, as at Shirenewton
about 4 miles to the south, the parish church
is dedicated to St. Thomas à Becket
who had been killed in 1170 and was canonised three years later. The church largely dates from the 13th century but was substantially restored in 1855-57. The war memorial in the churchyard incorporates part of a large mediaeval stone cross.
hill fort
at Gaer Fawr (meaning in Welsh
, "great fort"), about 1 mile south-west of Wolvesnewton, is the origin of the Welsh name of the village, and is one of the largest hill forts in Monmouthshire.
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
, south east 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...
, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, located 6 miles north west of Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
between the villages of Devauden
Devauden
Devauden is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales. It is located between Chepstow and Monmouth near the top of the Trellech ridge on the B4293 road.-History:...
and Llangwm
Llangwm
Llangwm could be one of several places in Wales:*Llangwm, Conwy*Llangwm, Monmouthshire*Llangwm, Pembrokeshire...
.
History
The parish takes its English name from the family of Wolf, who were lords of the manor in the 13th and 14th century, with their house at Cwrt-y-gaer. According to family tradition, they originated in ThuringiaThuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
and came to the area with the Romans
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
.
Church of St. Thomas à Becket
The village is located on the northern slopes of what was then WentwoodWentwood
Wentwood is a forested area of hills, rising to 309 metres , in Monmouthshire, South Wales. It is located to the north east of, and partly within the boundaries of, the city of Newport.- Geology :...
, which covered a larger area than today. Forest clearances under the Normans
Norman invasion of Wales
The Norman invasion of Wales began shortly after the Norman conquest of England under William the Conqueror, who believed England to be his birthright...
led to the establishment of several other "new" villages in the area around the same time, and, as at Shirenewton
Shirenewton
Shirenewton is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, UK. It is located 3 miles due west of Chepstow, 5 miles by road. The village stands around 500 feet above sea level, and has extensive views of the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel....
about 4 miles to the south, the parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
is dedicated to St. Thomas à Becket
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
who had been killed in 1170 and was canonised three years later. The church largely dates from the 13th century but was substantially restored in 1855-57. The war memorial in the churchyard incorporates part of a large mediaeval stone cross.
Gaer Fawr hill fort
The Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
at Gaer Fawr (meaning in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
, "great fort"), about 1 mile south-west of Wolvesnewton, is the origin of the Welsh name of the village, and is one of the largest hill forts in Monmouthshire.