Maesycwmmer

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Maesycwmmer
Wheel O Drams Maesycwmmer Andy Hazell.jpg
Wheel o Drams by Andy Hazell
Caerphilly UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Maesycwmmer
Location within Caerphilly
Population2,242 (2011) [1]
OS grid reference ST156948
Community
  • Maesycwmmer
Principal area
Preserved county
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town HENGOED
Postcode district CF82
Post townBLACKWOOD
Postcode district NP12
Dialling code 01443
Police Gwent
Fire South Wales
Ambulance Welsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Caerphilly
51°38′31″N3°13′23″W / 51.642°N 3.223°W / 51.642; -3.223
Viaduct Maesycwmmer Viaduct.jpg
Viaduct

Maesycwmmer (Welsh : Maesycwmer) is a village and community in the centre of Caerphilly County Borough in Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire.

Contents

Location

Maesycwmmer is located 5 miles (8 km) north of Caerphilly, on the east bank of the Rhymney River, opposite Hengoed, which is within the historic boundaries of Glamorgan. It is a community in Caerphilly County Borough.

History & amenities

Centre section of the Maesycwmmer Viaduct. Maesycwmmer Viaduct - geograph.org.uk - 22194.jpg
Centre section of the Maesycwmmer Viaduct.

Maesycwmmer is still overshadowed by the vast Maesycwmmer (or Hengoed) Viaduct, [2] 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 two pubs in Maesycwmmer: The Maesycwmmer Inn and The Angel (a third, The Butchers Arms, became an Indian restaurant called The Spice Tree).

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 Maesycwmmer. The Angel pub, which the team used for its post match entertainment, is the main club sponsor.

Filming location

Maesycwmmer is actor-director Craig Roberts's hometown. Roberts finished filming locally in August 2014 for the movie Just Jim, which is inspired by his early life in Maesycwmmer and was released in 2015. [3]

The first series of the S4C drama 35 Diwrnod (2014) was filmed in Maesycwmmer. [4]

Notable people

As well as Craig Roberts, Maesycwmmer was the birthplace of educationalist Mary Bridges-Adams (née Daltry) in 1854.

Sports

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caerphilly County Borough</span> County borough in Wales

Caerphilly County Borough is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. It is governed by Caerphilly County Borough Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhymney</span> Human settlement in Wales

Rhymney is a town and a community in the county borough of Caerphilly, South Wales. It is within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. With the villages of Pontlottyn, Fochriw, Abertysswg, Deri and New Tredegar, Rhymney is designated as the 'Upper Rhymney Valley' by the local Unitary Authority, Caerphilly County Borough Council. As a community, Rhymney includes the town of Rhymney, Pontlottyn, Abertysswg, Butetown and Twyncarno.

The Rhymney Railway (RR) was a railway company in South Wales, founded to transport minerals and materials to and from collieries and ironworks in the Rhymney Valley of South Wales, and to docks in Cardiff. It opened a main line in 1858, and a limited passenger service was operated in addition.

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Trethomas is a small village 2+12 miles (4 km) northeast of Caerphilly, southeast Wales, situated in the Caerphilly county borough, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Machen</span> Human settlement in Wales

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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. The village is in the county borough of Caerphilly, in the traditional county of Glamorgan, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hengoed railway station</span> Railway station in Caerphilly, Wales

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Tredegar</span> Human settlement in Wales

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llanbradach</span> Human settlement in Wales

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hengoed Viaduct</span> Multi-arched railway viaduct over a river

Hengoed Viaduct is a disused railway viaduct located above the village of Maesycwmmer, in Caerphilly county borough, South Wales. Grade II* listed, it was originally built to carry the Taff Vale Extension of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway (NA&HR) across the Rhymney River, and is now part of National Cycle Route 47.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grade II* listed buildings in Caerphilly County Borough</span>

In the United Kingdom, the term listed building refers to a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural, historical, or cultural significance; Grade II* structures are those considered to be "particularly important buildings of more than special interest". Listing was begun by a provision in the Town and Country Planning Act 1947. Once listed, strict limitations are imposed on the modifications allowed to a building's structure or fittings. In Wales, the authority for listing under the Planning Act 1990 rests with Cadw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maesycwmmer railway station</span> Former railway station in Wales

Maesycwmmer railway station was situated on the Bassaleg and Bargoed line, serving the adjoining village of Maesycwmmer, which lies on the east bank of the Rhymney River in the historic county of Monmouth. It was located at 12 miles 44 chains (20.2 km) from Newport. The line was built by the Brecon and Merthyr Railway, and passed to the Great Western Railway in 1923 and to British Railways in 1948. The line was double track and the station had simple up and down platforms.

References

  1. "Community population 2011" . Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  2. Maesycwmmer Viaduct at geograph.org.uk
  3. Kathryn Williams (30 July 2014). "Submarine's Craig Roberts brings a touch of Hollywood home". Wales Online.
  4. "New S4C drama 35 Diwrnod brings murder mystery to Maesycwmmer". Caerphilly Observer. 7 March 2014.