Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire Sir Fynwy (Welsh) | |
---|---|
Flag adopted in 2011 | |
Area | |
• 1831 | 324,310 acres (1,312.4 km2) |
• 1901 | 345,048 acres (1,396.36 km2)[1] |
• 1961 | 339,088 acres (1,372.24 km2)[1] |
Population | |
• 1831 | 98,130[2] |
• 1901 | 230,806[1] |
• 1961 | 444,679[1] |
Density | |
• 1831 | 0.3/acre |
• 1901 | 0.7/acre |
• 1961 | 1.3/acre |
History | |
• Origin | Laws in Wales Act 1535 |
• Created | 1535 |
• Succeeded by | Gwent, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan |
Status | Historic county Ceremonial county (until 1974) Administrative county (1889–1974) |
Chapman code | MON |
Government | Monmouthshire County Council (1889–1974) Newport County Borough Council (1891–1974) Cardiff County Borough Council (part) (1938–1974) |
• HQ | Monmouth and Newport |
• Motto | Faithful to both (Utrique Fidelis) |
Coat of arms of Monmouthshire County Council | |
Until 1974, Monmouthshire (/ˈmɒnməθʃər, -ʃɪər/), also formerly known as the County of Monmouth (/ˈmɒnməθ/; Welsh: Sir Fynwy), was an administrative county in the south-east of Wales, on the border with England, and later classed as one of the thirteen historic counties of Wales. Its area now corresponds approximately to the present principal areas of Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Newport and Torfaen, and those parts of Caerphilly and Cardiff east of the Rhymney River.
The eastern part of the county was mainly agricultural, while the western valleys had rich mineral resources. This led to the area becoming highly industrialised with coal mining and iron working being major employers from the 18th century to the late 20th century. Its five largest towns were Newport, Cwmbran, Pontypool, Ebbw Vale and Abergavenny.
Monmouthshire's Welsh status was ambiguous between the 16th and 20th centuries, with it considered by some to be part of England during this time; its legal inclusion in Wales was clarified by the Local Government Act 1972, the same act that changed the structure of local government within the county.
History
Formation
The "county or shire of Monmouth" was formed from parts of the
The Act also designated Monmouth as the "Head and Shire town of the said county or shire of Monmouth", and ordered that the
Boundaries and subdivisions
The county boundaries are the
The county was divided into six
The county contained the three boroughs of Monmouth, Newport and Usk.[6]
Municipal reform
Monmouth and Newport were reformed as
New forms of local government were established in the urban areas of the county with the setting of local boards under the Public Health Act 1848 and Local Government Act 1858. The Public Health Act 1875 divided the rural areas into rural sanitary districts.
An
The county council was based in Newport, rather than the historic county town of Monmouth. In 1891 the borough of Newport achieved county borough status and therefore left the administrative county, although the administration of the county council continued to be based at Shire Hall, Newport. In the same year the parish of Fwthog was transferred to both the administrative and geographic county of Monmouthshire.
Under the
Municipal boroughs | Monmouth |
---|---|
Urban districts | Abercarn • Abergavenny • Abersychan • Abertillery • Bedwellty • Blaenavon • Caerleon • Chepstow • Ebbw Vale • Llanfrechfa Upper • Llantarnam • Nantyglo and Blaina • Panteg • Pontypool • Rhymney • Risca • Tredegar • Usk |
Rural districts | Abergavenny • Chepstow • Magor • Monmouth • Pontypool • St Mellons |
In 1899 Abergavenny was incorporated as a borough. Two further urban districts were formed:
The county boundaries provided the basis of the boundaries of the new Diocese of Monmouth, created in October 1921 following the disestablishment of the Church in Wales from the Church of England in April 1920. The Diocese covered all of the County of Monmouthshire but also included the Parish of Cyncoed in north-east Cardiff, a situation which continues in 2023.
The last major boundary change to affect the administrative county came in 1938 when the Monmouthshire parish of Rumney was incorporated into the city and county borough of Cardiff. However, the geographical Monmouthshire/Glamorgan and England/Wales border remained the Rhymney River.
Local government reform
The administrative county of Monmouth and county borough of Newport were abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The successor authority, with minor boundary changes, was titled Gwent. Some border parishes became part of the new Rhymney Valley district of Mid Glamorgan or the Cardiff district of South Glamorgan.
Ambiguity over status
Background
Between about the 5th and 10th centuries the Welsh
The 16th to 19th centuries
The
Although the original Laws in Wales Act 1535 specifically includes Monmouthshire as being in the "Country or Dominion of Wales", the
Despite Monmouthshire being a new county, it was given two
In the late 17th century, under
Although Wales was legally integrated into England, the word "England" was still taken to exclude Wales in many contexts. The
The eastern part of the county is mainly agricultural, while the western valleys had rich mineral resources. This led to the area becoming highly industrialised with coal mining and iron working being major employers from the 18th century[16] to the late 20th century.
"Wales and Monmouthshire"
The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica unambiguously described the county as part of England, but notes that "whenever an act [...] is intended to apply to [Wales] alone, then Wales is always coupled with Monmouthshire". However, most Acts of Parliament listed Monmouthshire as part of England; for example, the
According to Chris Williams of Cardiff University:[18]
"...The problem with Monmouthshire is that it was located not on, strictly speaking, a national frontier, but within a single political formation. This had been the case since the Acts of Union of 1536 and 1543 which had extended the English system of justice, government and parliamentary representation to the principality of Wales and the March. From the mid-sixteenth century to the early nineteenth century it had not been a matter of very much importance as to whether an England/Wales border could be identified and, if so, where it ran in respect of Monmouthshire. That situation changed in the nineteenth century, as the particular cultural, linguistic and political characteristics of Welsh society emerged as both a problem (for the British state) and as a cause (particularly among Welsh Liberals and nonconformists). Once specific policies (be they considered corrective or emancipating) began to be designed for application to Wales, then the question of Monmouthshire's placement became important."
It has been suggested that the question of the status of Monmouthshire arose in earnest in the 19th century, when some of the local gentry such as the
Twentieth-century debate
Following the Welsh Church Act 1914, the Church in Wales was set up in 1920, containing within it the Diocese of Llandaff which included almost all of Monmouthshire. The new Diocese of Monmouth was formed in 1921. In Anglican terms, the area thus came to be treated as part of Wales.
The question of Monmouthshire's status continued to be a matter of discussion, especially as Welsh nationalism and devolution climbed the political agenda in the 20th century. This sometimes led to heated debates in
In 1937, the
In 1948, Monmouthshire County Council was granted a coat of arms with the motto Utrique fidelis ("Faithful to both"), to reflect the dual loyalties of the area.[21] Increasingly in legislation, "the state was prepared to treat Monmouthshire as if it were part of Wales, even if it was not able to concede that legally it was Welsh."[21] In 1949, Monmouthshire was included within the remit of the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire, an appointed body established by the Government to advise on Welsh affairs and a precursor of the Welsh Office.[23] Treating Monmouthshire as part of Wales in legislation occasionally created further anomalies. For example, the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 contained the provision that "For the purposes of this Act the administrative county of Monmouth shall be taken to be part of Wales and not part of England."[24] This left the county borough of Newport as part of England but treated the rest of the county as part of Wales.
The
The Local Government Commission for Wales established in 1958 included Monmouthshire within its review area, and in 1961 proposed merging the area into a new "South East Wales" county.[27] The proposed inclusion of Monmouthshire in Wales infuriated Lord Raglan, by now Lord Lieutenant of the county.[28] In reaction, a "Make Monmouthshire Welsh" campaign was launched in August 1961 to gain parliamentary recognition that the county was in Wales.[29] In November 1961 it was announced that a branch of the Royal Society of St George was to be formed, emphasising the county's English identity.[30] Another group, the "Monmouthshire is Welsh" society, was formed and was supported by local MPs Michael Foot and Leo Abse.[21] Two years later Monmouth Borough Council made representations to the Minister of Housing and Local Government seeking the transfer of the town to Herefordshire in the event that the reforms were carried out. Signs erected by Monmouthshire County Council welcoming motorists to Wales were defaced or removed.[31] The County Council placed a revised sign at Monmouth stating "Welcome to Wales and Monmouthshire"; first, the words "..and Monmouthshire" were painted over, and then the words "..to Wales" were also obliterated.[32]
The Welsh Office, established in 1965, included Monmouthshire within its remit. The Wales and Berwick Act was repealed in regard to Wales in 1967 by the Welsh Language Act 1967, which however also continued to use the phrase "Wales and Monmouthshire". The Interpretation Act 1978 hence provides that in legislation passed between 1967 and 1974, "a reference to England includes Berwick upon Tweed and Monmouthshire".
Clarification of position in Wales
In 1969 George Thomas, Secretary of State for Wales proposed to fully incorporate Monmouthshire into Wales. Lord Raglan (son of the former lord lieutenant), asked the following question in the House of Lords: "To ask Her Majesty's Government why they propose to incorporate Monmouthshire into Wales without consulting Monmouthshire's inhabitants." Replying for the government, Baroness Phillips stated that "The purpose of the change is to remove the anomaly arising from the present need to refer to Monmouthshire separately from Wales in Statutes. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State believes that the proposal commands wide support in the county."[33] In April of the following year Plaid Cymru MP Gwynfor Evans asked Thomas "when he proposes to implement his undertaking that the phrase 'Wales and Monmouthshire' " will be dropped." The Secretary of State indicated that it would be after the passing of legislation to reform local government in Wales.[34]
The issue was finally clarified in law by the Local Government Act 1972, which provided that "in every act passed on or after 1 April 1974, and in every instrument made on or after that date under any enactment (whether before, on or after that date) "Wales", subject to any alterations of boundaries..." included "the administrative county of Monmouthshire and the county borough of Newport".[35]
Debate on the relevant amendment, Clause 256, took place late on 20 July 1972, with few local MPs present. The
Legacy
The name "Monmouthshire" was revived for one of the principal areas created on further local government reorganisation in 1996. The principal area covers only part of the historic county, which also included Newport, Torfaen, most of Blaenau Gwent, and parts of Caerphilly and Cardiff.
The preserved county of Gwent, which still exists for some ceremonial purposes, is similar in extent to historic Monmouthshire with the addition of the west bank of the Rhymney Valley.
See also
- List of Lord Lieutenants of Monmouthshire
- List of Sheriffs of Monmouthshire
- Custos Rotulorum of Monmouthshire – List of Keepers of the Rolls
- Monmouthshire (UK Parliament constituency) – Historical list of MPs for the constituency of Monmouthshire
- Geology of Monmouthshire – describes the geological history of the historic county
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d Vision of Britain – Monmouthshire population (area and density)
- ^ Vision of Britain – 1831 Census
- ISBN 0-906134-21-8, p.34
- 27 Hen. 8. c. 26)
- ^ F. A. Youngs Jr., Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol.II: Northern England, London, 1991
- ^ Samuel Lewis (ed.), Monmouthshire, in A Topographical Dictionary of England, 1848, British History Online, accessed May 2, 2008
- ^ "Local Government Act 1888: Section 50", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1888 c. 41 (s. 50), retrieved 7 October 2022
- ^ R. R. Davies, Conquest, Coexistence and Change: Wales 1063–1415 (Oxford University Press, 1987), ch. 14.
- ^ ISBN 0-14-028475-3
- ^ Thomas, Ceinwen (1958). Dr (PDF). Cardiff: Meibion Gwent. p. 3.
- ^ The Laws in Wales Act 1535 (A.D. 1535 Anno vicesimo septimo Henrici VIII c. 26)
- ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 729.
- ^ "Monmouth Tourist Information and Travel Guide". www.royalforestofdean.info.
- ISBN 1-904396-01-1, p.3
- ISBN 1-871083-26-5, p.519
- ^ John Bartholomew (1887). "Monmouthshire". Gazetteer of the British Isles. Vision of Britain. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ "LICENSING (No. 2) BILL". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 12 August 1921.
- ISBN 9780708318263
- ^ "Welcome to Monmouthshire – "interesting points"". [dead link]
- ^ Lords Hansard, 12 August 1921, col. 524
- ^ a b c d e Chris Williams, Who Talks Of My Nation?, Chapter 18 in The Gwent County History, vol.5, The Twentieth Century, University of Wales Press, 2013, 978-0-7-83-2648-0, pp.342–362
- ^ Lords Hansard, July 25, 1938, col. 1105
- ^ "COUNCIL FOR WALES (MEMBERSHIP)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 26 April 1949.
- ^ "Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1953 c. 49
- ^ House of Commons Hansard, February 11, 1957, col.931
- ^ House of Commons Hansard, July 26, 1957, col. 94
- ^ Plan to Merge Welsh Counties Into Five Areas. The Times. May 25, 1961
- ^ Faithful to Both, The Times, March 15, 1961, p.15
- ^ "Monmouthshire is Welsh" Campaign, The Times, August 5, 1961, p.8
- ^ New Minister Faces Old Problem: Whose county is Monmouthshire?, The Times, November 14, 1961, p.14
- ^ Borough Wants to Keep Its Status: Monmouth Glance at Next County, The Times, June 3, 1963, p.11
- ^ Ivor Waters, Chepstow Packets, 1983, p.41
- ^ Lords Hansard, January 22, 1969, Col. 924 – 925
- ^ Hansard, April 28, 1970, col. 308
- ^ Local government Act 1972 (c.70), sections 1, 20 and 269
- ^ Hansard, HC Deb 20 July 1972 vol 841 cc1087-8. Retrieved 24 May 2013
Sources
- 27 Hen. 8. c. 26)
- 34 & 35 Hen. 8. c. 26)
- A Vision of Britain – Monmouthshire
Further reading
- Bradney, Joseph, History of Monmouthshire, 4 vols, 1904–1933; Pt 5, Aberystwyth 1993
External links
- Monmouthshire Association
- Is Monmouth in Wales?
- Monmouthshire – Gateway to Wales
- Monmouthshire Antiquarian Association
- Monmouthshire genealogical information
- Monmouthshire Masons
- Monmouthshire Referees' Association
- BBC Wales feature on the historic county of Monmouthshire
- BBC feature on the Act of Union
- Geographic data related to Monmouthshire (historic) at OpenStreetMap
- Map of Monmouthshire on Wikishire