Rhymney
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Rhymney
| |
---|---|
Preserved county | |
Country | Wales |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | BARGOED |
Postcode district | CF81 |
Post town | TREDEGAR |
Postcode district | NP22 |
Dialling code | 01685 |
Police | Gwent |
Fire | South Wales |
Ambulance | Welsh |
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney | |
Rhymney (
Rhymney is known to many outside Wales as a result of the song "The Bells of Rhymney", a musical adaptation of a poem by Idris Davies.
Etymology
The town is named after the Rhymney River, whose name derives from the Welsh word rhwmp "auger" + -ni, a derivational noun ending.[3][4]
History
The countryside around present day Rhymney would have been very different in the early 17th century. In 1624 the parish of Bedwellty was created which covered the lower division of the Wentloog Hundred, in the county of Monmouth, a hilly district between the river Rumney, on the West and the Sirhowey on the East. The upper Sirhowy Valley at this time would have been a natural well wooded valley, consisting of a few farms and the occasional small iron works where iron ore and coal naturally had occurred together. Later it would have contained the chapelries of Rhymney and Tredegar, the latter being known as a market town. It was not until the 1750s that industrialisation began with the establishment of the Sirhowy Iron Works.
The town was founded with the establishment of the Union
The parish church of Rhymney is a Grade II listed building that was constructed in the neo-classical style. It was built by architect Philip Hardwick from London on commission for Andrew Buchan who was the manager of the local Rhymney brewery between 1838–1858.[5] The building was listed in 1990 and was noted for being one of the most 'interesting' examples of neoclassical architecture in South Wales. Buchan himself is buried in the parish church vaults and is commemorated with a plaque in the nave of the church. The parish is occasionally visited by enthusiasts of Hardwick's work who are interested in neo-classical buildings of this type.[citation needed]
The history of Rhymney is described in Rhymney Memories, a book by
Education and transport
The town's secondary school, Idris Davies School, serves a catchment area that includes Fochriw, Pontlottyn and New Tredegar. There is also a Welsh language primary school in Rhymney.
In 1999, Ystrad Mynach College launched its sister campus in Rhymney to serve the top end of the Rhymney Valley under the name The College Rhymney. The College Rhymney underwent rapid growth after its opening, with over 700 students enrolling on various courses in the 2007–2008 academic year. The College Rhymney is now permanently closed.
Notable people and organisations
- See also Category:People from Rhymney
The celebrated Welsh poet Idris Davies (1905–1953) was born in Rhymney.[6] After leaving school at the age of 14 he worked as a miner in the nearby Abertysswg and Rhymney Mardy Pits.[6] After participating in the failed General Strike of 1926, Davies moved to London where he worked as a teacher at various schools.[6] Four volumes of his poetry were published during his lifetime: Gwalia Deserta (1938), The Angry Summer: A Poem of 1926 (1943), Tonypandy and other poems (1945), and Selected Poems (1953).[6] He returned to Rhymney in 1947 and died of cancer on 6 April 1953.[6]
General manager and engineer of the Rhymney Railway
The professor, civil servant, administrator, and author
Notable people born in Rhymney include the
One of the largest employers in Rhymney is
The town is home to the Rhymney Silurian Male Choir, which was formed in 1951 to renew the tradition of male voice singing in Rhymney.[9] During its history, the choir has won four National Eisteddfod titles and raised money for a number of charities.[10]
"The Bells of Rhymney"
Rhymney is known to many outside Wales due to
The song has been covered by a number of acts over the years, including Judy Collins, Cher, the Alarm, the Ian Campbell Folk Group, John Denver, Robyn Hitchcock, Oysterband and Ralph McTell.[14][15] Arguably the most widely known rendition of the song, however, was that recorded by the American band the Byrds for their 1965 album Mr. Tambourine Man.[12]
See also
References
- ^ "Town population 2015". Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6.
- ISBN 9780198527589.
- ^ "Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru".
- ^ Stuff, Good. "Church of St David, Rhymney, Caerphilly". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk.
- ^ a b c d e "Davies, Idris (1905–1953)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- Obituaries.
- ^ a b c d e f "Jones, Thomas (1870–1955)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ "Rhymney Silurian Male Choir: History". Rhymney Silurian Male Choir website. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ "Rhymney Silurian Male Choir overview". Rhymney Silurian Male Choir website. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ a b c d "The Bells of Rhymney". BBC. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ a b Rogan, Johnny. (1996). Mr. Tambourine Man (1996 CD liner notes).
- ^ "The Bells of Rhymney Lyrics". Pete Seeger Appreciation Page. Archived from the original on 15 October 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
Bibliography
- Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6.
- Evans, Marion. (1994). A Portrait of Rhymney: Volume 1. Old Bakehouse Publications. ISBN 1-874538-40-9.
- Evans, Marion. (1995). A Portrait of Rhymney: Volume 2. Old Bakehouse Publications. ISBN 1-874538-70-0.
- Evans, Marion. (1996). A Portrait of Rhymney: Volume 3. Old Bakehouse Publications. ISBN 1-874538-41-7.
- Evans, Marion. (1998). A Portrait of Rhymney: Volume 4. Old Bakehouse Publications. ISBN 1-874538-02-6.
- Evans, Marion. (2009). A Portrait of Rhymney: Volume 5. Old Bakehouse Publications. ISBN 978-1-905967-20-9.
- Evans, Marion. (2007). The History of Andrew Buchan's Rhymney Brewery. Old Bakehouse Publications. ISBN 978-1-905967-07-0.
- Jones,Thomas, 1990, Rhymney Memories, The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, ISBN 0-907158-43-9.
- Morris, Eben (Ed.),1990, Fe'm Ganed i yn Rhymni|I Was Born in Rhymney, Cyfrol Deyrnged i Idris Davies|The Idris Davies Memorial Volume, Gwasg Gomer|Gomer Press, LLandyssul, Dyfed.ISBN 0086383-698-4 (SB).
- Rogan, Johnny. (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited (2nd ed.). Rogan House. ISBN 0-9529540-1-X.
External links
Media related to Rhymney at Wikimedia Commons