Blaina ( cy, Blaenau ) is a small town, situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between

Brynmawr Brynmawr (; , ,) is a market town, community and electoral ward in Blaenau Gwent, Wales. The town, sometimes cited as the highest town in Wales, is situated at above sea level at the head of the South Wales Valleys. It grew with the devel ...

and Abertillery in the unitary authority of

Blaenau Gwent Blaenau Gwent (; ) is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. It borders the unitary authority areas of Monmouthshire and Torfaen to the east, Caerphilly to the west and Powys to the north. Its main towns are Abertillery, Brynmawr, Ebbw ...

, ancient parish of Aberystruth, preserved county of Gwent and historic county of

Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( cy, Sir Fynwy) is a county in the south-east of Wales. The name derives from the historic county of the same name; the modern county covers the eastern three-fifths of the historic county. The largest town is Abergavenny, with ...

. The place name is derived from the Welsh word ' "uplands". As of 2011, the town has a population of 4,808.

Welsh language

According to the 2011 Census, 6.3% of the ward's 4,808 (303 residents) resident-population can speak, read, and write Welsh.Welsh language skills by electoral division, 2011 Census
Retrieved 13/12/21 This is above the county's figure of 5.5% of 67,348 (3,705 residents) who can speak, read, and write Welsh.

Notable people

:''See also :People from Blaina'' *

Arthur Fear Arthur Fear (1902–1984) was a Welsh bass and baritone opera singer. Born in Cwmcelyn, Blaina in 1902, he worked underground in the colliery until receiving a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in 1923, where he studied under Thomas Me ...

, opera singer * Parry Jones, opera singer * William Partridge, soldier, fought at Rorke's Drift * Raymond "Ray" Price, rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1940s and 1950s for Abertillery RFC (RU), Great Britain (RL), Wales, Other Nationalities, Belle Vue Rangers, Warrington, and St. Helens * Kingsley Jones, rugby union flanker, coach * Frank Richards, author * Mike Ruddock, rugby coach * Florence Eleanor Soper, wife of Bramwell Booth, General of The Salvation Army * Mostyn Thomas, opera singer * David Watkins, Welsh rugby union and rugby league international * Emlyn Watkins, rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1920s for Wales (RU), Blaina RFC, Wales (RL), and Leeds * Emlyn A G Watkins, George Medal recipient

References

External links

Blaina - Nantyglo homepage on the webBlaenau Gwent Council website on the local ironworks historyWelsh Coal Mines - research the local pit historieswww.geograph.co.uk : photos of Blaina and surrounding areaBlaina heritage web site
Towns in Blaenau Gwent Geography of Blaenau Gwent {{Monmouthshire-geo-stub