Beaufort, Ebbw Vale
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Beaufort ( or ) is a village and
community A community is a social unit (a group of people) with a shared socially-significant characteristic, such as place, set of norms, culture, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given g ...
on the northern edge of the county borough of
Blaenau Gwent Blaenau Gwent (; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county borough in the South East Wales, south-east of Wales. It borders the Local government in Wales, unitary authority areas of Monmouthshire and Torfaen to the east, Caerphilly County Borough ...
in
Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
. It is located in the historic county of
Brecknockshire Brecknockshire ( or ), also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon, was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It was created in 1 ...
( Breconshire) and the preserved county of Gwent. According to the 2011 census, the population of the ward and community of Beaufort is 3,866 The settlement arose on the boundary of two parishes, Llangattock in Brecknockshire and Aberystruth in Monmouthshire on the 1779 establishment of the Beaufort Iron Works by Edward and Jonathan Kendall (Cendl) after whom the new settlement was first named.


Description

The village's name derives from the fact that much of the local land was originally owned by the
Duke of Beaufort Duke of Beaufort ( ) is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by Charles II in 1682 for Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester, a descendant of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, legitimised son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd D ...
. It is bordered to the west by the Ebbw River which passes close to St David's Church (
Church in Wales The Church in Wales () is an Anglican church in Wales, composed of six dioceses. The Archbishop of Wales does not have a fixed archiepiscopal see, but serves concurrently as one of the six diocesan bishops. The position is currently held b ...
). 'Carmeltown', with its Carmel Chapel, lies between the Rassau and the rest of Beaufort. The 'rest of Beaufort' (i.e. geographically the eastern part of Beaufort) is frequently referred to as 'Beaufort' or 'Beaufort Hill'. The eastern end of Beaufort is more densely populated than Carmeltown or the border areas of Rassau or
Brynmawr ; ; ; ) is a market town, community (Wales), community and Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom, electoral ward in Blaenau Gwent, Wales. The town, sometimes cited as the highest town in Wales, is situated at above sea level at ...
. Beaufort and parts of nearby
Badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racket (sports equipment), racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net (device), net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per s ...
and Rassau are some of the most affluent areas in the county. House prices in these area are some of the most expensive in the area, with a new housing development at the top of Beaufort Hill being developed with house starting around £200,000 - £300,000. The village also has a theatre with a ball room where many famous people played at the start of their careers. One of the most famous was Tommy Scott who later went on to become known worldwide as Sir Tom Jones. Up until 1958 the village was served by Beaufort railway station, a station on the LNWR railway line from Abergavenny - Merthyr.


Welsh

Historically, the language of Beaufort was Welsh. In his 1893 book 'Wales and her language', John E Southall, reports that over 60% of the population of Beaufort spoke Welsh. The Reverend Peter Williams' monograph, 'The Story of Carmel', concerning Carmel Congregational Church (chapel) in Beaufort, published in 1965, reports that between 1904 and 1906 the change was made to conduct the morning Sunday service (the less prestigious service) in English, whereas previously both the morning and evening services had been in Welsh. Beaufort was bilingual with both Welsh and English-language chapels until at least the end of the 19th century with the Welsh language surviving well into the 20th century before rapidly disappearing as a native language by World War II. Elements of a Welsh service continued (e.g. in Carmel Chapel) until the 1970s. Amongst its Nonconformist chapels, the Welsh Independent Congregational Chapel 'Carmel' was pre-eminent, rising to national fame under the leadership of Thomas Rees DD (author of ''History of Protestant Nonconformity in Wales'', whose second edition was printed in 1883). According to the 2001 census, 440 residents, or 11.7% of the village's population aged 3 and over could speak Welsh. This gave Beaufort the highest percentage of Welsh Speakers in Blaenau Gwent.


History

Beaufort was historically part of the parish of Llangattock in
Brecknockshire Brecknockshire ( or ), also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon, was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It was created in 1 ...
. In 1878 Beaufort was added to the
Ebbw Vale Ebbw Vale (; ) is a town at the head of the valley formed by the Ebbw Fawr tributary of the Ebbw River in Wales. It is the largest town and the administrative centre of Blaenau Gwent county borough. The Ebbw Vale and Brynmawr conurbation has a ...
Urban Sanitary District. When elected county councils were established in 1889, urban sanitary districts which straddled county boundaries, as Ebbw Vale did, were placed entirely in the administrative county which had the majority of the district's population. Beaufort and neighbouring
Rassau Rassau, sometimes The Rassau (Gwenhwyseg ), is a village and Community (Wales), community located in the historic counties of Wales, historic county of Brecknockshire (Breconshire) and the Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county of Gwent (c ...
were therefore transferred from Brecknockshire to the administrative county of
Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South East Wales, south east of Wales. It borders Powys to the north; the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the north and east; the Severn Estuary to the s ...
on 1 April 1889. Ebbw Vale Urban Sanitary District became Ebbw Vale Urban District in 1894. Further local government reform in 1974 saw Ebbw Vale Urban District abolished, becoming the Ebbw Vale
community A community is a social unit (a group of people) with a shared socially-significant characteristic, such as place, set of norms, culture, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given g ...
of the
Blaenau Gwent Blaenau Gwent (; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county borough in the South East Wales, south-east of Wales. It borders the Local government in Wales, unitary authority areas of Monmouthshire and Torfaen to the east, Caerphilly County Borough ...
district of Gwent. A Beaufort community was created in 1985 from part of the Ebbw Vale community, covering both Beaufort and Rassau. This was further divided in 2010 to create three communities: Beaufort (including the village and the area to the north),
Badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racket (sports equipment), racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net (device), net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per s ...
(to the south), and
Rassau Rassau, sometimes The Rassau (Gwenhwyseg ), is a village and Community (Wales), community located in the historic counties of Wales, historic county of Brecknockshire (Breconshire) and the Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county of Gwent (c ...
(to the west).


Places of interest in Beaufort

Parc Nant y Waun
is a
nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geologic ...
incorporating 22 hectares of grassland, mires and reservoirs which was officially opened in 2007.Opening of Parc Nant y Waun
Home to many wildlife species, it includes a picnic area, outdoor classroom and angling Club.Angling Club
/ref> Carmel Chapel is a Grade II listed building


Culture

The Beaufort Male Choir originally formed in 1897, are still going strong today with over sixty singers from all over Gwent. They have performed in many venues all around the world, and are one of the most famous choirs in
Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
. The choir, one of the oldest in Wales, was founded at the end of the eighteenth century. Today's choir was reformed after the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
in 1947. The musical director is Craig James and accompanist Margaret Davies. in 2013, Margaret Davies, the choir's accompanist for 43 years was named on Her Majesty the Queens New Years Honours list, receiving the BEM for services to Music and the Community."Tredegar's Paralympic hero, Mark Colbourne, among Gwent honours"
''South Wales Argus'', 29 December 2012.


Industrial history


Beaufort Iron Works

Edward (1750–1807) and Jonathan Kendall or Cendl of Dan-y-Parc Crickhowell established these works in 1779 on a 99-year lease. In 1833, by which time there were four furnaces, the works were taken over as an extension of their Nantyglo operations by the Bailey brothers, Joseph and Crawshay who put their sister's son, William Partridge (1800–1862), in charge. Unmarried Agents (senior managers) of the local iron works companies lodged at the Rhyd-y-Blew, a drovers' inn, properly the hunting lodge of the Duke of Beaufort who carried out an annual rough-shoot of the area. The inn was at the end of the toll road from Merthyr Tydfil and for the rest of the year provided the drovers’ animals very good pasture and water in the Ebbw river. Suffolk-born Partridge married Charlotte Bevan, daughter of the Rhyd-y-Blew's innkeeper, and remained in charge of the Beaufort iron works until his early death in 1862. The works soon closed. In conjunction with the then well-known Needham family of Beaufort mining engineers Partridge sons became involved in local collieries and established the substantial business later known as Partridge Jones. Grandson, rugby international and
Barbarian A barbarian is a person or tribe of people that is perceived to be primitive, savage and warlike. Many cultures have referred to other cultures as barbarians, sometimes out of misunderstanding and sometimes out of prejudice. A "barbarian" may ...
, "Birdie" Partridge founded the Army Rugby Union. The Beaufort works house eventually became a fever hospital in 1902 and has since been demolished. The ground, just south of Beaufort Hill, and close to a Chapel of Rest in the area known as Glanyafon, once occupied by the iron works has long been cleared and covered with houses. Giant pieces of slag remained in place until the most recent developments.


See also

*
Rassau Rassau, sometimes The Rassau (Gwenhwyseg ), is a village and Community (Wales), community located in the historic counties of Wales, historic county of Brecknockshire (Breconshire) and the Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county of Gwent (c ...


References


External links


History of Beaufort
from ''The History of Brecknockshire'' by Theophilus Jones.
www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Beaufort and surrounding area
* * {{authority control Villages in Blaenau Gwent Communities in Blaenau Gwent