Blaina ( ) is a small

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

, situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between

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 ...

and

Abertillery Abertillery (; ) is a town and community (Wales), community in Blaenau Gwent County Borough, Wales. It is located in the Ebbw Fach Valley, Ebbw Fach valley, and the Monmouthshire (historic), historic county of Monmouthshire. The surrounding lan ...

in the unitary authority 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 ...

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

. 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 A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

's figure of 5.5% of 67,348 (3,705 residents) who can speak, read, and write Welsh.

The Bells of Rhymney

Blaina is mentioned in the

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...

song The Bells of Rhymney: ''"And who robbed the miner?" say the grim bells of Blaina'', quoting poetry from Idris Davies.

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 Meu ...

, 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 Mike Ruddock, OBE (born 5 September 1959) is a Welsh rugby union coach who was later an interim consultant for Ospreys, having previously coached Lansdowne FC. Ruddock was the Director of Rugby at the Worcester Warriors from 2007 to 2010. He ...

, rugby coach *

Florence Eleanor Soper Florence Eleanor Booth (''née'' Soper; 12 September 1861 – 10 June 1957) was the wife of Bramwell Booth, Second Generals of The Salvation Army, General of The Salvation Army. Early life Born in Blaina, Monmouthshire (historic), Monmouths ...

, wife of

Bramwell Booth William Bramwell Booth, Order of the Companions of Honour, CH (8 March 1856 – 16 June 1929) was a British church and charity leader who was the first Chief of the Staff of The Salvation Army, Chief of Staff (1881–1912) and the second Genera ...

, General of

The Salvation Army The Salvation Army (TSA) is a Protestantism, Protestant Christian church and an international charitable organisation headquartered in London, England. It is aligned with the Wesleyan-Holiness movement. The organisation reports a worldwide m ...

Mostyn Thomas Mostyn Thomas (born Thomas James Thomas) (January 14, 1896 – August 17, 1984) was a Welsh operatic baritone, prominent in the first half of the 20th century. Early life He was born in Blaina, Monmouthshire, to Thomas and Ann. At the age ...

, opera singer * David Watkins, Welsh rugby union and rugby league international *

Emlyn Watkins Emlyn Watkins (21 September 1904 – 15 May 1978) was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales, and at club level f ...

, rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1920s for Wales (RU), Blaina RFC, Wales (RL), and Leeds * Emlyn A G Watkins,

George Medal The George Medal (GM), instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI,''British Gallantry Medals'' (Abbott and Tamplin), p. 138 is a decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, awarded for gallantry, typically ...

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 {{Monmouthshire-geo-stub