ABERGAVENNY

'Abergavenny' (), meaning ''Mouth of the River Gavenny'', is a town in the principal area of Sir Fynwy, Cymru / Monmouthshire, Wales.
It is 15 miles (24 km) west of Monmouth. Situated at the confluence of a tributary stream called the Gavenny with the River Usk, it is almost surrounded by seven lofty hills, namely the huge Blorenge (over 1,800 feet above sea level), the conical Sugar Loaf / Mynnydd Pen-y-Fal (nearly 2000 feet high), the craggy Holy Mountain / Big Skirrid / Ysgyryd Fawr, the conical Little Skirrid / Ysgyryd Fach, the rounded Deri, the beautiful Rholben and Mynnydd Llanwenarth one of the guardians of the upper Usk valley. The town is situated just south of the Black Mountains, Wales, part of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The town was formerly walled for defence, and was possibly initially an Iron Age or even Bronze Age settlement and subsequently a Roman fort called Gobannium and contains the substantial remains of a stone castle built soon after the Norman Conquest, frequently the scene of border strife. It is in the Welsh Marches some nine miles from the English border at its nearest point.
A sign on the Town Hall gives Abergavenny the title 'Gateway to Wales' — this is thought to refer to the historically fought-after border running north-south through the town to other castles including Ewyas Harold Castle and Usk and the towns modern day position on the road into the Brecon Beacons National Park and mid Wales. When formed, the county of Monmouthshire (referred to historically as 'Wales and Monmouthshire') comprised a 'Welsh sector' to the west and English to the east. Today, as well as the local Monmouthshire accent, those from the nearby Welsh valleys, Herefordshire and the Forest of Dean can be heard in the town along with accents of tourists and visitors from all over the world in summer.

Contents

History

Sporting Traditions

Etymology

Recent developments

Abergavenny Cattle Market

Abergavenny Market and Fairs

Incidental Information

See also

External links

References

History

Abergavenny was the Roman ''Gobannium,'' a fort guarding the road along the valley of the River Usk linking the legionary fortress of Usk or Burrium and later Caerleon or Isca Silurum in the south with Brecon and mid Wales and for keeping the peace among the local Iron Age tribe, the Silures. Remains of the walls of this fort were discovered not too far west of the castle when excavating the foundations of the then new Post Office and telephone exchange building in the late 1960s.
The name is associated with the Welsh smith from folk-lore Govannon.
Abergavenny (Bergavenny) as a town grew under the protection of the Lords of Abergavenny Baron Abergavenny in early Norman times, whose title dated from William I (the Conqueror).
The Priory Church of St Mary, Abergavenny belonged originally to a Benedictine priory (member of the St Vincent Abbay Le Mans founded in the early 12th Century. St Mary's Priory church contains some unique alabaster effigies and unique medieval carving such as the Jesse.
Owing to its geographical location the town was frequently embroiled in the border warfare and power play of the 12th and 13th centuries, and Giraldus Cambrensis relates how in 1173 Abergavenny Castle was seized back by the Welsh.
In 1175 Abergavenny Castle was the scene of an infamous massacre of local Welsh chieftains by the then Baron Abergavenny, William de Braose, who after a period of discord and conflict invited the local leaders to a Christmas banquet under the pretext of resolving differences and building relations. His plan was simply to eliminate them. Accepting his supposed hospitality at a traditional time for settling differences the influential Welsh leaders of the surrounding areas nearly all arrived, proffered their swords as tokens of peaceful intent to servants and, unarmed, were ushered further into the castle where de Braose's armed soldiers hacked them down in cold blood.
Hamelin de Balun, an early Norman Lord from "Ballon" ( i.e. from a small town and castle called "Gateway to Maine", near Le Mans, today in the Sarthe ''département'', France ) , first Lord of or Baron Abergavenny, founded the Benedictine priory, which was subsequently endowed by William de Braose with a tenth of the profits of the castle and town.
Owain Glyndwr attacked Abergavenny in 1404 - his raiders gained access to the walled town due to a local woman who sympathised with the rebellion, letting a small party in via the Market Street gate at midnight, they were able to open the gate and allow a much larger party in who set fire to the town and plundered its churches and homes leaving the castle intact. Market Street was referred to as Traitors Lane locally afterwards.
At the dissolution of the priory part of this endowment went towards the foundation of a free grammar school, the site itself passing to the Gunter family.
During the Civil War prior to the siege of Raglan Castle in 1645, Charles I visited Abergavenny, and presided in person over the trial of Sir Trevor Williams of Llangibby, a Royalist who changed sides and other Parliamentarians.
In 1639 Abergavenny received a charter of incorporation under the title of bailiff and burgesses. A charter with extended privileges was drafted in 1657, but appears never to have been enrolled or to have come into effect. Owing to the refusal of the chief officers of the corporation to take the oath of allegiance to William III in 1688, the charter was annulled, and the town subsequently declined in prosperity.
Chapter 28 of the 1535 Act of Henry VIII, which provided that Monmouth, as county town, should return one burgess to Parliament, further stated that other ancient Monmouthshire boroughs were to contribute towards the payment of the member. In consequence of this clause Abergavenny on various occasions shared in the election, the last instance being in 1685.
Reference to a market at Abergavenny is found in a charter granted to the Prior by William de Braose (d. 1211). The right to hold two weekly markets and three yearly fairs, as held ever since, was confirmed in 1657. Abergavenny was celebrated for the production of Welsh flannel, and also for the manufacture, whilst the fashion prevailed, of goats' hair periwigs.
The title of Baron Abergavenny, in the Nevill family, dates from Edward Nevill (d. 1476), who was the youngest son of the 1st Earl of Westmoreland by Joan Beaufort, daughter of John of Gaunt. He married the heiress of Richard, Earl of Worcester, whose father had inherited the castle and estate of Abergavenny, and was summoned in 1392 to parliament as Lord Bergavenny. Edward Nevill was summoned to parliament with this title in 1450. His direct male descendants ended in 1387 in Henry Nevill, but a cousin, Edward Nevill (d. 1622), was confirmed in the barony in 1604. From him it has descended continuously, the title being increased to an earldom in 1784; and in 1876 William Nevill (sic) 5th earl (b. 1826), an indefatigable and powerful supporter of the Tory party, was created 1st Marquess of Abergavenny.

Sporting Traditions

Abergavenny is the home of Abergavenny Thursdays F.C. which was formed in 1927 and is currently a member of the Gwent County League Division 3. The club's current position comes within 15 years of their being one of the top sides in Welsh football, winning the old format Welsh Football League in 1991 and 1992 but being relegated in 1993 after just one season in the newly formed League of Wales. The club suffered relegation from the Welsh Football League in 2001 and has since slipped through the next two divisions into its current position, although the future is now looking brighter.
Abergavenny is the home of Abergavenny RFC a rugby union team founded in 1875 who play at Bailey Park. As of 2007 they play in the WRU Division Three East league.

Etymology

The name Abergavenny is derived from the Welsh language ''Aber'' (meaning 'mouth of') and the river Gavenny. As with many other Welsh places a new Welsh name ''Y Fenni '' was assigned in the latter part of the 20th century. This can loosely be derived from ''Y'' (meaning 'the') and ''Fenni'' (the last syllable of the river name). English and Welsh speakers generally continue to use the original.

Recent developments

Abergavenny residents have been battling with local council chiefs over the planned construction of an ASDA superstore on the site of the town's cattle market. Some residents believe it will upset the carefully cultivated 'traditional market town' feeling Abergavenny has and lose visits by many tourists, as well as taking business from the town but this isn't the feeling of the whole town. Some 3,000 letters of protest were received, and on 3rd October 2006, the planning committee turned down the Henry Boot scheme incorporating the ASDA superstore.

Abergavenny Cattle Market

A Cattle Market has been held in Abergavenny on its current site since 1863. Before 1863 a sheep market was held at a site in Castle Street between 1825-1863 to stop the sale of sheep on the streets of the town.
Today the market is leased and operated by Abergavenny Market Auctioneers LTD who holds regular livestock auctions on the site.
Market days:
Monday – The sale of finished lambs and cull stock.
Tuesday – The sale of finished sheep, cull ewe/store, a Fodder auction and sale of hay.
Some Fridays – The sale of Cattle and teenagers.
A few other sales are held on the site on other days throughout the year.
However the Cattle Market is likely to be moved to Raglan in the near future, much to the dismay of the local farmers.

Abergavenny Market and Fairs

Tuesdays – One of the best (possibly the best) retail markets held in Wales. Held in the Market hall, Town hall car park and Brewery yard car park.
Wednesday – Flea Market held in the Market Hall.
Every 4th Thursday of the month a Farmers market is held in the Market hall, which sells products direct from the producer.
Friday – Retail market held in the Market Hall.
Saturday – Retail market held in the Market Hall and Town hall car park.
Every 3rd Sunday of the month is an Antique Fair in the Market Hall.
A Craft fair is held in the Market Hall on the 2nd Saturday of the month.

Incidental Information

★ Abergavenny hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1838 and 1913.

★ The novelist Alexander Cordell most famously the author of The Rape of the Fair Country is buried in the nearby village of Llanfoist, where he lived when he wrote that work..

★ Abergavenny is twinned with Östringen in Germany, Beaupreau in France and Sarno in Italy.

★ In 1968, the town was immortalised in the song 'Taking a Trip Up to Abergavenny' "Abergavenny" by Shannon, aka Marty Wilde.

★ In 1404 Abergavenny was declared its own nation by Ieuan ab Owain Glyndwr, illegitimate son of Owain Glyndŵr. The arrangement lasted approximately two weeks.

★ One of the eleven Victoria Cross gallantry medals awarded at Rorke's Drift was awarded to John Fielding from Abergavenny. He had enlisted under the false name of John Williams (VC). One was also awarded for the same action to Robert Jones (VC), born at Clytha between Abergavenny and Raglan.

★ Each September, Abergavenny holds a very successful Food Festival throughout the town centre and castle.

★ The Beatles played at the Borough Theatre in Abergavenny on Saturday June 22, 1963, just as they became really famous - 'Love Me Do' had charted at 17 in late 1962 coinciding with their first televised performance in October '62 and 'Please Please Me' reached number 2 in early '63.

★ The 'Knight Bus' in 'The Prisoner of Azkaban' Harry Potter stops at Abergavenny.

★ In 1996 a film, Intimate Relations starring Julie Walters, Rupert Graves, Les Dennis and Amanda Holden was filmed at many locations in and around Abergavenny - watch the film and see how many you can spot.

★ In the Dangermouse episode ''The Four Tasks of Dangermouse'' it is mentioned that Penfold has an aunt in Abergavenny.

★ Rudolf Hess Hitler's Deputy was kept under escort at Maindiff Court during the War after his flight to Britain.

★ Abergavenny Thursdays are the only football team in Britain besides Sheffield Wednesday to have the name of a day as their suffix. They were mainly comprised of shopboys and local workers and Thursday was the half-day closing day in Aber, thus the only day they could play. Sundays were for church and chapel in those days.

★ Malcolm Nash the cricketer famous for bowling to Gary Sobers who hit six sixes off one Nash over is from Abergavenny.

★ Lord Abergavenny is a character in Shakespeare's play King Henry VIII.

★ Raymond Williams (1921 - 1988) academic, critic and writer was born and brought up locally.

★ Owen Sheers current up and coming poet grew up in Abergavenny.

★ Matthew Jay, the late singer-songwriter also, spent much of his life in the town.

★ Abergavenny produced a worldfamous strongwoman, Vulcana.

★ Abergavenny hosted the British National Cycling Championships in 2007.

See also

★ Black Mountains, Wales

★ Brecon Beacons National Park

★ The hundred of Abergavenny

★ Nevill Hall Hospital

★ Abergavenny Castle

★ Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

★ Abergavenny Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society

★ Tourism in Wales

★ Llanthony Priory

External links

★ Abergavenny Hockey Club

★ Abergavenny Food Festival

★ Abergavenny Tourist Information

References

★

★ see also : Jürgen Klötgen, "Prieuré d'Abergavenny - Tribulations mancelles en Pays de Galles au temps du Pape Jean XXII (d'après des documents français et anglais du XIV° siècle collationnés avec une source d'histoire retrouvée Archives Secrètes du Vatican)", in ''Revue Historique et Archéologique du Maine'', Le Mans, 1989, p.65 - 88 (1319 : cf John of Hastings, lord of Abergavenny ; Adam de Orleton, bishop of Hereford, John de Monmouth, bishop of Llandaff).