Living in Abergavenny

Brecon, Abergavenny

Abergavenny is the traditional gateway to South Wales and to the incomparable Brecon Beacons National Park, as well as to the important World Heritage Site at Blaenavon.

The town itself, caressed by the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains and nestling in the famous Usk Valley, is full of historic, architectural, cultural and scenic interest, proud of its past and its traditions and yet up-to-the-minute in meeting the present day needs of tourists and local people.

As well as being an excellent centre from which to explore this beautiful area, Abergavenny also has a thriving business community.

It is possible to trace Abergavenny's history back to the Roman fort of Gobannium established in 57 or 58 A.D. However, the real birth of the town dates to the period of the Norman conquest of Wales in the late 11th century. In about 1087, Hamelin of Ballon, the conqueror of northern Gwent, built a motte and bailey castle at Abergavenny. At the same time, he established St. Mary's Priory as a cell of the Abbey of St. Vincent near Le Mans.Civilian settlement followed soon after, the early town being protected by a ditch and embankment linked to the castle defences

The Abergavenny of the 19th century was a bustling cultural centre and holds an important place in Welsh literary and cultural history. From 1833 to 1854, the Abergavenny Cymreigyddion Society drew the attention of scholars, poets and scientists from all over Europe and beyond, as well as supporting local literati and the ailing wool industries.

The town began to expand once more with the coming of the railways in the middle of the 1850s. They remained a major employer in the town until quite recently.

Between 1957 and 1968, much of the heart of the old town was destroyed under the old Abergavenny Borough Council's "slum clearance" schemes. Fortunately, some of the citizens of the town saw the full scale of what was being lost and managed to salvage interesting features such as fireplaces, doors, oak panelling and windows. Many of these are now on display in the Abergavenny Museum.

Further information can be found at http://www.abergavenny.net