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Tredegar

TREDEGAR, a market-town, in the township of Ushlawrcoed, parish and division of Bedwelty, union of Abergavenny, hundred of Wentlloog, county of Monmouth, 12 miles (W. by S.) from Abergavenny; containing nearly 8000 inhabitants. This place, which, previously to the year 1800, contained only three houses, has since that period rapidly increased in importance, and is now a flourishing market-town. It is indebted for its prosperity to the persevering efforts of Messrs. Samuel Homfray, R. Fothergill, W. Thompson, W. Foreman, and the Rev. Matthew Monkhouse, who, appreciating its advantageous situation in a district abounding with coal and ironstone, established some extensive iron-works, which have been progressively enlarged and improved. Coal of excellent quality is obtained on the spot. The mines of ironstone are vast, and appear, from scoria frequently found on the hillsides, to have been worked at an early period. Limestone is found in the adjoining parish of Llangynidr, in the county of Brecon. A tramroad was constructed from the works in 1802, leading down the valley of Sirhowy to Newport, a distance of twenty-four miles; and at Risca this line is joined by several other tramroads, and is conducted across the valley and the river by a viaduct of thirty-two arches, nearly a mile and a quarter in length, from which the tramroad is continued in a direction parallel with a canal for some distance. On the line are locomotive steam-engines belonging to the Ebbw Vale Company, who in 1832 carried a tunnel through the centre of the Manmoel mountain, nearly two miles in length, joining their works to those of Tredegar and Sirhowy. Connected with the district are the following iron-works, with their respective populations:—Tredegar, 7324; Sirhowy, and part of Beaufort, 2221; Ebbw Vale, 2300; Victoria, 1979; and Rumney, 5582. An excellent turnpike-road, adjoining the tramroad, has been constructed from Tredegar to Newport; and the mail-road from Merthyr to Abergavenny, intersecting a singularly wild and romantic tract of country, passes close to the town.

The town is situated on the west bank of the Sirhowy river, and comprises a square, from which diverge four principal streets; a long and wide street leading to the Sirhowy works; several smaller streets, and some detached houses. The whole is on land belonging to the Tredegar Iron Company, by whom it was arranged and the buildings were erected, and who, under the direction of Samuel Homfray, Esq., of Bedwelty House, the resident proprietor, built a very handsome townhall, market-house, shambles, and slaughter-houses, in 1833. The market, on Saturday, is well supplied with provisions and necessaries of all kinds; and fairs are held on the 19th of April, September 23rd, and November 18th. The powers of the county debt-court of Tredegar, established in 1847, extend over the parishes of Bedwelty and Aberystwith. The parochial church is eight miles distant; but a church has been built in the town, towards the erection of which the Parliamentary Commissioners granted £1000, the Incorporated Society £450, and upwards of £600 was subscribed by private individuals: it contains 1020 sittings, half of which are free. The living is in the gift of the Incumbent of Bedwelty. There are places of worship for English and Welsh Baptists, Independents, and English and Welsh Wesleyan and Calvinistic Methodists.


Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.

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