Gwynllwg
Encyclopedia
Gwynllŵg was a kingdom
of mediæval Wales
and later a Norman
lordship
and then a cantref
.
, its 5th century or 6th century ruler and consisted of the coastal plain stretching between the Rhymney
and Usk
rivers, together with the hills to the north. It was traditionally regarded as part of the kingdom of Glamorgan
, rather than that of Gwent which extended only as far westwards as the River Usk. However, under the Laws in Wales Acts of 1535-42, the hundred was included with those situated to the east, to form the new county of Monmouthshire
.
' in the Wentloog hundred
and in villages on the coastal plain such as Peterstone Wentloog and St Brides Wentloog
. The name Pillgwenlly
for a district of central Newport also contains a corrupted version of this name. The Caldicot and Wentloog Levels
also take their name from the hundred.
The Cathedral at Newport
is dedicated to Gwynllyw (corrupted to St. Woolos). The name survives as 'St. Woolos' as the general locality around the Cathedral.
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
of mediæval Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and later a Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
lordship
Marcher Lords
A Marcher Lord was a strong and trusted noble appointed by the King of England to guard the border between England and Wales.A Marcher Lord is the English equivalent of a margrave...
and then a cantref
Wentloog (hundred)
Wentloog was an ancient hundred of Monmouthshire.It was situated in the western part of the county, bounded to the north by Brecknockshire; on the east by the hundreds of Abergavenny, Usk and Caldicot; on the south by the Bristol Channel, and on the west by Glamorganshire...
.
Location
It was named after GwynllywGwynllyw
Saint Gwynllyw Milwr or Gwynllyw Farfog, known in English in a corrupted form as Woolos the Warrior or Woolos the Bearded was a Welsh king and religious figure....
, its 5th century or 6th century ruler and consisted of the coastal plain stretching between the Rhymney
Rhymney River
The Rhymney River is a river in the Rhymney Valley, south-east Wales, flowing through Cardiff into the Severn estuary.The river forms the boundary between the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.-Path of the river:...
and Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
rivers, together with the hills to the north. It was traditionally regarded as part of the kingdom of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, rather than that of Gwent which extended only as far westwards as the River Usk. However, under the Laws in Wales Acts of 1535-42, the hundred was included with those situated to the east, to form the new county of Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
.
Wentloog and St. Woolos
The name Gwynllŵg became a marcher lordship (alternatively called Newport). The name survives as 'WentloogWentloog
Wentlooge , sometimes known as Wentloog, is a community in the southwest of the city of Newport, South Wales, in the Marshfield ward.The name Wentlooge is a corruption of the earlier name Gwynllŵg, which itself was named after Gwynllyw, its 5th century or 6th century ruler.The community is bounded...
' in the Wentloog hundred
Wentloog (hundred)
Wentloog was an ancient hundred of Monmouthshire.It was situated in the western part of the county, bounded to the north by Brecknockshire; on the east by the hundreds of Abergavenny, Usk and Caldicot; on the south by the Bristol Channel, and on the west by Glamorganshire...
and in villages on the coastal plain such as Peterstone Wentloog and St Brides Wentloog
St Brides Wentloog
St. Bride's or St. Bride's Wentloog is a small hamlet to the south west of the city of Newport in South Wales.- Location :It lies in the community of Wentloog and electoral district of Marshfield...
. The name Pillgwenlly
Pillgwenlly
Pillgwenlly is an electoral district and coterminous community parish in the city of Newport, South Wales. The area is governed by the Newport City Council.- Origin of the name :...
for a district of central Newport also contains a corrupted version of this name. The Caldicot and Wentloog Levels
Caldicot and Wentloog Levels
The Caldicot and Wentloog Levels are two areas of low-lying estuarine alluvial wetland and intertidal mudflats adjoining the north bank of the Severn estuary, either side of the River Usk estuary near Newport in south east Wales...
also take their name from the hundred.
The Cathedral at Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
is dedicated to Gwynllyw (corrupted to St. Woolos). The name survives as 'St. Woolos' as the general locality around the Cathedral.