Llanwern
Encyclopedia
Llanwern is an electoral ward
and community
in the urban-rural fringe of the City of Newport
, South Wales
. Llanwern ward is bounded by the M4
and Langstone
to the north, Ringland
, Liswerry
and the River Usk
to the west, the River Severn
to the south and the city boundary to the east. The ward includes Bishton
, Goldcliff, Whitson
and Redwick
, as well as the community of Llanwern (population 333), which contains Llanwern village and the western half of the site of Llanwern steelworks
. The area is governed by the Newport City Council
.
), who was Minister of Food
during the First World War.
In 1887, a year before his election to Parliament, Thomas took the lease of the house, where he lived the life of a somewhat unconventional country squire, riding to hounds and breeding prize Hereford cattle. He bought the house in 1900, and acquired the neighbouring Pencoed estate shortly before his death, the purchase making Thomas the largest landowner in Monmouthshire after Lord Tredegar.
Despite his fortune, Thomas was quite content to retain the mansion at Llanwern, a large square house on a hilltop overlooking the village. The house, dating to 1760, was old-fashioned in its appearance, but that appearance concealed a delicate and beautiful interior, reflecting Chinese influence.
It was demolished in the 1950s, although the site, on a hill overlooking the parish church, is still visible and the parkland intact. D. A. Thomas is buried in the graveyard of the tiny church.
, led by St. Modwen Properties
PLC, is currently transforming the former steel-producing part of the Llanwern steelworks site. Started in 2004, the masterplan envisages 1.5m sq ft of employment-generating accommodation hosting 6,000 jobs, 4,000 new dwellings, community facilities and open space including 3 new lakes. Full completion is anticipated by 2026-8.
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
and community
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
in the urban-rural fringe of the City of 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...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. Llanwern ward is bounded by the M4
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
and Langstone
Langstone, Newport
Langstone is an electoral ward and smaller village and community of the city of Newport, Wales. The area is governed by the Newport City Council.- Location :...
to the north, Ringland
Ringland, Newport
Ringland is both an electoral ward and community parish of the city of Newport, South Wales.The ward is bounded by Ringland Way to the east, the southern boundary of Hartridge High School to the south, Balfe Rd, Aberthaw Rd, Ringland Circle, Ringwood Avenue, across Chepstow Rd, Mountbatten close...
, Liswerry
Liswerry
Liswerry , also spelt Lliswerry, is both an electoral district and community of the city of Newport, South Wales. The area is governed by the Newport City Council.- Community boundaries :...
and the River 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...
to the west, the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
to the south and the city boundary to the east. The ward includes Bishton
Bishton
Bishton or Bishopston is a small rural community in the east of the city of Newport, south Wales. The parish lies in the Llanwern electoral district and contains the eastern end of Llanwern Steelworks, the Underwood estate as well as Bishton itself.- Government :The area is governed by the...
, Goldcliff, Whitson
Whitson
- Location :Whitson is located seven miles south east of Newport city centre on the Caldicot Levels, a large area of coastal land reclaimed from the sea...
and Redwick
Redwick, Newport
Redwick is a small village and community parish to the south east of the city of Newport, in South Wales, United Kingdom. It lies within the Newport city boundaries, in the historic county of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent.- Location :...
, as well as the community of Llanwern (population 333), which contains Llanwern village and the western half of the site of Llanwern steelworks
Llanwern steelworks
Llanwern Steelworks is located in Llanwern, east of the City of Newport, South Wales.Built by Richard Thomas & Baldwin Ltd, the works was originally referred to locally as "The RTB", before being called Spencer Works and later Llanwern...
. The area is governed by the Newport City Council
Newport City Council
Newport City Council is the governing body for the city of Newport, one of the subdivisions of Wales within the United Kingdom. It consists of 50 councillors, representing the city's 20 wards. Since the 2008 election, the council has been controlled jointly by the Conservatives and Liberal...
.
Llanwern House
Llanwern House was the home of Lord Rhondda of Llanwern, (David Alfred ThomasDavid Alfred Thomas
David Alfred Thomas, 1st Viscount Rhondda PC , sometimes known as D. A. Thomas, was a Welsh industrialist and Liberal politician...
), who was Minister of Food
Minister of Food
The Minister of Food Control and the Minister of Food were British government ministerial posts separated from that of the Minister of Agriculture. A major task of the latter office was to oversee rationing in the United Kingdom arising out of World War II...
during the First World War.
In 1887, a year before his election to Parliament, Thomas took the lease of the house, where he lived the life of a somewhat unconventional country squire, riding to hounds and breeding prize Hereford cattle. He bought the house in 1900, and acquired the neighbouring Pencoed estate shortly before his death, the purchase making Thomas the largest landowner in Monmouthshire after Lord Tredegar.
Despite his fortune, Thomas was quite content to retain the mansion at Llanwern, a large square house on a hilltop overlooking the village. The house, dating to 1760, was old-fashioned in its appearance, but that appearance concealed a delicate and beautiful interior, reflecting Chinese influence.
It was demolished in the 1950s, although the site, on a hill overlooking the parish church, is still visible and the parkland intact. D. A. Thomas is buried in the graveyard of the tiny church.
Regeneration
A £115m renewal project called Glan LlynGlan Llyn
Glan Llyn is the brand name of a new mixed-use community development, in the east of Newport, south Wales on part of the site of the former Llanwern steelworks.-Background:...
, led by St. Modwen Properties
St. Modwen Properties
St. Modwen Properties plc is a British-based property investment and development business specialising in the regeneration and remediation of brownfield land and urban environments...
PLC, is currently transforming the former steel-producing part of the Llanwern steelworks site. Started in 2004, the masterplan envisages 1.5m sq ft of employment-generating accommodation hosting 6,000 jobs, 4,000 new dwellings, community facilities and open space including 3 new lakes. Full completion is anticipated by 2026-8.
See also
- Thomas Lloyd, Lost Houses of Wales (London, 1987)
- Llanwern steelworksLlanwern steelworksLlanwern Steelworks is located in Llanwern, east of the City of Newport, South Wales.Built by Richard Thomas & Baldwin Ltd, the works was originally referred to locally as "The RTB", before being called Spencer Works and later Llanwern...
- Llanwern A.F.C.Llanwern A.F.C.Llanwern A.F.C. is a football club based in the Llanwern district of the City of Newport, South Wales. Llanwern currently plays in the Welsh Football League Division Three.-History:...