Abersychan

Abersychan
Monmouthshire
Abersychan, viewed from Pentwyn
Location
Grid reference:	SO269038
Location:	51°43’26"N, 3°3’31"W
Data
Population:	7,064
Post town:	Pontypool
Postcode:	NP4
Dialling code:	01495
Local Government
Council:	Torfaen
Parliamentary constituency:	Torfaen

Abersychan is a parish and suburb north of Pontypool in Monmouthshire. It lies in the narrow northern section of the Afon Lwyd valley.

The town includes two schools; Abersychan Comprehensive School and Victoria Primary School; together with various shops and other amenities including Abersychan RFC.

Abersychan was the birthplace of the politicians Roy Jenkins, Don Touhig and Paul Murphy, and of the rugby footballers Wilfred Hodder, Candy Evans and Bryn Meredith.

History

Abersychan was a thriving industrial centre in the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly for iron production. The principal ironworks were built by the British Iron Company in 1825; the works passed to the New British Iron Company in 1843 and to the Ebbw Vale Company in 1852, before closing in 1889.

On 6 February 1890, an underground explosion at Llanerch Colliery killed 176.

Places nearby

Pentwyn

Pentwyn is a small village located in the district of Abersychan. It contains a post office, a chapel, several houses and a small play park. The village has a cricket team (Pentwyn CC) and is located right next to the old railway line. The cricket club celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2006 with a successful tour to Cork. The village has superb views over the River Severn and Newport to the south.

Victoria Village

Victoria Village is a small hamlet located in the district of Abersychan. It comprises a small village school and a number of houses. A small group of houses on Incline Road mark the beginning of the village and the village boundary is near Cwmavon. Victoria Primary School is also in this area, housed in large grounds. Many homes are built around the school's boundaries.