Varteg

Varteg
Monmouthshire
Location
Grid reference:	SO265060
Location:	51°44’52"N, 3°3’58"W
Data
Post town:	Pontypool
Postcode:	NP4
Dialling code:	01495
Local Government
Council:	Torfaen
Parliamentary constituency:	Torfaen

Varteg is a village in Monmouthshire lying near Abersychan on the hills above the valley of the Afon Llwyd, between Pontypool and Blaenavon.

History and Amenities

Varteg owes its origin to the fact that the land lease for the Blaenavon Ironworks was too big, and portions were sublet to the Nantyglo Company and part taken up by a partnership called Knight and Company which opened an iron furnace in 1802. By 1825 the Varteg works was taken over by Kenrick and Company which had three blast furnaces, by 1839 there were five furnaces in operation. In 1847 it was owned by Williams and Co with a total of eight furnaces at Varteg, Golynos and Pentwyn. From 1854 to closure in 1868 it was owned by the Golynos Iron Co. After the end of iron making, coal mining became the biggest employer.

Varteg has a cemetery which dates back to the 18th century.

In 2013, a controversy erupted when Glamorgan Power chose a site for open coal mining 120 yards away from the village's primary school, Ysgol Bryn Onnen. The Torfaen council previously rejected the company's plans to mine more than 252,000 tons of coal from the area, citing environmental regulations requiring a buffer zone of at least 550 yards around any planned open-cast mining operations. The headmaster of Ysgol Bryn Onnen school, Ryan Parry, spoke against the proposal, citing health concerns and impact on learning.

Outside links

• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Varteg and surrounding area
• Brief coalmining details

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