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Pentwyn, Torfaen

Abersychan
Landscape of Abersychan showing housing and chapel with mountain in the background
Abersychan, viewed from Pen-twyn
Abersychan is in the north of the district of Torfaen, in south east Wales
Abersychan is in the north of the district of Torfaen, in south east Wales
Abersychan
Abersychan shown within Torfaen
Area 24.78 km2 (9.57 sq mi) 
Population 7,064 (2011)
• Density 285/km2 (740/sq mi)
GSS code W04000759
OS grid reference SO 269 038
Community
  • Abersychan
Principal area
Ceremonial county
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town PONTYPOOL
Postcode district NP4
Dialling code 01495
Police Gwent
Fire South Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK Parliament
Welsh Assembly
List of places
UK
Wales
Torfaen
51°43′26″N 3°03′31″W / 51.7239°N 3.0587°W / 51.7239; -3.0587Coordinates: 51°43′26″N 3°03′31″W / 51.7239°N 3.0587°W / 51.7239; -3.0587

Abersychan is a settlement and community north of Pontypool in Torfaen, Wales, and lies within the boundaries of the historic county of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent.

Abersychan 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 Rugby Club.

Abersychan was the birthplace of the politicians Roy Jenkins, Don Touhig and Paul Murphy (MP for Torfaen); and of the rugby footballers Wilfred Hodder, Candy Evans and Bryn Meredith.

Like many of the 17th century isolated agricultural hamlets in the forested South Wales Valleys, Abersychan became a thriving industrial centre in the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly for iron production.

After the discovery of iron stone locally, the principal ironworks were built by the British Iron Company in 1825, served mainly by the LNWR's Brynmawr and Blaenavon Railway. The ironwork's main office building and quadrangle were designed by architect Decimus Burton, best known for his design of London Zoo. 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.


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Wikipedia

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