Nash, Newport
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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Population: | 281 (2001 census[1]) |
| Administration | |
| Principal council | Newport City Council |
| Community council: | Nash |
| UK Parliament: | Newport East |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Postal district: | NP18 2 |
| Dialling code: | +44-1633 Maindee exchange |
Nash (Welsh: Trefonnen) is a village and community parish to the south of the city of Newport, South Wales, United Kingdom, in the Liswerry ward.
Contents |
[edit] Origin of the name
The name is thought to originate from a contraction of "An Ash" (tree), meaning literally `place of the ash tree(s)'. This is supported by its appearance in deeds as "De Fraxino" (`fraxinus' was the Latin name for the ash tree)[2]
The Welsh name is Trefonnen, given in older sources as Tre'r onnen, also meaning Town (tref) of the Ash (Onnen).
[edit] Location
The actual village of Nash lies a mile or two outside of the main built-up area of the city of Newport to the south on the Caldicot and Wentloog Levels, a large area of land reclaimed from the sea and crossed by drainage channels and reens [1]. In addition to the village itself, the parish contains Uskmouth power station [2] and part of the Newport Wetlands Reserve [3], including its Visitors Centre which was recently opened by BBC presenter Kate Humble.[3]
The City of Newport campus of Coleg Gwent (commonly referred to as 'Nash College') is actually in the neighbouring parish of Liswerry.
Together with the neighbouring parishes of Goldcliff and Whitson, Nash is one of the "Three Parishes" which have long been treated as a unit - geographical, socially, economically and ecclesiastically.
The parish is bounded to the south by the sea (Bristol Channel) to the east by the lower reaches of the River Usk and to the north by Liswerry and the Llanwern Steelworks site. To the west lie Goldcliff and Whitson.
[edit] History
In 1901 the only four private residents are listed as Mrs Morgan at "Greenfield", Mrs Morgan at "The Elms", Rev. C. W. Triton (Baptist, but curiously no separate residence given) and Miss Ester Wilcox at "Decoy Pool". Some twenty nine commercial interests include mostly farmers (22) but also William German, blacksmith and wheelwright, at "Pye Corner", Mrs Jones Sarah, publican at "Waterloo Inn", John Skuse, shop-keeper at Broadstreet Common, Edward Tamplin butcher at "Box Cottage", Thomas David farm bailiff to Mr. James Thomas at "Pye Corner Farm", John Watkins, butcher and Lewis Williams, mason at "Ash Cottage" [4].
A large part of the village, including Farmfield House, was lost in the construction of the Uskmouth Power Station and the adjoining huge ash-pits in 1959. Although the main part of the village centres around the church in West Nash, much of the village is set along the wide Broadstreet Common, which may be accessed via Pye Corner or via Straits Lane, and which provdies the more direct route to Whitson and Redwick. For many years the German family were the village blacksmiths at Pye Corner with the premises eventually became a petrol filling station. The site is now occupied by the offices of the Caldicot and Wentloog Levels Internal Drainage Board [5]. The village had its own small infant school, built in 1877 [6] on West Nash Road, until the 1970s.
[edit] The Church
The church of St. Mary the Virgin in West Nash, dating originally from the 12th century, is an important Grade I listed church notable for its fine tower and spire and has been called "the Cathedral of the Moors" [4]. The only remains of the Norman church is the North Wall of the Chancel and the Squint. An unusual feature, the Squint was used to enable those with leprosy, smallpox or other such diseases, to see or participate in the service without endangering the rest of the congregation from 'infection'. The tower is unusually located on the north side of the chancel. The interior, following restoration in 2004-2005, is notable for its complete set of 18th century furnishings, with box pews, a three-decker pulpit and a western gallery. In the fields to the south of the neighbouring Church Farm are ancient tumuli, the vestiges on some ancient, possibly mediæval, dwelling or chapel.
[edit] Amenities
To the west of church, The Waterloo public house is a tenanted free-house notable for the fact it is owned by the parish council. A modern Community Hall has now been built nearby as village hall.
At Pye Corner the recently-closed Baptist chapel [5], with its small burial ground, still stands in good repair. It is now in private ownership. [6]
Located at the edge of the Newport Wetlands Reserve [7], East Usk Lighthouse [8] provides a notable landmark for an aftternoon's casual walk. Parts of Nash are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest SSSI. [7]
The parishes of Nash and Liswerry together form the Liswerry electoral ward.
The village enjoys a regular public bus service (Route 63, seven a day, six days a week) provided by Francis Drake Travel.
The local newspaper is the South Wales Argus which is published in Newport.
[edit] References
- ^ Office for National Statistics Parish Headcounts: Nash
- ^ Bradney, Sir Joseph. A History of Monmouthshire, Vol 4 part 2: The Hundred of Caldicot (Part 2). pub 1914, reprinted 1994, Merton Priory Press.
- ^ Newport centre is a wetland wonder!
- ^ Kelly's 1901 Directory
- ^ Caldicot and Wentloog Drainage Board
- ^ Kelly's 1901 Directory
- ^ City of Newport Countryside and Parks
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