Editing Abercarn

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox UK place
| country                     = Wales
| coordinates                 = {{coord|51.649|-3.135|display=inline,title}}
| welsh_name                  =
| official_name               = Abercarn
| community_wales             = Abercarn
| unitary_wales               = [[Caerphilly (county borough)|Caerphilly]]
| lieutenancy_wales           = [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]]
| constituency_westminster    = [[Newport West and Islwyn (UK Parliament constituency)|Newport West and Islwyn]]
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Islwyn (Senedd constituency)|Islwyn]]
| post_town                   = NEWPORT
| postcode_district           = NP11
| postcode_area               = NP
| dial_code                   = 01495
| os_grid_reference           = ST216947
| population                  = 5,352
| population_ref              = (2011 census<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11119781&c=abercarn+community&d=16&e=62&g=6495498&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1446734635406&enc=1|title=Community population 2011|access-date=5 November 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123356/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11119781&c=abercarn+community&d=16&e=62&g=6495498&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1446734635406&enc=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>) 
| module= [[File:2024 Wales Caerphilly Community Abercarn map.svg|240px]]<br />Map of the community
}}
'''Abercarn''' is a [[town]] and [[Community (Wales)|community]] in [[Caerphilly (county borough)|Caerphilly county borough]], [[Wales]]. It is 10&nbsp;miles (16&nbsp;km) northwest of [[Newport, Wales|Newport]] on the A467 between [[Cwmcarn]] and [[Newbridge, Caerphilly|Newbridge]], within the [[Historic counties of Wales|historic boundaries]] of [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]].

==History==
An estate at Abercarn was owned by the [[ironmaster]] [[Richard Crawshay]]; in 1808, it passed to his son-in-law, the industrialist and politician [[Benjamin Hall (industrialist)|Benjamin Hall]].<ref>The History of Parliament: HALL, Benjamin (1778–1817), of Hensol Castle, Glam. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/hall-benjamin-1778-1817</ref>

The district was traditionally associated with the [[coal mining]] collieries, [[ironworks]] and [[tinplate]] works of the [[South Wales coalfield]] and [[South Wales Valleys]], although all have now <span style="white-space:nowrap;">closed;<ref>[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/199469 Post Office: Abercarn Royal Mail Sorting Office:: OS grid ST2194 :: Geograph British Isles - photograph every grid square!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref></span> the town, which lies in the middle portion of the [[Ebbw River|Ebbw]] valley, being situated on the south-eastern flank of the once great mining region of [[Glamorgan]] and [[Monmouthshire]].<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=1|wstitle=Abercarn|volume=1|page=43}}</ref><ref>[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/423436 Jamesville, Abercarn:: OS grid ST2193 :: Geograph British Isles - photograph every grid square!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

On 11 September 1878, an [[Abercarn colliery disaster|underground explosion at the Prince of Wales Colliery]] killed 268 coal miners.<ref>{{cite web|title=Abercarn Colliery|url=http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/Gwent/Abercarn.htm|work=Welsh Coal Mines|access-date=2010-10-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114064228/http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/Gwent/Abercarn.htm|archive-date=14 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Abercarn, High Street.jpg|thumb|left|Abercarn High Street]]

==Local government==
The area was part of the ancient [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]] [[parish]] of [[Mynyddislwyn]] until the late 19th century. In 1892 a [[local board of health]] and local government district of Abercarn was formed.<ref>Formed as Newbridge local board and local government district on 17 March 1892, renamed Abercarn on 4 July that year. County Census Report 1670, Monmouthshire</ref> This became Abercarn urban district in 1894, governed by an urban district council of twelve members. Under the [[Local Government Act 1972]] the urban district was abolished in 1974, becoming part of the borough of [[Islwyn]], [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]]. Further local government organisation in 1996 placed the area in the county borough of Caerphilly. The former urban district corresponds to the three communities of Abercarn, [[Crumlin, Caerphilly|Crumlin]] and [[Newbridge, Caerphilly|Newbridge]].

==Sport==
Abercarn is home to [[Abercarn RFC|Abercarn Rugby Club]] which is a member of the [[Welsh Rugby Union]], and to Abercarn United Football Club which plays in division one of the [[Gwent County League]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Abercarn United AFC|url=http://www.abercarnunited.co.uk/club/Home|access-date=27 May 2018|archive-date=28 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528214659/http://www.abercarnunited.co.uk/club/Home|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Transport ==

=== Bus ===
The town is served by [[Stagecoach Wales|Stagecoach South Wales]] services including:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Caerphilly - Bus timetables|url=https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/Services/Transport-and-parking/Bus-timetables.aspx|access-date=2020-06-26|website=www.caerphilly.gov.uk}}</ref>

* X15 (from [[Newport bus station|Newport]] to [[Brynmawr]])
* 151 gold (from Newport to [[Blackwood Interchange]])

=== Rail ===
The town is lies between [[Newbridge railway station (Wales)|Newbridge railway station]] and [[Crosskeys railway station]], with the latter slightly the closer of the two.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uDMhaYMSdAwC|title=The Rough Guide to Camping in Britain 2|publisher=Rough Guides UK|year=2013|isbn=9781409358954|location=London|pages=179}}</ref> Both are approximately a four-minute drive or thirty minute walk away.<ref name=":0" /> The town was formerly served by [[Abercarn railway station]], which closed to passengers in April 1962.

== Military ==
Following the formation of the [[Territorial Force]] in 1908, the Abercarn Territorial Cadet Company was formed within the wider [[Army Cadet Force]].  Following its formation the company was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, [[Monmouthshire Regiment]].  In 1912 the company was affiliated with the new formed 1st Cadet Battalion, [[The Monmouthshire Regiment]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Territorials : 1908-1914 : a guide for military and family historians|last=Westlake, Ray.|year=2011|isbn=9781848843608|location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire|publisher=Pen & Sword Books Limited|oclc=780443267}}</ref>

==Notable people==
The surgeon Sir [[Clement Price Thomas]] (1893–1973) was born in Abercarn. He was famous for his 1951 operation on [[King George VI]].<ref>{{cite journal | pmc = 2388364 | pmid=4594305 | volume=54 | title=Sir Clement Price Thomas KCVO | author=Cleland WP | journal=Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England | year=1974 | issue=2 | pages=96–98}}</ref>

{{commons category}}

==Education==
*Abercarn Primary School 
* Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Gwyddon (Welsh Medium Education School)

{{See also|List of schools in Caerphilly}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Caerphilly|state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Caerphilly County Borough]]
[[Category:Local Government Districts created by the Local Government Act 1858]]
[[Category:Communities in Caerphilly County Borough]]