Bassaleg
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Bassaleg (Welsh: Basaleg) is a small semi-urban area on the west side of the city of Newport, in south Wales. It lies in the Graig electoral district (ward) and community (parish).
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[edit] Location, communications & amenities
Bassaleg is located two miles north west of Newport city centre. Bassaleg is roughly bounded by the A467 road [1] (A4072) to the east, the railway spur to Lower Machen (the former Brecon and Merthyr Railway) to the north, the St Mellons Road (B4288) to the south and Rhiwderin to the east. The Ebbw River runs through the area [2]. The A468 road passes through towards Caerphilly and junction 28 of the M4 motorway is less than a mile to the south [3].
As Bassaleg lies near the junction of the Brecon and Merthyr Railway and Great Western Railway it used to have two stations (Bassaleg and Bassaleg Junction), although they were both victims of the Beeching Axe in the 1960s. As the Ebbw Valley Line is being re-opened, there are plans for a station at Pye Corner on the former GWR line.
Bassaleg School is one of the most notable local educational institutions [4].
[edit] History
Bassaleg's earliest known inhabitant was probably Saint Gwladys, a hermit, who founded her own hermitage at Pencarnu, supposedly the site is at Pont Ebbw [1][2] While there she bathed in the Ebbw River and the Lady's Well at Tredegar may have been dedicated to her. It has been suggested that site of St. Basil's church [3] in Bassaleg was originally dedicated to her.
According to historians, Bassaleg is the only British place whose name derives from the word basilica, a term used in early Christianity for a church containing the body of a saint. Until the mid-19th century, a grave chapel for St. Gwladys survived close to the church.[4]
The most important local influences was the local estate of the Morgans, Lords Tredegar, at Tredegar House many of whom are buried in the churchyard.
During the Newport Rising of 1839 the Chartist marchers passed through this area heading into Newport.
The most prestigious celebrity to come from Bassaleg was almost certainly Tom Wood, the world renowned novelist whose wit and creative prose earned him critical acclaim and worldwide respect and intrigue. Bassaleg have often made plans to erect a statue of Mr Wood in honour of his contributions to literature, the most recent plans were proposed for late 2008. Mr Wood still has family in Newport and visits frequently, he currently lives in Sydney, Australia.
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
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