Kemeys Inferior

Last updated

Kemeys Inferior
Parish
DM2024 Looking south across the parish of Kemeys Inferior from Coed-y-Caerau Lane to the Gwent Levels.jpg
Looking south across the southern part of the parish of Kemeys Inferior from Coed-y-Caerau Lane towards the Gwent Levels.
Newport UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Kemeys Inferior
Location within Newport
Community
Principal area
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Police Gwent
Fire South Wales
Ambulance Welsh
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Newport
51°37′33″N2°53′26″W / 51.6259°N 2.8905°W / 51.6259; -2.8905

Kemeys Inferior (Welsh: Cemais Isaf) is a rural parish and hamlet of Newport, Wales, formerly part of the old county of Monmouthshire (Welsh: Sir Fynwy). It was the home of the Kemeys family from the Middle Ages until the 19th century. The parish contains a number of scheduled ancient monuments dating back to the Iron Age and listed buildings.

Contents

Geography

The bedrock of the parish is largely Devonian Old Red Sandstone in the Brownstone group of which the dominant feature is the ridge of Kemeys Graig, consisting of mostly undivided sandstone with marl further down the slope on the Usk side; the flood plain of the Usk is marine or estuarine alluvium. The highest point of the parish is Caer Licyn at 241 metres (location: 51.33686, -2.37970). [1] The largest percentage of the land is agricultural, of which the most fertile by the Usk. About 40% has tree cover, including Coed-y-Caerau (also the name of a hamlet) on Kemeys Graig, which joins Wentwood further east and is part of the largest ancient forest in Wales, which used to cover the area from the Usk to the Wye. [2] [3]

The wider parish area lies across and either side of Kemeys Graig and was part of the Usk Hundred [4] and Caldicot Hundred. [5] It is bounded by the meandering Usk to the northwest, Bulmore, Mount St. Albans and Catsash in the southeast, then centrally by Coed-y-Caerau Lane and the stream down from the hamlet of Great Caer-Licyn , turning roughly northwards along Hendrew Lane and then through the west of Wentwood until the Usk again. It is recorded as covering an area of 670 hectares (1656 acres). [6]

Summit of Caer Licyn, Newport, Wales. DM2024 summit of Caer Licyn.jpg
Summit of Caer Licyn, Newport, Wales.
Pen-toppen-ash Iron Age enclosures. Iron Age earthworks from Coed-y-Caerau Lane, Newport, Wales.jpg
Pen-toppen-ash Iron Age enclosures.
Panorama from NE to S shot from NW side within Kemeys Graig Roman Fort. DM2024 panorama from NE to S shot from NW side within Kemeys Graig Roman Fort.jpg
Panorama from NE to S shot from NW side within Kemeys Graig Roman Fort.
Panorama of Kemeys Graig Roman Fort centred on NW of earthworks shot from Coed-y-Caerau Lane. DM2024 panorama of Kemeys Graig Roman Fort centred on NW of earthworks shot from Coed-y-Caerau Lane.jpg
Panorama of Kemeys Graig Roman Fort centred on NW of earthworks shot from Coed-y-Caerau Lane.
Kemeys Folly, built in 1712, from Coed-y-Caerau Lane. DM2024 Kemeys Folly from Coed-y-Caerau Lane.jpg
Kemeys Folly, built in 1712, from Coed-y-Caerau Lane.
Panorama of Caer Licyn Motte, Iron Age or mediaeval earthwork, centred on SE. DM2024 panorama of Iron Age or mediaeval earthwork centred on SE.jpg
Panorama of Caer Licyn Motte, Iron Age or mediaeval earthwork, centred on SE.
Panorama of Caer Licyn Motte, ENE to SSE, from Coed-y-Caerau Lane. DM2024 panorama of Iron Age or mediaeval earthwork from ENE to SSE from Coed-y-Caerau Lane.jpg
Panorama of Caer Licyn Motte, ENE to SSE, from Coed-y-Caerau Lane.
Panorama of Caer Licyn Motte, SSE to WSW. DM2024 panorama of Iron Age or mediaeval earthwork from SSE to WSW from Coed-y-Caerau Lane.jpg
Panorama of Caer Licyn Motte, SSE to WSW.
Panorama of Caer Licyn Motte, WNW to ESE. DM2024 panorama of Iron Age or mediaeval earthwork from WNW to ESE from field by Coed-y-Caerau Lane.jpg
Panorama of Caer Licyn Motte, WNW to ESE.
View from high point of Caer Licyn Motte. DM2024 View from high point of Iron Age or mediaeval earthwork by Coed-y-Caerau Lane looking SE.jpg
View from high point of Caer Licyn Motte.

History

The area around Kemeys Graig, much of which is included in the parish, has been occupied for thousands of years. It has structures going back to the late prehistoric period, with Iron Age, Roman and mediaeval defensive earthworks extant. Pen-toppen-ash, a series of ringfort earthworks from the Iron Age which was re-used in the Roman era, is adjacent to the parish immediately southwest of Coed-y-Caerau (woods). [7] Kemys Graig Roman Fort, now within Coed-y-Caerau (woods), is also on the ridge which overlooks the Usk to Caerleon on one side and the land southwest to the mouth of the Usk on the other. It's believed it might have been garrisoned to keep communication between Burrium Legionary Fort (in Usk) and early coastal military at Cardiff. [8] There are several old quarries at a few sites, e.g. Abernant and within Coed-y-Caerau (woods), which were utilised throughout later centuries for paving and roofing at least. [9] [10] [11]

A lordship of Kemeys existed in the Middle Ages. The Kemeys family was established in this part of southeast Wales by the 13th century. The family was associated with the area for generations until George Kemeys, who was the local sheriff in 1699, sold the family estate some years afterwards. The parish lay in the county court district of Usk and the diocese of Llandaff. [12] Kemeys House (later Kemeys Manor) has elements such as the tower which date to the 13th century, of a green stone presumably from a local quarry. Extensions and additions were made up to the 20th century. [10] Much of the parish land was owned later by the Duke of Beaufort and the provost of Eton College. [3]

A mediaeval wooden cross (now in the National Museum) from the rood screen of the very small Kemeys Inferior church of the same period - All Saints church - was found by restorers in the 19th century; dated to the late 13th century, it was apparently concealed during the Reformation and depicts a mid-point in the development of the imagery of the crucifixion from Jesus as God (Christus victor) to Jesus as a person (Christus patiens). The church itself was dismantled in 1961 during construction of the A449 and a portion of its stones reused in the choir of Newport Cathedral (St. Woolos Cathedral). [13] [10] : 259 

Scheduled monuments and listed buildings

Kemeys Inferior Motte (location:51.64092, -2.88351) - the remains of a mediaeval motte and bailey - lies at the very north of the parish area, right by the western side of the old Caerleon-to-Usk road on the slope down to the Usk. It is well overgrown with bushes and trees and part of it appears to have been lost to landslips. [14]

Further west along the same road, on the eastern side, is the aforementioned Kemeys Manor (location: 51.62875, -2.89421), which is grade-II listed (the grounds and stone barn are also grade-II listed) and was the main dwelling of the historical Kemeys family. [15] [16] The remains of All Saints church (location: 51.62991, -2.89576) - the base of the walls, some flagstones and gravestones - lie to the west of the A466 on the slope northwest below the Manor and were scheduled in 1971. [17] The Iron Age enclosures of Pen-toppen-ash (location: 51.6198, -2.8998) - best viewed from the air - are on the north side of Coed-y-Caerau Lane . To the northeast of this - and now part of Coed-y-Caerau (woods) - are the earthworks of Kemeys Graig Roman Fort (location: 51.62429, -2.89229) [9] .

There are three associated scheduled sites containing underground structures, rare examples of Auxiliary Unit constructions built in World War II to defend against Nazi invasion: an operational base (location: 51.6211, -2.8971, 35 metres diameter) and ammunition store (location: 51.6214, -2.8967, 20 metres diameter) - both in the woods on the northeast side of Pen-toppen-ash - and a 'special duties section' (location: 51.6186, -2.9018, 20 metres square) on the very northwest edge of Pen-toppen-ash. [18]

Approximately 130 metres northeast of Kemeys Graig fort remains is Kemeys Folly (location: 51.62545, -2.89086), on Coed-y-Caerau Lane, south-southwest of Kemeys manor. Originally built as a hunting lodge by George Kemeys in 1712, it was sold and became a private home, was struck twice by lightning in the late 19th century, was burnt in 1910, rebuilt in 1911-12 with neo-Jacobean modifications and restored with a modern extension in the early 21st century; [19] [10] : 261  [20] [21] as the Manor, it is grade II listed.

Further up Coed-y-Caerau Lane on the south side, southwest of the high point of Caer Licyn and immediately before Wentwood Cottage is an earthwork which has been recorded as "Caer Licyn Motte" (location: 51.63100,-2.88303), was scheduled as a motte-and-bailey but it's considered might actually date from the Iron Age; most of it is overgrown with trees. [22] [23] [9]

On the very western tip of the parish at Great Bulmore is the site of a Roman tomb discovered in 1815 in an orchard (location: 51.61922, -2.92563). The tombstones had been re-used for paving. [24] [25]

Local government and demographics

The parish area is almost entirely within the Langstone Community council boundary of the city of Newport. It has a high percentage of detached, unshared dwellings, a low ranking for access to services and amenities and a good natural Open Space Provision compared to other places in Newport. Higher-level qualifications are more common amongst local people than in Newport or Wales and unemployment is low, as is social deprivation. School students achieve above the average for Wales. Only a small percentage of local people speak Welsh. The crime rate is very low. [26]

Jessica Morden of the Labour Party is the member of parliament for the parish, representing the Newport East constituency. [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Usk</span> Town in Monmouthshire, Wales

Usk is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Newport. It is located on the River Usk, which is spanned by an arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. Usk Castle, above the town, overlooks the ancient crossing point. It developed as a small market town, with some industry including the making of Japanware, and with a notable prison built in 1841–42. In recent years, Usk has become known for its history of success in Britain in Bloom competitions, winning the "Wales in Bloom" competition 35 times in a row between 1982 and 2016. The resident population of the town in 2011 was 2,834, decreasing to roughly 2,600 in 2021. 6.8% of the population are recorded as being able to speak Welsh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monmouthshire</span> County in Wales

Monmouthshire is a county in the south east of Wales. It borders Powys to the north; the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the north and east; the Severn Estuary to the south, and Torfaen, Newport and Blaenau Gwent to the west. The largest town is Abergavenny, and the administrative centre is Usk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Brides Netherwent</span> Village in Monmouthshire, Wales

St Brides Netherwent is a parish and largely deserted village in Monmouthshire, south-east Wales. It is centred 2 miles north of Magor, and 3 miles west of Caerwent. The A48 Newport to Chepstow road passes close by to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kemeys Commander</span>

Kemeys Commander is a village in Monmouthshire, in South East Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llanvair Discoed</span> Human settlement in Wales

Llanvair Discoed is a small village in Monmouthshire, south-east Wales, 6 miles west of Chepstow and 10 miles east of Newport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Langstone, Newport</span> Human settlement in Wales

Langstone is a community and village of the city of Newport, Wales. The area is governed by the Newport City Council. The community had a population of 4,730 in 2019.

Bulmore or Bullmoor is a hamlet in the south-east of the Caerleon ward of the city of Newport, South Wales. The name is derived from the Welsh Y Pwll Mawr meaning The Large Pool. It was first settled by the Romans.

Magor and St Mellons Rural District was created on 1 April 1935 from Magor Rural District and St Mellons Rural District in the administrative county of Monmouthshire. The district was a mixture of suburban and semi-rural parishes around Newport and had its headquarters in Baneswell, Newport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Gwent</span> Kingdom in South Wales

Gwent was a medieval Welsh kingdom, lying between the Rivers Wye and Usk. It existed from the end of Roman rule in Britain in about the 5th century until the Norman invasion of Wales in the 11th century. Along with its neighbour Glywyssing, it seems to have had a great deal of cultural continuity with the earlier Silures, keeping their own courts and diocese separate from the rest of Wales until their conquest by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. Although it recovered its independence after his death in 1063, Gwent was the first of the Welsh kingdoms to be overrun following the Norman conquest.

Wentwood, in Monmouthshire, South Wales, is a forested area of hills, rising to 1,014 feet (309 m) above sea level. It is located to the northeast of, and partly within the boundaries of, the city of Newport.

Southern Monmouthshire was a parliamentary constituency in Monmouthshire, Wales. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tredunnock</span> Village in Monmouthshire, Wales

Tredunnock is a small village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, in the United Kingdom. Tredunnock is located four miles (6.4 km) northeast of Caerleon and four miles south of Usk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llantrisant, Monmouthshire</span>

Llantrisant is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, United Kingdom. The community population at the 2011 census was 475.

This is a list of Sheriffs of Monmouthshire, an office which was created in 1536 but not fully settled until 1540.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monmouthshire Way</span>

The Monmouthshire Way is a circular long-distance footpath of 116 miles that explores the historic county of Monmouth. Short sections of the route trespass into the neighbouring counties of Gloucester, Hereford and Brecon. It was designed by the South Wales Long Distance Walkers Association and is currently not waymarked.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coed-y-Caerau</span> Hamlet in Newport, Wales

Coed-y-Caerau is a hamlet about 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) north of Langstone in Newport, Wales, historically in Monmouthshire. It is the site of prehistoric and Roman hillforts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kemeys Inferior Motte</span> Ancient monument in south Wales

Kemeys Inferior Motte is the remains of a motte-and-bailey castle or ringwork structure located at the north of the parish of Kemeys Inferior, Newport, Wales. It has been a scheduled monument since 1931.

References

  1. ↑ "Sheet ST 39 SE Monmouthshire". British Geological Survey. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  2. ↑ "Wentwood". Woodland Trust. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Tithe Maps of Wales". Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  4. ↑ "Usk Hundred". Wikishire. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  5. ↑ "Caldicot Hundred". Wikishire. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  6. ↑ "Cemais/Kemeys Inferior". Genuki. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  7. ↑ "Coed-y-Caerau, Enclosures; Pen Toppen Ash Roman Fortwebsite=Coflein" . Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  8. ↑ "Kemys Craig Roman Fort". Roman Britain. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 "Monmouthsire XXIX". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Newman, John. The Buildings of Wales:Gwent/Monmouthshire. London: Penguin Books/University of Wales Press. pp. 259–261. ISBN   978-0-14-071053-3.
  11. ↑ The National Gazetteer : a topographical dictionary of the British Islands compiled from the latest and best sources and illustrated with a complete county atlas. London: Virtue & Co. 1868. p. 381.
  12. ↑ Kelly's Directory of Monmoutshshire. London: Kelly's Directories Ltd. 1901.
  13. ↑ Martin, Eluned; Gray, Madeleine (2003). "Images of the Crucified Christ in Medieval Gwent". Journal of Welsh Religious History. 3: 2–8.
  14. ↑ "Kemeys Inferior Motte". Gatehouse Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  15. ↑ "Full Report for Listed Buildings". Cadw. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  16. ↑ "Full Report for Listed Buildings". Cadw. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  17. ↑ "All Saint's Church, Kemys Inferior". Ancient Monuments. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  18. ↑ "Scheduled Monuments- Full Report". Cadw. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  19. ↑ "The jaw-dropping Grand Designs house in Wales that's just had its price slashed". Wales Online. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  20. ↑ "Full Report for Listed Buildings". Cadw. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  21. ↑ "Kemeys Inferior". Wikishire. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  22. ↑ "Caer Licyn, Motte and Bailey". Cadw. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  23. ↑ "Caer Licyn". Gatehouse Gazetteer. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  24. ↑ "Caerleon:Great Bulmore". Roman Inscriptions of Britain. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  25. ↑ "Monmouthshire XXIX". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  26. ↑ "Newport Ward Profile Langstone" (PDF). Cyngor Dinas Casnewydd. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  27. ↑ "Jessica Morden". UK Parliament. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.