Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen

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Bedwas, Trethomas & Machen
Caerphilly UK community map (BTM).svg
Location within Caerphilly
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent country Wales
Region South Wales
Ceremonial county Gwent
Principal are Caerphilly
Government
  Type Community Council
   Councillors
List
Area
  Total7.08 sq mi (18.33 km2)
Population
 (2011)
  Total10,758
  Density1,519/sq mi (586/km2)
Website http://www.btmcommunitycouncil.com

Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen is a community and an electoral ward in the county borough of Caerphilly, constituting the villages of Machen, Trethomas, Bedwas, and Upper and Lower Graig-y-Rhacca. It lies in the Caerphilly Basin in the shadow of Mynydd y Grug and Mynydd Machen. All villages in the area grew as a result of the coal mining industry, which carries its legacy on today.

Contents

History

Bedwas and Machen
Area
  19126,520 acres (26.4 km2)
  19616,179 acres (25.01 km2)
Population
  19114,936
  197112,540
History
  Created1912
  Abolished1974
  Succeeded by Rhymney Valley
Status Urban district
   HQ Bedwas

Bedwas and Machen Urban District was formed on 1 October 1912 from the parishes of Bedwas and Machen Upper, previously part of St Mellons Rural District. [1] In 1935 the boundaries were altered when it exchanged areas with the neighbouring Mynyddislwyn Urban District. The urban district was abolished by the Local Government Act 1972, becoming part of Rhymney Valley District in Mid Glamorgan.

On the abolition of the urban district, a community with identical boundaries was formed, and a community council established. [2] On 16 March 1989 the community was renamed Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen. [3] On 1 April 1996 the Rhymney Valley District was itself abolished, and the community has been part of the county borough of Caerphilly since that date. At the 2001 census Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen had a population of 10,428

The urban district council began operating a bus service in 1922. The UDC was one of the smallest municipal bus undertakings in the United Kingdom, with an average fleet size of seven vehicles. [4] The bus livery was powder blue and cream. The fleet was merged with those of Caerphilly and Gelligaer UDCs in 1974, when Rhymney Valley District Council was formed.

Present-day

Today the area is quite densely populated, with the exception of the mountain area. There are some transport links, with a bus service from Newport to Bargoed running through the community, and two other services running from Graig-Y-Rhacca to Caerphilly town centre. A school serves the villages, as well as BTM Brass Band.

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Machen is a large village three miles east of Caerphilly, south Wales. It is situated in the Caerphilly borough within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. It neighbours Bedwas and Trethomas, and forms a council ward in conjunction with those communities. It lies on the Rhymney River. Mynydd Machen provides a view over the village. It is possible to walk up to and along the top of the mountain, where a number of large boulders are present.

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Graig-y-Rhacca Human settlement in Wales

Graig-y-Rhacca is a housing estate bordering Trethomas, Bedwas and Machen in the borough of Caerphilly, southeastern Wales. The town is about 8 miles to the west of Newport and 4 miles to the east of Caerphilly. The town mainly consists of local authority tenancies and privately owned estates.

References

  1. County Census Report, Monmouthshire 1921
  2. Local Government in England and Wales : A guide to the New System, HMSO, London 1974
  3. Changes to Community and Ward Boundaries from the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales website Archived 2006-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
  4. A. M. Witton, Buses of South Wales, Manchester, 1982