Gaer, Newport
Encyclopedia
Gaer is a community
and electoral district ("ward") of the city of Newport
, South Wales
.
The ward includes both the Gaer and Maesglas
estates. The name "Gaer" is from the Welsh
word for fort (Caer), as found in Caerleon
. It has an area which is recognised to be an old hillfort site, believed to be Iron Age
- however the Gaer Inn pub sign depicts a Roman legionary soldier. Gaer estate is usually referred to as "the Gaer" by locals. The names of the roads in the Gaer Estate are those of famous poet
s, dramatists and writers .
The ward is bounded by Bassaleg Road to the north, the Great Western main line
to the east, the Ebbw River
to the southeast, Cardiff Road to the southwest, and the M4 motorway
to the west.
It is a ward of some contrast — both the Gaer and Maesglas council estates are Communities First
areas, as they are recognised as being high on the index of multiple deprivation used by the Welsh Assembly to establish the poverty of an area - yet there is a small area in the north and east of the ward where large private houses can be found more characteristic of the neighbouring middle class and affluent Allt-yr-yn
ward and typical semi-detached
suburban houses found along Cardiff Road, Old Cardiff Road, and either side of the Ebbw Bridge. The Gaer achieved a Merit Award at the 1951 Festival of Britain
for its well-designed and well-built housing .
The area is governed by the Newport City Council
.
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
and electoral district ("ward") of the city of Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
.
The ward includes both the Gaer and Maesglas
Maesglas
Maesglas is a neighbourhood in the south west of the city of Newport, South Wales. In the 16th century it was known as Greenfield but in later years the Welsh language Maesglas has come to be more widely used....
estates. The name "Gaer" is from the Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
word for fort (Caer), as found in Caerleon
Caerleon
Caerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress, Isca Augusta, and an Iron Age hill fort...
. It has an area which is recognised to be an old hillfort site, believed to be Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
- however the Gaer Inn pub sign depicts a Roman legionary soldier. Gaer estate is usually referred to as "the Gaer" by locals. The names of the roads in the Gaer Estate are those of famous poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
s, dramatists and writers .
The ward is bounded by Bassaleg Road to the north, the Great Western main line
South Wales Main Line
The South Wales Main Line , originally known as the London, Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway or simply as the Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway, is a branch of the Great Western Main Line in Great Britain...
to the east, the Ebbw River
Ebbw River
The Ebbw River is a river in South Wales.The main Ebbw River is formed by the confluence of the two minor Ebbw rivers, Ebbw Fach, and Ebbw Fawr ....
to the southeast, Cardiff Road to the southwest, and the M4 motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
to the west.
It is a ward of some contrast — both the Gaer and Maesglas council estates are Communities First
Communities First
Communities First is a programme designed to increase participation and develop the capacity of Welsh communities to make decisions and run projects. The programme was established by the Welsh Government’s Department for Social Justice and Regeneration in 2002...
areas, as they are recognised as being high on the index of multiple deprivation used by the Welsh Assembly to establish the poverty of an area - yet there is a small area in the north and east of the ward where large private houses can be found more characteristic of the neighbouring middle class and affluent Allt-yr-yn
Allt-yr-yn
Allt-yr-yn is a suburb of the city of Newport, south-east Wales.Pronounced by English-speaking locals as "Olt-er-reen", the spelling should include two Ns at the end, as "Allt-yr-ynn"...
ward and typical semi-detached
Semi-detached
Semi-detached housing consists of pairs of houses built side by side as units sharing a party wall and usually in such a way that each house's layout is a mirror image of its twin...
suburban houses found along Cardiff Road, Old Cardiff Road, and either side of the Ebbw Bridge. The Gaer achieved a Merit Award at the 1951 Festival of Britain
Festival of Britain
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in...
for its well-designed and well-built housing .
The area is governed by the Newport City Council
Newport City Council
Newport City Council is the governing body for the city of Newport, one of the subdivisions of Wales within the United Kingdom. It consists of 50 councillors, representing the city's 20 wards. Since the 2008 election, the council has been controlled jointly by the Conservatives and Liberal...
.