Newchurch, Monmouthshire
Encyclopedia
Newchurch is an extensive rural parish
and small hamlet
in Monmouthshire
, south east Wales
, United Kingdom
. It is located 6 miles south east of Usk
and 6 miles north west of Chepstow
, between the B4235 and B4293 roads.
, the area was heavily forested as part of Wentwood
. There is a Neolithic
dolmen
or burial chamber at Gaer-llwyd, 1 mile south west of the village close to the B4235.
In the early 12th century the Newchurch area was known as Plataland and was given by the Marcher lord of Striguil
, or Chepstow
, to Tintern Abbey
. The monks cleared much of the land for farming, but in 1302 exchanged it with Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk
, for land at Woolaston
in what is now Gloucestershire
. The parish still contains much of Wentwood and also, to the east, Chepstow Park Wood south of Devauden
.
Bigod built a church for the tenants of his land, which became known as Newchurch. The parish church is dedicated to St. Peter. It has some 14th century features but was largely rebuilt around 1865.
The modern hamlet consists of little more than the church, three houses and a farm.
William Camden
incorrectly referred to the ruins as Striguil, a mistake repeated on some later maps.
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
and small hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
, south east Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is located 6 miles south east of Usk
Usk
Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. A castle above the town overlooks the ancient Anglo-Welsh border crossing - the river can...
and 6 miles north west of Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
, between the B4235 and B4293 roads.
History and amenities
Before the Norman conquestNorman invasion of Wales
The Norman invasion of Wales began shortly after the Norman conquest of England under William the Conqueror, who believed England to be his birthright...
, the area was heavily forested as part of Wentwood
Wentwood
Wentwood is a forested area of hills, rising to 309 metres , in Monmouthshire, South Wales. It is located to the north east of, and partly within the boundaries of, the city of Newport.- Geology :...
. There is a Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
dolmen
Dolmen
A dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
or burial chamber at Gaer-llwyd, 1 mile south west of the village close to the B4235.
In the early 12th century the Newchurch area was known as Plataland and was given by the Marcher lord of Striguil
Striguil
Striguil or Strigoil is the name which was used from the 11th century until the late 14th century, for the port and Norman castle of Chepstow, on the Welsh side of the River Wye which forms the boundary with England...
, or Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
, to Tintern Abbey
Tintern Abbey
Tintern Abbey was founded by Walter de Clare, Lord of Chepstow, on 9 May 1131. It is situated in the village of Tintern, on the Welsh bank of the River Wye in Monmouthshire, which forms the border between Monmouthshire in Wales and Gloucestershire in England. It was only the second Cistercian...
. The monks cleared much of the land for farming, but in 1302 exchanged it with Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk
Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk
Roger Bigod was 5th Earl of Norfolk.He was the son of Hugh Bigod , and succeeded his uncle, Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk as earl in 1270....
, for land at Woolaston
Woolaston
Woolaston is a village and civil parish in the Forest of Dean district of Gloucestershire in South West England. It lies on the north side of the Severn Estuary approximately 5 miles from the Welsh border at Chepstow and is surrounded by woodland and agricultural land.-The Village and its...
in what is now Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. The parish still contains much of Wentwood and also, to the east, Chepstow Park Wood south of Devauden
Devauden
Devauden is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales. It is located between Chepstow and Monmouth near the top of the Trellech ridge on the B4293 road.-History:...
.
Bigod built a church for the tenants of his land, which became known as Newchurch. The parish church is dedicated to St. Peter. It has some 14th century features but was largely rebuilt around 1865.
The modern hamlet consists of little more than the church, three houses and a farm.
Cas Troggy
Cas (or Castell) Troggy is a small ruined fortified hunting lodge or manor house built by Roger Bigod around 1303. It is located within Newchurch parish, beside the Troggy (or Castrogi) Brook and the old road between Chepstow and Usk, on the northern slopes of Wentwood at Pen y cae-mawr. It was probably abandoned shortly after Bigod's death in 1306. The 16th century antiquarianAntiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
William Camden
William Camden
William Camden was an English antiquarian, historian, topographer, and officer of arms. He wrote the first chorographical survey of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and the first detailed historical account of the reign of Elizabeth I of England.- Early years :Camden was born in London...
incorrectly referred to the ruins as Striguil, a mistake repeated on some later maps.