The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Llanwern Steelworks Landscape

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 16458g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Marshfield
Unitary authority : Newport
NGR : ST3735686712
Site Type (preferred type first) : MULTIPERIOD LANDSCAPE

Summary :
Originally part of the back-fen, the historic landscape of the area, now largely
occupied by the Llanwern Steelworks, was characterised by a series of commons located on the fen edge, which were largely destroyed by 20th century redevelopment. The historic character resulted from reclamation and early enclosure of the back-fen.

Description :
Originally part of the back-fen, the historic landscape of the area, now largely
occupied by the Llanwern Steelworks, was characterised by a series of commons located on the fen edge, which were largely destroyed by 20th century redevelopment. The historic character resulted from reclamation and early enclosure of the back-fen. This is shown on the 1st edition OS map (c. 1887) as a series of tree-lined reens, similar in size and shape to the enclosures visible in the neighbouring HLCA 02 Christchurch/Nash/Whitson back-fen.

The former historic landscape of medieval drainage and enclosure, with a visible stratigraphy to the drainage pattern, consisted of underlying reens onto which later earthworks and reens were overlain. This distinguishes the area from neighbouring HLCA 03 Whitson to the south and HLCA 09 Green Moor to the east. These later earthworks and reens can be attributed to the steelworks, without which the area would be identical in character to the Green Moor HLCA (as is clear from the 1887 map).

The steelworks played a significant part in the economic and social development of Newport and the surrounding area, bringing a new increase in population to the area throughout the 1960s and 1970s. They represent a historic feature within the landscape in their own right but have been much reduced in recent years.

A number of historic reens cross the steelworks, including Gout Reen, part of
which still exists within the character area, defining its southeast edge. Further south, this becomes Elver Pill Reen and forms the boundary between HLCA 04 Porton and HLCA 07 Redwick/Broadmead. Monks’ Ditch Reen, a principal drain, runs through the central part of the area and appears to have been accommodated by the steelworks during building. The name ‘Monks’ Ditch’ suggests this may have been the work of the Benedictine monks of Goldcliff Priory (c.1113-1414) and it is first documented in the 13th century. This particular reen is embanked, meaning the water level is higher than the surrounding landscape, and it channels water from the uplands to the north across the levels to the coast.

(Welsh Gov 2016)

Sources :

Events :
E007746 : M4 Corridor Around Newport (year : 2016)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00241g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00246g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 12090g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 15550g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 15552g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 15553g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 15554g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 16458g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 16470g

Compiled date : 27-12-2023


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