Blackwood, Caerphilly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackwood
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From the top, Blackwood Centre, Chartist Statue & Bridge, The Miners Institute
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 Blackwood
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| Population | 8,496 (2011) |
| Language | English Cymraeg (Welsh) |
| OS grid reference | ST175975 |
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| Ceremonial county |
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| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BLACKWOOD |
| Postcode district | NP12 |
| Dialling code | 01495, 01443 |
| Police | Gwent |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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Blackwood (also known as Welsh: Coed Duon or Coed-duon in Welsh) is a town in the South Wales Valleys. It is located by the Sirhowy River and is part of the Caerphilly County Borough. Blackwood is also within the historic area of Monmouthshire.
The town has many businesses, including those involved in light industry and technology. It is also famous as the hometown of the rock band Manic Street Preachers.
Contents
History of Blackwood
Blackwood was started in the early 1800s by a local coal mine owner named John Hodder Moggridge. He wanted to build a special "model village" where people could live and work.
The Chartist Movement
During the Industrial Revolution, working conditions were very tough. Because of this, Blackwood became an important place for a group called the Chartists in the 1830s. The Chartists wanted to make society fairer for working people.
Important Chartist leaders like John Frost, Zephaniah Williams (who was from Blackwood), and William Jones often met in Blackwood. They planned a big march to Newport in 1839. This event is known as the Newport Rising. They hoped it would lead to big changes across Britain.
Many people gathered in Blackwood before marching to Newport. They wanted the government to accept the "People's Charter," which asked for things like the right for all men to vote. The march did not succeed, and the leaders were arrested. They were sentenced to death, but this was later changed to being sent to Tasmania.
Famous Discoveries and People
In 1912, the Titanic ship sent out distress signals. An amateur radio enthusiast named Arthur (Artie) Moore picked them up from his home near Blackwood. Artie Moore later became a top scientist for the Marconi Company. He helped invent the transistor, which is key for telecommunications.
The old Penllwyn House, near Blackwood, was once owned by the Lord Tredegar family. It is thought to be the original home of the family of Henry Morgan. He was a famous privateer (like a legal pirate) and later a governor of Jamaica. Today, the building is a public house.
The Maes Manor Hotel is also in Blackwood. It is in a grand old manor house called Maesrudded. This house used to be the home of the Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire.
The Welsh National Anthem
Evan James (1809–1893) was a weaver and poet. He and his son James are believed to have created the Welsh national anthem, 'Hen Wlad fy Nhadau' ('Land of my Fathers'), in 1856. Evan is thought to have written the words, and James composed the music. The song quickly became very popular. A memorial to Evan and James James was built in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd, in 1930.
Changes in Blackwood
In the later 1900s, the coal mining industry declined. This meant many jobs were lost in South Wales, including Blackwood. However, new projects and light industrial areas have helped to improve the area.
Life in Blackwood Today
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Blackwood has a strong sports scene. It has two rugby union teams, Blackwood RFC and Blackwood Stars RFC. There is also a rugby league club called the Blackwood Bulldogs. Famous rugby players like Kevin Moseley, Alun Pask, and Alun Lewis are from Blackwood.
The town also has a cricket club, Blackwood Town Cricket Club. Some of its players have gone on to play for Glamorgan.
The bus station in Blackwood has been updated. It connects Blackwood to many nearby areas. You can also get a bus to train stations from here.
Blackwood's cinema, the Maxime, was built as a cinema in 1938. It was a bingo hall for a while, but now it is a five-screen cinema again. Some of its original decorations are still in the foyer.
Blackwood is twinned with Protivín, a small town in the Czech Republic.
Important Places in Blackwood
The Chartist Bridge
The Chartist Bridge connects the east and west sides of the Sirhowy Valley. Before this bridge, people had to take a long detour or use a very steep road.
The bridge is 230 meters long and stands 30 meters above the valley floor. It is supported by a 90-meter tall pylon. It opened in 2005 and was part of a project to improve the area.
A statue honoring the Chartist movement stands on the east side of the bridge. It shows a Chartist figure moving forward with a pike. The statue is made of thousands of brass rings, showing strength in unity.
Miners Institute
The Blackwood Miners Institute is known as the "Heart of the Community." It started in 1925 as a snooker hall. Miners from Oakdale Colliery helped pay for it.
By 1936, the building had grown to three floors. It included an auditorium, a dance floor, a reading room, and rehearsal rooms. It hosted tea dances, reading groups, and union meetings for miners.
When the mining industry declined, the building became run down. It was reopened in 1992 after being renovated. Today, it is a multi-entertainment venue. Local drama groups perform there, and famous artists have also appeared.
Churches in Blackwood
Blackwood and its nearby villages have many churches and chapels. This is partly due to a religious revival in Wales in 1904–1905.
Some old chapels have been changed for new uses. For example, Libanus Chapel (1829) is now a community hub. Jerusalem Independent Chapel (1840) has become housing. A Methodist chapel (1904) is now the Blackwood Little Theatre.
Other churches include Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and Blackwood Methodist Church. There is also the Oasis Christian Centre and Blackwood Pentecostal Church. The Anglican church is St. Margaret's. A Roman Catholic church, Sacred Heart, is in nearby Pontllanfraith.
Youth groups like the Boys' Brigade and Girls' Brigade meet at the Baptist and Methodist churches. There are also other Christian youth groups in the area.
Schools in Blackwood
Blackwood has many primary schools and secondary schools. The town has two large comprehensive schools: Blackwood Comprehensive School and Islwyn High School. These schools usually have between 800 and 1200 students. Many students from Blackwood have gone on to top universities.
There are also two Welsh-language primary schools: Ysgol Trelyn and Ysgol Cwm Derwen. These schools help students learn in Welsh. They feed into the Welsh-language secondary school, Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni.
Getting Around Blackwood
Blackwood is in the middle of the Sirhowy Valley. The main road into Blackwood used to be through the High Street. But in 2005, the Sirhowy Enterprise Way opened. This new road helps traffic move more easily. It includes the Chartist Bridge.
Blackwood does not have train links for passengers. However, local bus services run from Blackwood Bus Station. These buses connect to train stations in nearby towns. There are plans to possibly extend train links to Blackwood in the future.
Long ago, a tramroad ran through what is now High Street. It was later changed into a railway. Passenger trains ran until 1960. Today, parts of the old railway line are now a cycle path. The site of the old Blackwood railway station is now a KFC restaurant.
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Buses have served the town for a long time. Companies like Red & White and Western Welsh used to operate here. Today, Stagecoach in South Wales is a major bus operator in the area.
Rotary Club of Blackwood
The Rotary Club of Blackwood started in 1946. It is a group of people who work to help the local community. They meet every Tuesday at the Maes Manor Hotel.
The club raises money for different charities. They also support extra activities in local schools. Every Christmas, you can find club members at the town's Asda store with a miniature nativity scene. They collect donations for local charities. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, they continued to raise money online. They supported a local food bank, which they still do. One member even walked a virtual journey from Land's End to John O Groats to raise money for a cancer care unit.
Famous People from Blackwood
- David Alexander, a singer and entertainer.
- Steve Strange, a Welsh pop singer.
- Paul Barrett, a rock and roll agent and promoter.
- James Dean Bradfield, Richey Edwards, Sean Moore, and Nicky Wire grew up here. They formed the famous rock band Manic Street Preachers.
- Siobhan Dowd, an author.
- Sam Gardiner, an Irish politician.
- Sali Hughes, a journalist.
- Evan James, who wrote the words for the Welsh National Anthem.
- Neil Kinnock, a former leader of the Labour Party and local Member of Parliament.
- Jon Maguire, a songwriter.
- The noise rock group mclusky formed after meeting at Blackwood Miner's Institute.
- Alun Pask, Alun Lewis, and Kevin Moseley, famous rugby players.
- Dame Margaret Price, an opera singer.
