Cantref Coch facts for kids

Cantref Coch (which means "The Red Cantref") was an old land area in Welsh history. It was connected to ancient kingdoms like Ergyng, Gwent, and later the Kingdom of Glamorgan. This area was located between two important rivers, the River Severn and the River Wye. The Severn Sea formed its southern border.

Interestingly, Cantref Coch is one of the few old Welsh "cantrefs" (a type of land division) that is not found within modern Wales. Today, much of this area is known as the Forest of Dean in England.

History of Cantref Coch

Early Times

Long before the Romans arrived, people in the area of Cantref Coch were already working with iron. This shows that the land was important for its natural resources.

However, two British tribes, the Dobunni and the Silures, often fought over this land. Not many ancient coins have been found here, which suggests that neither tribe controlled the area for a very long time.

When the Romans came, things became more peaceful. The area turned into a hub for religious activities and industries, especially mining. An important Roman road also passed through here, connecting Glevum (modern-day Gloucester) to South Wales.

Roman Influence

The Romans greatly increased the production of iron ore and charcoal in the area. This strengthened its connections with Ariconium, which might have been a main center for these industries.

Ariconium probably had many ancient "bloomeries" (places where iron was made from ore). The Romans improved these by introducing bellows, which made iron production much more efficient. This activity made Ariconium very rich. Because of its wealth, Ariconium might have become a powerful small kingdom after the Romans left around 360 AD.

Part of Ergyng

Historians believe that Ariconium was a Roman version of an older British Celtic name. The kingdom of Ergyng, which appeared in the fifth century, likely continued the culture of the pre-Roman and Roman times.

Cantref Coch probably became part of the Kingdom of Ergyng. However, it was quite far from the main part of Ergyng, which was in Herefordshire. This meant the area was often fought over as Ergyng's power changed.

It's thought that Saint Brioc was active in Cantref Coch during the fifth century. Later, places like the Hundred of St Briavels, St Briavels parish, and St Briavels Castle were all named after this saint.

Part of Gwent and Glamorgan

While early records of Ergyng are rare, Cantref Coch is mentioned more often in Medieval Welsh literature and by later writers.

In the 1500s, a writer named Humphrey Llwyd called Cantref Coch the "seventh cantref of the Kingdom of Glamorgan." He noted that it was then in Gloucestershire and known as the Forest of Dean. Other writers, like Richard Blome, described it as one of the three cantrefs of the Kingdom of Gwent, also saying it was in Gloucestershire and called the Forest of Dean.

Iolo Morganwg, another writer, said Cantref Coch was the third part of the kingdom of Iestyn ap Gwrgant. He described it as stretching "from the Wye and Severn, up to the bridge at Gloucester, and from there to Hereford." This description made the Cantref much larger than the area we now call the Forest of Dean.

Later Changes

According to William of Malmesbury, a meeting took place in Hereford in 926. The English king Æthelstan met with several Welsh kings. They agreed that the River Wye would be the border between the Kingdom of Gwent and the Kingdom of England. This decision meant Cantref Coch was no longer part of Gwent's historical lands.

However, records from Edward Stradling show that even during the time of Edward the Confessor (1042-1066), some connections remained. Griffith, a son of Iestyn ap Gwrgant, became Lord of Caerleon. His lands included Cantref Coch, along with Gwynllwg and Gwent isa. This suggests that some old ties between the area and Gwent continued well into the Norman era.

Land ownership and church properties continued to be exchanged between local leaders and the Lordship of Caerleon or other groups in Gwent. As late as 1244, the Lord of the Bledisloe hundred confirmed that tenants in the manor of Alvington did not have to attend his court. This was an old claim by Llanthony Priory.