Llanwern is a village and community in the eastern part of the city of Newport, South East Wales. The name may be translated as "the church among the grove of the alders".[2]
The church has a particularly good collection of stained glass. The west tower, stylistically more elaborate than most local churches, contains five bells of various dates. The bells were restored in the 1990s.[2]
Llanwern House
Llanwern House was the home of David Alfred Thomas, 1st Viscount Rhondda (1856–1918), who was Minister of Food during the First World War. In 1887, a year before his election to Parliament, Thomas took the lease of the house, where he lived the life of a country squire, riding to hounds and breeding prize Hereford cattle. He bought the house in 1900 and acquired the neighbouring Pencoed estate shortly before his death, the purchase making Thomas the largest landowner in Monmouthshire after Lord Tredegar. Despite his fortune Thomas was content to retain the mansion at Llanwern, a large square house on a hilltop overlooking the village. The house, dating to 1760, was old-fashioned in its appearance but that appearance concealed a "delicate and beautiful interior" with Chinoiserie influences.[7] The house was demolished in the 1950s, although the site is still visible,[8] and the parkland intact. Thomas's ashes are interred in the family graveyard in the church.[2]
Governance
Llanwern has a community council, represented by up to seven community councillors.[9]
A £115m renewal project called Glan Llyn, led by St. Modwen Properties Limited, is transforming the former steel-producing part of the Llanwern steelworks site. Started in 2004, the masterplan envisages 34 acres (14 ha) of employment-generating accommodation hosting 6,000 jobs, 4,000 new dwellings, community facilities and open space including three new lakes. Completion is anticipated by 2026–2028.
