Rogerstone

Infobox Newport electoral ward
Ward = Rogerstone
Population = 8,807 (2001 census)
GridReference = ST271885
Constituency = Newport West
PostCode = NP10 9,0
DiallingCode = +44-1633
Rhiwderin exchange

Rogerstone ( _cy. Tŷ du) is both a ward and community of the city of Newport, Wales in the United Kingdom.

The community lies to the north of Newport on the eastern side of the valley of the Ebbw River [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/351891] . It is bounded by the M4 motorway to the south, the Ebbw River to the west, the Henllys vale to the east and the city boundary with Caerphilly county borough to the north.

Rogerstone railway station is on the Ebbw Valley Line. It opened on 6 February 2008.

History

The original settlement dates back to Norman times when Rogerstone Castle was built in the early part of the 12th century. The name is said to originate from Roger de Haia, the Norman Lord who was responsible for the building of the castle, the remains of which are unfortunately reduced to a low bush and tree covered motte opposite Criddle's garage on the lower section of Tregwilym Road. The Welsh name however translates to "black house".

The larger parish of Rogerstone started as two distinct settlements of Tregwilym and Tydu, Tregwilym taking its name from the land owner, William de Berkerolles. These hamlets remained predominantly rural until the advent of the industrial revolution. The population grew in response to the tin, iron and aluminium industries which flourished near the South Wales coalfield. At one point, the village boasted the longest aluminium rolling mill in Western Europe and one of the largest marshalling yards on the Great Western Railway network.

The village played host to John Frost and his fellow Chartists on their historical march from the valleys to Newport, the Welsh Oak public house just north of the parish being one of the key meeting points for the protestors before they set off through the parish towards the Westgate Hotel and turmoil.

The parish sits astride the Crumlin branch of the Monmouthshire Canal and plays host to the Fourteen Locks [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/652018] . The canal opened in 1798 but was dogged by water supply problems and competition from the railways and by 1930; it had finally succumbed and has since fallen into disrepair. The designation of this section of the canal as part of the National Cycle Network (route 47) and more recent efforts to restore parts of the canal have made the site a popular tourist attraction.

Recent building on the site of the former power station has added more than 1000 dwellings in the north of the area. There are three primary schools within Rogerstone - [http://www.rogerstoneprimaryschool.co.uk/ Rogerstone Primary] , [http://www.mountpleasantprimary.co.uk/ Mount Pleasant Primary] and [http://www.steplearn.net/highcross/ High Cross Primary] .