Rhymney

infobox UK place
country = Wales
welsh_name=Rhymni
constituency_welsh_assembly=
map_type=
official_name= Rhymney
unitary_wales= Caerphilly
lieutenancy_wales= Gwent
constituency_westminster= Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
post_town= TREDEGAR
postcode_district = NP22
postcode_area= NP
dial_code= 01685
os_grid_reference= SO115075
population= 7,011

Rhymney [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/545173] ( _cy. Rhymni) is a town located in the county borough of Caerphilly, in south-east Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. Along with the villages of Pontlottyn, Fochriw, Abertysswg, Deri and New Tredegar, Rhymney is designated as the 'Upper Rhymney Valley' by the local Unitary Authority, Caerphilly County Borough Council.

The town was founded with the establishment of the Bute ironworks in 1802. The Rhymney ironworks were later established. The ironworks used local coking coal, iron ore and limestone.

From the mid-19th century, steam coal pits [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/537580] started to be opened to the south of the town. The iron works closed finally in 1891, and the collieries employed nearly the entire local population in the early 20th century. The town's secondary school, Rhymney Comprehensive, serves a catchment area that includes Fochriw, Pontlottyn and New Tredegar.

In 1999 Ystrad Mynach College launched its sister campus in Rhymney to serve the top end of the Rhymney Valley under the name The College Rhymney. The College Rhymey has undergone rapid growth since its opening with over 700 students enrolled on various courses in the academic year 2007-2008.

Rhymney railway station is on the Rhymney Line.

Rhymney is known to many outside of Wales thanks to "Bells of Rhymney", a ballad by Idris Davies on the failure of the 1926 General Strike. Folk singer Pete Seeger used the poem as lyrics for a song of the same title, which was later notably recorded by The Byrds, as well as by Robyn Hitchcock, Weddings Parties Anything, the Oysterband and others.

The history of Rhymney is described eloquently in "Rhymney Memories," a book by Dr Thomas Jones CH, who was born there and whose daughter, the Labour Party politician Eirene White was later granted the title Baroness White of Rhymney.

Famous sons and daughters of Rhymney

*Dr Thomas Jones CH
*Thomas Clifford Peters MBE
*Harry Green
*Idris Davies
*John D. Reese
*Tom James (rugby player)

Major employers

Williams Medical Supplies Ltd

ee also

*Rhymney Valley
*Rhymney Railway
*Rumney, Cardiff
*Redwood Memorial Hospital

External links

* [http://www.ystrad-mynach.ac.uk/rhymney.aspx The College Rhymney]
* [http://www.rhymney.org/ Rhymney Comprehensive School]