Machen

For people named Machen, see Machen (surname).

Machen
Population	2,276
OS grid reference	ST215895
Principal area	Caerphilly
Ceremonial county	Gwent
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CAERPHILLY
Postcode district	CF83
Dialling code	01633
Police	Gwent
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Caerphilly
List of places: UK • Wales • Caerphilly

Machen is a large village 3 miles east of Caerphilly, south Wales, situated in the Caerphilly borough within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. It neighbours Bedwas and Trethomas, and forms a council ward in conjunction with those communities. It lies on the Rhymney River.

Mynydd Machen

Mynydd Machen (Machen Mountain) provides a spectacular backdrop to the village. It is possible to walk up to and along the top of the mountain, where a number of large boulders were present. These were explained in local folklore as follows.

Saint Peter was visiting Wales in order to watch over the Faithful. Taking offence at the sudden appearance of the Devil, he picked up a large number of boulders and placed them in his apron so as to carry them more easily. He then gave chase to the Devil, both chaser and chased (having the stature of giants) leaping from mountain-top to mountain-top. As the Devil alighted on Mynydd Machen he paused to catch his breath, whereupon Saint Peter began hurling the rocks at him, leaving a considerable amount of debris around his adversary in the process. The area of rocks is known to this day as "The Devil's Apron Strings"

Industrial history

Machen was a village rooted in the iron and coal industries stretching from the 17th Century.^[1] Though little trace remains, the village was the site of the Machen Forge and several coal mines. A local history trail visits some of these sites.^[2] Machen Forge was an early adopter of the Osmond process for the production of wrought iron.

Machen was a station on the Brecon and Merthyr Railway and a branch to Caerphilly on the Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Newport Railway, closed to passengers in 1956.

Notable people

See Category:People from Machen

In 2005, Dennis Spargo, a resident of Machen, along with several members of his family and friends, produced a film detailing the history of the village titled Machen: Then & Now, he sold it with help from the local council at the village hall.

Famous people from Machen include Ron Davies, often claimed as the "architect of Welsh devolution". He was honoured as a member of the Gorsedd with the bardic name "Ron o Fachen" (Ron from Machen).

Alfred Edward Morgans (17 February 1850 – 10 August 1933), Premier of Western Australia for just 32 days in 1901, was born in Machen.

Ian Thomas the former Glamorgan County Cricket Club cricketer, is from Machen. He Played for Glamorgan between 1998 and 2005 winning 2 one day league winners trophies with the club. He is also remembered for scoring the first Televised 20-20 century in 2004 (116 Not Out against SOMERSET.)

Community Archives Wales

In 2008 Machen Remembered, the local archive group, received assistance from Community Archives Wales, to instruct their members in using computers to scan and upload their comprehensive Machen archive onto the Community Archives Wales website. This has been a great success with many of Machen's pictures now available for viewing on the website.^[3]

Community Groups

CALON is a community group based in Machen since December 2009. As well as Machen it also focuses on the surrounding villages and countryside. Meetings are free and open to anybody who wants to listen or take part. They meet on the second Tuesday of the month. They look at issues affecting our community and tackle them proactively. They run events, help other community organisations to achieve their goals, and campaign for improvements with local authorities. An example of this was the planting of a community orchard. Their focus is on sustainability by using new and existing resources from within the community wherever possible.^[4]

Other uses

• Angeology - The Fourth Heaven, Machanon or Machen is ruled by Archangel Michael, "Is the site of the heavenly Jerusalem, the holy Temple and its Altar" (Godwin, p. 122). It is said to house the city of Christ and is the native seat of the angels.^[5][6]

See also

• Lower Machen
• Machen RFC
• Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Walk

References

1. ^ A Welsh Ironworks at the Close of the Seventeenth Century, L J Williams, National Library of Wales journal. 1960, Summer Volume XI/3
2. ^ Machen Forge Trail
3. ^ Community Archives Wales Website
4. ^ CALON Website
5. ^ [1]
6. ^ [2]

Coordinates: 51°35′56″N 3°08′05″W / 51.59885°N 3.13475°W / 51.59885; -3.13475