Usk (Wales)
Usk ( Brynbuga in Welsh ) is a small town with about 2,300 inhabitants in the county of Monmouthshire in Wales , 15 kilometers north-east of Newport .
Usk is known for its rural setting. The river Usk of the same name flows through the city and is spanned by an old, five-arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the city, which was built by William Edwards , the architect of the Pontypridd Bridge . A castle above the town overlooks the old Anglo-Welsh border crossing. Usk won the Entente Florale Europe City Prize in 2005 .
Entertainment options
- The city is known for its numerous pubs, restaurants and antique shops. Lots of people come from Newport and further afield to enjoy a quiet meal away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. The main road A 472 is lined up with a small collection of old houses, restaurants, pubs, shops and businesses (some of them go back to the 15th century). It also leads around the large and quiet town square.
- Usk Island is a park whose name comes from a small islet in the middle of the river. It mainly consists of a grassy landscape surrounded by forest. The park is a popular destination and there is a large adventure playground there .
- The South Wales Gliding Club is located near Gwernesney, about 5 kilometers east of Usk.
history
Usk was founded around the year 75 with the construction of a temporary legionary camp (burrium). Although the area was limited by hills, so that there was a risk of flooding and the river was not navigable, good inland connections were made upstream through the Usk. After a while, however, the disadvantages became apparent and the Romans moved their camp south to Caerleon . The Roman remains are on the southern outskirts of Usk.
After the Roman fortress was abandoned, it was used permanently as a civilian settlement, although there are references to iron processing. The Normans noticed Usk's geographical and military importance within the region and the powerful Clare family built Usk Castle to control the surrounding land and residents. The castle, now hidden behind trees that were planted in the early 20th century, is one of the few still inhabited and privately owned castles in Wales.
A Benedictine monastery was founded in 1170, part of the building is included in the Church of St. Mary. Its location has inevitably led to repeated border disputes between the English and the Welsh in this part of the Welsh Mark .
Usk was the birthplace of Adam of Usk . His chronicle records the Welsh uprising in 1403 when Owain Glyndŵr Usk burned to the ground to take control of South Wales from the English under King Henry IV and his son, later King Henry V. The Battle of Pwll Melyn in 1405 occurred when English troops were besieging their Welsh opponents. Many lost their lives, with three hundred Welsh prisoners being executed in front of Usk Castle alone. Owain's brother Tudur was killed in that battle. In 2005, the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Pwll Melyn was celebrated in Usk with a light and sound show.
In 1678 Usk was the scene of St. David Lewis' ordeal for his supposed part in the fraudulent papist conspiracy of Titus Oates .
In the late 18th century Usk became known for the quality of its Japanese goods, a process in which everyday objects are decorated by applying a varnish to tinplate . The process was first developed in the west by Thomas Allgood from the nearby Pontypool and came to Usk through his grandsons Thomas and Edward Allgood.
Surname
Usk was a thriving market town in Victorian times . It got its name from the river - the name is derived from the old British word for river, which means “fish in abundance”. The name is similar to many others in Britain, e.g. B. Exe or Esk, and is related to the Scottish uisge ("water") and therefore with "whiskey". During the late 20th century, the town was officially given the Welsh name Brynbuga, which means "the hills of Buga" and was first mentioned in records in the 15th century. The proportion of the Welsh-speaking population is very low.
Surroundings
Llanbadoc, on the opposite side of the Usk River, is the birthplace of Alfred Russel Wallace , co-founder of the theory of evolution.
Detention centers
The prison (HM Prison Usk), in the shape of a Victorian rotunda , is located near the city. The sister institution is the HM Prison Prescoed, which is 4.5 kilometers south near Pontypool. HM Prison Usk can accommodate up to 250 inmates, most of whom are sex offenders.
Twin town
Usk's twin town has been Graben-Neudorf in Baden-Württemberg since 1980 . Since then, numerous visits have taken place between the two communities, including the visit of the Usk Youth Brass Band in autumn 2006.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Burg Usk ( Memento of the original of April 22, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ South Wales Gliding Club
- ↑ Pontypool Museum ( Memento of the original from August 28, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
Web links
- Web presence of the city of Usk (English)
Coordinates: 51 ° 42 ′ 12.5 ″ N , 2 ° 54 ′ 6.5 ″ W.