Local History
Maesycwmmer is a village and community in the centre of Caerphilly County Borough in Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire.
Maesycwmmer is still overshadowed by the vast Maesycwmmer Viaduct, which dates from 1853 and which carried the Taff Vale Extension of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway over the Rhymney valley. In 2000 the viaduct was re-opened for public pedestrian access.
Today the village features the “Wheel of Drams” (locally known as “The Stargate”) sculpture by Andy Hazell, an unusual piece of modern art formed from a circle of coalmining dram trucks to commemorate the industrial heritage of this locality within the history of the South Wales Valleys. The village shared three railway stations with neighbouring Hengoed over the years (see Hengoed railway station).
Maesycwmmer was a creation of the Industrial Revolution in the South Wales Coalfield. The houses built along the main road were purpose built for the workers that built the Maesycwmmer to Hengoed Viaduct. There is also a disused quarry in a field behind the houses of St Annes Gardens.
Origin of the name
Some have claimed that the village name should be spelled as Maes-y-Cymer, meaning “the field of the confluence of streams”.
As Maesycwmer, however, the name is probably derived from Maes (field) + cwmwr (footbridge). A local tradition holds that a large tree was blown down during a storm, forming a natural footbridge across the river. The footbridge was used by noted preacher and local pioneer of the printing press, the Rev. John Jenkins (also known as Shôn Shincyn), to cross the river to his house. Jenkins’ house “Maesycwmmwr House” was built in 1826 and stood on the east side of the river. In the 1840 Tithe Map for the village is given as Maesycwmwr, with the spelling then varying to Maesycwmer over time.
Notable residents
Maesycwmmer’s most famous resident is the actor Craig Roberts, most noted for his role in the BAFTA nominated CBBC programme Young Dracula. He also appeared in later series of The Story of Tracy Beaker.
