TREDEGAR, a district (considerable, mining) in the
parish of BEDWELTY, lower division of the hundred of
WENTLLOOG, county of MONMOUTH, 6 miles (N.) from
the parish church. The population, which, in 1821, was
returned with the parish,- is now calculated at about
6000, mostly employed in the extensive collieries and
flourishing iron-works belonging to Messrs. Homfray
and Co., at this place, and in those of Messrs. Summers,:
Harford, and Co., at Sirhowy, in the immediate neighbourhood.
Thesegentlemen have constructed rail-roads
in various directions, to facilitate the communication
between the respective establishments, one of which
extends a distance of twenty-four miles to Newport
and Pill-gwenlly, for the conveyance of iron, coal, &c.,
to be there exported. It is also in contemplation to
erect a church, the village of Tredegar having risen, in
consequence of their works, to the importance of a
market-town, with a spacious area in the centre, and a
market-house, where a large market is held on Saturday.
There are two places of worship for Baptists and
three1 for Wesleyan Methodists, also several commodious
inns, and a number of respectable shops, in the village,
which now forms a striking contrast to its desolate
appearance about thirty years ago, when only one
poor family resided near the spot.