848:
outgoing tide which rushes through the net. With his fingers placed at the bottom meshes of the net, the fisherman then waits for the fish to hit the net. The net is made in a traditional way by means of a Y-shaped structure consisting of two arms called rimes which are made from locally cut willow that acts as a frame work to the loosely hung net. The handle is called the rock staff and is made of ash or willow and the arms are hinged to the rock staff and are kept in position while fishing with a wooden spreader called the headboard.
412:
781:
65:
819:
401:
47:
72:
730:
689:; the carved crosses on the blocked up back doorway could be even older. The church has been restored and altered on a number of occasions. The small windows in the upper part of the tower, for example, are typical of the 16th century. In the corner of the churchyard can be seen the steps which formed the base of a
657:, broadcast on 30 March 2008. The excavation revealed that a Norman fortified tower house had existed on the site, probably contemporaneous with the nearby church, and reached by a creek off the Severn. However, no conclusive evidence was found of a Saxon building, which would have been built of wood.
216:
712:
By the 19th century the village was in decline. Between 1801 and 1861 the population of the parish, which includes
Sudbrook, fell from 216 to 175. However, it expanded rapidly later in the 19th century, as housing was built for workers on the Severn Tunnel and with industrial development at nearby
847:
in the world (traditionally reported as the second highest though more recently reckoned to be third highest), which enables the fishermen to wade out at low tide with nets on shoulders to traditional fishing grounds, with the water up to their waists. The net is then opened and lowered into the
839:
is practised. The fishermen, who come from local villages, are the last such in Wales. They actively promote the fishery as a tourist attraction, with the aim of maintaining its history and tradition. Demonstrations of the lave net fishing are given on certain days from the picnic site.
897:
700:
estate, and was held by the Lewis family of St. Pierre. It declined in importance after the Norman period and for many centuries it was an agricultural village of no distinction, although it does appear that some
811:. Trains would travel out onto a wooden pier, where the passengers would get off before climbing aboard the ferries. The pier was severely damaged by fire in 1881 and demolished after the
256:
803:
side, carrying passengers, cattle and iron ore. The Black Rock Hotel served travellers and became a popular local entertainment venue; it was later destroyed by fire. In 1863, the
1105:
628:
and down the Wye, and was in the process of constructing a building on the site which he could use as a base for hunting when it was attacked and destroyed by a force under
240:
918:
447:
mark the entrance of the site known as Heston Brake. Human skeletons, cattle bones and some pottery were discovered in the chamber when it was excavated in 1888.
111:
1467:
1195:
1149:
1070:
432:
At the eastern edge of the village, in a privately owned field opposite Black Rock Road, very near to the
Leechpool turn, is evidence of a significant
202:
1442:
1038:
64:
1492:
1487:
1117:
804:
784:
264:
713:
Caldicot. At the turn of the 20th century the population was some 900, steadily rising to about 1,300 by the 1970s. The village lost its
1302:
636:. Harold never had the opportunity to take his revenge; in January 1066 he became king of England, and later that year was killed at the
640:. Archaeologists consider it likely that the hunting lodge would have been built on the same site as Caradog Freichfras' earlier court.
300:
233:
228:
1482:
1421:
1021:
1274:
808:
282:
51:
1163:
1083:
572:, the estuary on the border", and the medieval Welsh phrase meaning from one end of the country to another translates as "from
292:
190:
156:
678:
1462:
1211:
1362:
647:
carried out at the end of 2005 revealed extensive remains in the area. In May 2007, an excavation was carried out for the
104:
1263:
979:
922:
874:
857:
programme. In 2021, the fishermen reduced their activities as a result of what they claimed to be unfair pressure from
369:
549:
from
Caerwent to Portskewett, where there was a strongly flowing fresh water spring which only dried up later when the
1227:
714:
138:
420:
697:
670:
610:
The uneven ground south of the village church is shown on some older maps as "Harold’s Field". According to the
120:
411:
666:
170:
454:
which is situated on the left about 150 metres (160 yd) from the main road toward
Leechpool. In his 1954
858:
682:
554:
385:
365:
287:
245:
1009:
579:
377:
1437:
780:
612:
578:
to
Portskewett". The harbour later silted up. It is now a marshy area at Caldicot Pill, close to the
1045:
621:
389:
878:
629:
444:
405:
1124:
1387:
1336:
644:
637:
534:
705:
continued near the village until at least the 17th century. In 1662 Thomas Lewis of St. Pierre,
458:
Hando writes: "Garn Llwyd, Gwern-y-Cleppa and Heston Brake are our three outstanding dolmens".
1452:
1417:
1189:
1143:
1064:
1017:
706:
587:
583:
510:
349:
685:. The original parts of the church date back to the late 11th century and are made of local
633:
617:
538:
491:
471:
195:
1447:
1348:
1215:
599:
870:
761:
749:
741:
595:
495:
479:
436:
373:
337:
146:
31:
943:
818:
1476:
1170:
812:
765:
753:
733:
674:
560:
Portskewett is mentioned in ancient Welsh stories as one of the three chief ports of
550:
353:
128:
85:
1318:
745:
744:
immediately south east of the village, has been an important crossing point of the
718:
475:
451:
221:
1253:
About tides – Tides: questions and answers | National Tidal and Sea Level
Facility
1208:
881:' Peter Fox has been councillor since 1999 and is leader of the county council.
853:
844:
796:
757:
702:
546:
467:
440:
381:
1231:
959:
1275:
Dan Barnes, "Natural
Resources Wales rules threaten Severn Estuary fishery",
1252:
983:
315:
302:
686:
653:
648:
450:
The stones can be reached by following the public footpath accessed via the
433:
400:
180:
1457:
1094:
873:, coterminous with the community. The ward elects a county councillor to
836:
769:
690:
625:
527:
519:
502:
361:
46:
800:
729:
591:
514:
416:
1290:
1014:
Gwent In
Prehistory and Early History: The Gwent County History Vol.1
832:
574:
851:
In 2020 the lave fishermen of Black Rock were featured on BBC One's
817:
792:
779:
728:
561:
553:
was built. Alternatively, the court may have been based at nearby
410:
399:
357:
162:
966:, Newport, R. H. Johns, Chapter VI - Black Rock and Heston Brake.
752:
found in the mud show that it was in constant use throughout the
717:(on the Newport to Gloucester line) when it was closed under the
709:, granted the right to mine iron in the manor to Henry Rumsey.
565:
1264:
BBC Countryfile episode on Gwent Levels | South Wales Argus
598:
investigations have revealed wetland structures, including
1320:
696:
From Norman times until 1919, the village was part of the
1363:"Monmouthshire County Council Election Results 1995-2012"
815:
opened in 1886, but parts can still be seen at low tide.
1303:"River Severn Net Limitation Order and Byelaws 2021",
795:
service crossed the Severn estuary from Black Rock to
522:
about 3 miles away. An alternative derivation is from
494:
Portskewett is generally believed to derive from the
594:
lines, including the entrance to the Severn Tunnel.
255:
239:
227:
215:
201:
189:
179:
169:
155:
137:
119:
103:
95:
26:
831:At Black Rock a traditional method of fishing for
533:According to tradition, in about the 6th century
1416:. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
980:"South East Wales in the Early Medieval Period"
474:antecedents. There are also remains of a late
368:, in an archaeologically sensitive part of the
482:of the 3rd and 4th centuries have been found.
1453:Genuki - basic historical info on Portskewett
1033:
1031:
1029:
16:Village and community in Monmouthshire, Wales
8:
602:, with dates from the 6th century onwards.
564:. A Welsh poem of around the 7th century,
23:
360:. It is located four miles south west of
1463:The Black Rock Lave Net Heritage Fishery
1323:. Statutory Instruments. 6 December 2002
1291:The Black Rock Lave Net Heritage Fishery
1448:Harold's Lodge at The Gatehouse website
955:
953:
951:
889:
606:The tradition of "King Harold's Palace"
254:
210:
178:
154:
102:
43:
1344:
1334:
1194:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
1187:
1148:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
1141:
1069:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
1062:
974:
972:
1005:
1003:
1001:
807:built a branch from the main line to
805:Bristol and South Wales Union Railway
785:Bristol and South Wales Union Railway
238:
226:
214:
200:
188:
168:
136:
118:
7:
1468:More information on lave net fishing
898:"Community and ward population 2011"
869:Portskewett is also the name of the
843:The estuary has one of the highest
71:
1443:Portskewett heritage trail leaflet
14:
505:", or alternatively "the harbour
70:
63:
45:
791:By the 18th century, a regular
509:below the wood" - that is, the
1390:. Monmouthshire County Council
478:on Portskewett Hill, and many
1:
1493:Monmouthshire electoral wards
1388:"County Councillor Peter Fox"
756:period, on the route between
748:for many centuries. Numerous
568:, describes it as "beautiful
518:of Gwent Is Coed, centred on
501:, meaning "the harbour below
380:passes overhead carrying the
1488:Communities in Monmouthshire
875:Monmouthshire County Council
605:
466:There is some evidence of a
1438:Portskewett village website
1228:"NOAA Tides & Currents"
624:and conquered areas around
105:OS grid reference
1509:
1095:Photo of St. Mary's Church
421:Mary Ellen Bagnall Oakeley
372:on the Welsh shore of the
36:Porthsgiwed / Porthysgewin
1483:Villages in Monmouthshire
1458:Old photos of Portskewett
964:Monmouthshire Sketch Book
736:as viewed from Black Rock
456:Monmouthshire Sketch Book
384:. The community includes
273:
251:
211:
58:
52:Parish church of St. Mary
44:
21:Human settlement in Wales
1084:Channel 4 Time Team site
1412:Smith, Richard (2013).
1308:. Retrieved 1 June 2021
1293:. Retrieved 1 June 2021
1281:. Retrieved 1 June 2021
1012:and Ray Howell (eds.),
861:to reduce their catch.
859:Natural Resources Wales
683:Grade I listed building
673:" or cattle ranch. The
1368:. The Elections Centre
1010:Miranda Aldhouse-Green
823:
822:Sea wall remains today
788:
737:
580:Second Severn Crossing
424:
408:
396:History and prehistory
378:Second Severn Crossing
341:
191:Postcode district
35:
1106:Population statistics
821:
783:
732:
618:Earl Harold of Wessex
613:Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
414:
403:
364:and one mile east of
139:Preserved county
1414:Portskewett Railways
622:Gruffydd ap Llywelyn
419:at Heston Brake, by
171:Sovereign state
1130:on 21 November 2008
1051:on 21 November 2008
944:Map of Heston Brake
879:Welsh Conservatives
740:Black Rock, on the
669:the area became a "
630:Caradog ap Gruffydd
486:Early Welsh history
443:. A small group of
348:) is a village and
312: /
121:Principal area
1305:Environment Agency
1214:2009-07-10 at the
824:
789:
738:
693:churchyard cross.
645:geophysical survey
638:Battle of Hastings
620:, having defeated
535:Caradog Freichfras
526:, the port of the
425:
415:Plan of chambered
409:
257:UK Parliament
203:Dialling code
925:on 2 October 2011
776:New Passage Ferry
707:lord of the manor
586:, and crossed by
566:Moliant Cadwallon
331:
330:
316:51.590°N 2.7251°W
99:2,133 (2011)
1500:
1427:
1400:
1399:
1397:
1395:
1384:
1378:
1377:
1375:
1373:
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1359:
1353:
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1300:
1294:
1288:
1282:
1272:
1266:
1261:
1255:
1250:
1244:
1243:
1241:
1239:
1234:on 18 March 2021
1230:. Archived from
1224:
1218:
1206:
1200:
1199:
1193:
1185:
1183:
1181:
1176:on 9 August 2007
1175:
1169:. Archived from
1168:
1160:
1154:
1153:
1147:
1139:
1137:
1135:
1129:
1123:. Archived from
1122:
1114:
1108:
1103:
1097:
1092:
1086:
1081:
1075:
1074:
1068:
1060:
1058:
1056:
1050:
1044:. Archived from
1043:
1035:
1024:
1007:
996:
995:
993:
991:
982:. Archived from
976:
967:
957:
946:
941:
935:
934:
932:
930:
921:. Archived from
915:
909:
908:
906:
904:
894:
827:Lave net fishery
584:industrial sites
472:British Iron Age
470:, with possible
327:
326:
324:
323:
322:
317:
313:
310:
309:
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279:
165:
115:
114:
84:Location within
74:
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67:
49:
24:
1508:
1507:
1503:
1502:
1501:
1499:
1498:
1497:
1473:
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1408:
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1391:
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1258:
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1226:
1225:
1221:
1216:Wayback Machine
1207:
1203:
1186:
1179:
1177:
1173:
1166:
1164:"Archived copy"
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1161:
1157:
1140:
1133:
1131:
1127:
1120:
1118:"Archived copy"
1116:
1115:
1111:
1104:
1100:
1093:
1089:
1082:
1078:
1061:
1054:
1052:
1048:
1041:
1039:"Archived copy"
1037:
1036:
1027:
1008:
999:
989:
987:
978:
977:
970:
958:
949:
942:
938:
928:
926:
917:
916:
912:
902:
900:
896:
895:
891:
887:
867:
829:
778:
727:
715:railway station
667:Norman conquest
663:
608:
488:
464:
430:
398:
392:and Leechpool.
370:Caldicot Levels
321:51.590; -2.7251
320:
318:
314:
311:
306:
303:
301:
299:
298:
297:
277:
269:
161:
151:
133:
110:
109:
91:
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54:
40:
22:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1506:
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1465:
1460:
1455:
1450:
1445:
1440:
1433:
1432:External links
1430:
1429:
1428:
1423:978-1491294031
1422:
1407:
1404:
1402:
1401:
1379:
1354:
1345:|website=
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1256:
1245:
1219:
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1109:
1098:
1087:
1076:
1025:
997:
986:on 17 May 2011
968:
947:
936:
919:"Heston Brake"
910:
888:
886:
883:
871:electoral ward
866:
863:
828:
825:
777:
774:
742:Severn Estuary
726:
723:
662:
659:
607:
604:
596:Archaeological
524:Porth Ysgewydd
487:
484:
463:
460:
437:chambered tomb
429:
426:
397:
394:
374:Severn Estuary
329:
328:
296:
295:
290:
285:
280:
278:List of places
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175:United Kingdom
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1279:, 17 May 2021
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1022:0-7083-1826-6
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998:
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981:
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860:
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849:
846:
841:
838:
834:
826:
820:
816:
814:
813:Severn Tunnel
810:
806:
802:
798:
794:
786:
782:
775:
773:
771:
767:
766:Venta Silurum
763:
759:
755:
751:
747:
743:
735:
734:Severn Bridge
731:
724:
722:
720:
716:
710:
708:
704:
699:
694:
692:
688:
684:
680:
676:
675:parish church
672:
668:
661:Later history
660:
658:
656:
655:
651:TV programme
650:
646:
641:
639:
635:
631:
627:
623:
619:
615:
614:
603:
601:
597:
593:
589:
585:
581:
577:
576:
571:
570:Porth Esgewin
567:
563:
558:
556:
552:
551:Severn Tunnel
548:
544:
540:
536:
531:
529:
525:
521:
517:
516:
512:
508:
504:
500:
499:Porth-is-Coed
497:
493:
485:
483:
481:
477:
473:
469:
462:Roman remains
461:
459:
457:
453:
448:
446:
445:puddingstones
442:
438:
435:
427:
422:
418:
413:
407:
406:puddingstones
404:Heston Brake
402:
395:
393:
391:
387:
383:
379:
375:
371:
367:
363:
359:
356:, south east
355:
354:Monmouthshire
351:
347:
343:
339:
335:
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294:
293:Monmouthshire
291:
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129:Monmouthshire
127:
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94:
87:
86:Monmouthshire
66:
57:
53:
48:
37:
33:
30:
29:
25:
19:
1413:
1406:Bibliography
1392:. Retrieved
1382:
1370:. Retrieved
1357:
1325:. Retrieved
1319:
1313:
1304:
1298:
1286:
1277:The National
1276:
1270:
1259:
1248:
1236:. Retrieved
1232:the original
1222:
1204:
1178:. Retrieved
1171:the original
1158:
1132:. Retrieved
1125:the original
1112:
1101:
1090:
1079:
1053:. Retrieved
1046:the original
1013:
988:. Retrieved
984:the original
963:
960:Hando. F. J.
939:
927:. Retrieved
923:the original
913:
901:. Retrieved
892:
868:
852:
850:
845:tidal ranges
842:
830:
790:
746:River Severn
739:
719:Beeching Axe
711:
695:
664:
652:
642:
611:
609:
588:power cables
573:
569:
559:
542:
541:, moved his
532:
523:
513:
506:
498:
489:
476:Roman temple
465:
455:
452:kissing gate
449:
431:
428:Heston Brake
352:(parish) in
346:Porthysgewin
345:
333:
332:
18:
1394:30 December
1372:30 December
1327:29 December
1180:12 December
1134:12 December
1055:10 December
929:21 December
854:Countryfile
797:New Passage
758:Aquae Sulis
703:iron mining
575:Porth Wygyr
507:of the area
468:Roman villa
441:long barrow
382:M4 motorway
342:Porthsgiwed
334:Portskewett
319: /
234:South Wales
78:Portskewett
27:Portskewett
1477:Categories
885:References
865:Governance
809:Black Rock
725:Black Rock
698:St. Pierre
665:After the
632:, King of
616:, in 1065
600:fish traps
537:, king of
511:post-Roman
304:51°35′24″N
96:Population
1347:ignored (
1337:cite book
837:lave nets
721:in 1964.
687:limestone
654:Time Team
649:Channel 4
434:neolithic
350:community
307:2°43′30″W
241:Ambulance
181:Post town
1238:23 March
1212:Archived
1190:cite web
1144:cite web
1065:cite web
1016:, 2004,
962:, 1954,
770:Caerwent
691:medieval
671:hardwick
626:Hereford
555:Sudbrook
520:Caerwent
503:the wood
386:Sudbrook
366:Caldicot
362:Chepstow
265:Monmouth
185:CALDICOT
112:ST499881
903:4 April
801:Bristol
799:on the
679:St Mary
592:railway
515:cantref
417:tumulus
157:Country
1420:
1020:
990:21 May
877:. The
833:salmon
764:) and
530:wood.
423:(1888)
376:. The
217:Police
1366:(PDF)
1209:index
1174:(PDF)
1167:(PDF)
1128:(PDF)
1121:(PDF)
1049:(PDF)
1042:(PDF)
835:with
793:ferry
754:Roman
750:coins
681:is a
634:Gwent
562:Wales
547:court
539:Gwent
528:elder
496:Welsh
480:coins
390:Crick
358:Wales
338:Welsh
288:Wales
246:Welsh
222:Gwent
207:01291
163:Wales
147:Gwent
32:Welsh
1418:ISBN
1396:2018
1374:2018
1349:help
1329:2018
1240:2013
1196:link
1182:2007
1150:link
1136:2007
1071:link
1057:2007
1018:ISBN
992:2008
931:2007
905:2015
787:pier
762:Bath
677:of
590:and
582:and
543:llys
492:name
490:The
229:Fire
196:NP26
772:).
545:or
439:or
344:or
1479::
1341::
1339:}}
1335:{{
1192:}}
1188:{{
1146:}}
1142:{{
1067:}}
1063:{{
1028:^
1000:^
971:^
950:^
643:A
557:.
388:,
340::
283:UK
34::
1426:.
1398:.
1376:.
1351:)
1331:.
1242:.
1198:)
1184:.
1152:)
1138:.
1073:)
1059:.
994:.
933:.
907:.
768:(
760:(
336:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
