Blaina

Blaina (/ˈblaɪnə/ BLEYE-nə Welsh: Blaenau Welsh pronunciation: [ˈbleɨnaɨ]) is a small town, situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between Brynmawr and Abertillery in the unitary authority of Blaenau Gwent, ancient parish of Aberystruth, preserved county of Gwent and historic county of Monmouthshire. The place name is derived from the Welsh word blaenau "uplands".[1][2] As of 2011, the town has a population of 4,808.[3]

Blaina
Blaina is located in Blaenau Gwent
Blaina
Blaina
Location within Blaenau Gwent
Population4,808 
OS grid referenceSO1908
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townABERTILLERY
Postcode districtNP13
Dialling code01495
PoliceGwent
FireSouth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
  • Blaenau Gwent
Until 1962 Blaina had a station on the Great Western Railway. These are the remains in 1966

Welsh language

According to the 2011 Census, 6.3% of the ward's 4,808 (303 residents) resident-population can speak, read, and write Welsh.[4] This is above the county's figure of 5.5% of 67,348 (3,705 residents) who can speak, read, and write Welsh.[4]

The Bells of Rhymney

Blaina is mentioned in the folk song The Bells of Rhymney: "And who robbed the miner?" say the grim bells of Blaina, quoting poetry from Idris Davies.

Notable people
See also Category:People from Blaina
  • Arthur Fear, opera singer
  • Parry Jones, opera singer
  • William Partridge, soldier, fought at Rorke's Drift
  • Raymond "Ray" Price, rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1940s and 1950s for Abertillery RFC (RU), Great Britain (RL), Wales, Other Nationalities, Belle Vue Rangers, Warrington, and St. Helens
  • Kingsley Jones, rugby union flanker, coach
  • Frank Richards, author
  • Mike Ruddock, rugby coach
  • Florence Eleanor Soper, wife of Bramwell Booth, General of The Salvation Army
  • Mostyn Thomas, opera singer
  • David Watkins, Welsh rugby union and rugby league international
  • Emlyn Watkins, rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1920s for Wales (RU), Blaina RFC, Wales (RL), and Leeds
  • Emlyn A G Watkins, George Medal recipient

References
  1. Mills, A. D. (2003). A Dictionary of British Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198527589.
  2. "Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru". Archived from the original on 12 April 2021.
  3. "United Kingdom: 1000 Largest Cities by population". The Geographist. November 2013. Archived from the original on 29 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  4. Welsh language skills by electoral division, 2011 Census Retrieved 13/12/21


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