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Usk is a small market town of
2,300 people in South Wales. It is situated 13 km. north of
the city of Newport and 22 km. from the border with England
and is administered locally by a Town Council and a
Mayor.
Signposts and maps bear English and Welsh
names for town and river. The word Usk derives from the
ancient eiska (fish river). The town is called Brynbuga
(hill of the giant Buga) in Welsh and the equivalent name
for the river is Wysg.
The town lies on largely flat ground on
the banks of the River Usk (an important Special
Conservation Area, one of only four rivers in Wales to be
awarded this designation). Land rises on either side of the
valley, to the north providing elevation for the ramparts of
a 12th Century castle. An ancient bridge provides a river
crossing for traffic. A second bridge (which carried a now
disused railway line) is used as part of a footpath and
nature trail.
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Twyn Square in the centre of Usk. |
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The town was an early Roman fort (called
Burrium). Soldiers of the 20th Valeria Legion were based
here in 55 to 65 AD before they moved 10 kms. downstream to Isca (Caerleon). The current street plan radiates outwards
from a central market square (Twyn Square) and is based on
Norman foundations. The de Clare family (who lived in the
castle) established a priory church here associated with a
Benedictine Priory.
Like many border towns, Usk has seen much
fighting between the native Welsh and their English
neighbours. Most of the town was burnt by a 15th century
uprising led by the rebel Welsh leader Owain Glyndwr. His
army was defeated three years later at the Battle of Usk in
1405. The 600th anniversary of this battle was commemorated
with a colourful pageant at Usk Castle in July 2005 and
Owain Glyndwr’s colours (red, gold and white) used as the
colour scheme for communal plantings in that year.
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The population today is a mix of
Welsh and English people – young families and mostly
professional and business people who have retired to the
town. The town remains an important social, retail and
banking centre for the surrounding countryside. This
consists mainly of small to medium sized family farms
pursuing a living through a mixture of livestock and crop
production. In recent years, farm tourism has becoming an
increasing interest as barns and other farm buildings have
been converted for holidays or more permanent accommodation.
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This is a very lively and friendly town
with over 70 clubs, associations and other organisations
catering for a wide range of interests. These include sports
(e.g. cricket, soccer, rugby, tennis, fishing and gliding),
gardening, local and natural history, the environment,
heritage, art, drama, music and dance as well as local
charities and social groups (e.g. Women’s Institute,
Farmers Club, Rotary Club, Girl Guides and Boy Scouts).
Other groups are more concerned with church and political
activities. The town has a weekly Country Market,
fortnightly Farmer's Market and annual Agricultural Show and
Game Fair as well as many other special events.
Usk has been described as the ‘jewel in
the crown of the county of Monmouthshire’, a description
which fits it well; a town of peace and calm, clothed in
floral displays to delight the eye; a town where people care
about their surroundings and wish to preserve the landscape
in which it lies, conserving all those magic green places
for future generations.
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The Malt Barn, New Market Street, Usk,
Monmouthshire, NP15 1AU. |
Telephone 01291 673777
E-mail uskrurallife.museum@virgin.net |
