Machen, Monmouthshire

Description
Machen, a parish in Monmouthshire and Glamorgan, on the river Rhymney, 6 miles W of Newport. It has stations on the Brecon and Merthyr, and Pontypridd, Caerphilly, and Newport railways, and a post, money order, and telegraph office under Newport. It comprises the hamlets of Lower Machen and Upper Machen in Monmouthshire, and the hamlet of Rhydgwem in Glamorgan. Acreage, 5207; population, 3172. There are remains of a castle. Machen Mountain is a finely-wooded hill separating the valley from that of Sir-howy. The rocks include iron and lead ores and calamine. Extensive iron and tin works and a foundry are in Upper Machen. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Llandaff; gross value, £358 with residence. Patron, Lord Tredegar. The parish church is ancient, and another church is in Upper Machen. There are Congregational, Baptist, Calvinistic and Primitive Methodist, and Wesleyan chapels.