View source for Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Bedwas, Trethomas & Machen
| settlement_type         = [[Community (Wales)|Community]]
| image_skyline           = 
| imagesize               = 
| image_caption           = 
| image_flag              = 
| image_map               = File:2024 Wales Caerphilly Community Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen map.svg
| mapsize                 = 
| map_caption             = Location within [[Caerphilly County Borough|Caerphilly]]
| pushpin_map             = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
| subdivision_type = Sovereign state
| subdivision_name = United Kingdom
| subdivision_type1 = Constituent country
| subdivision_name1 = [[Wales]]
| subdivision_type2 = Region
| subdivision_name2 = [[South Wales]]
| subdivision_type3 = Ceremonial county
| subdivision_name3 = [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]]
| subdivision_type4 = Principal are
| subdivision_name4 = [[Caerphilly County Borough|Caerphilly]]
| government_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use<ref> tags -->
| government_type         = [[Community (Wales)|Community Council]]
| leader_title1 = [[Councillors]]
| leader_name1 = {{Collapsible list
 | title =
 | frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 | list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
 | 1 = Elizabeth Aldworth (Lab)
 | 2 = Lisa Jones (Lab)
 | 3 = Ray Davies (Lab)
 | 4 = Derek Havard (Lab)
 | 5 = June Gale (Lab) 
 | 6 = J R Davies (Ind)
 | 7 = David Davies (Lab)
 | 8 = Brian James (Lab)
 | 9 =  Emma Davies (Lab)
 | 10 = Mike Parsons (Lab)
 | 11 = Keith Regan (Lab)
 | 12 =  Mary Williams (Lab)
 }}
| unit_pref               = Imperial
| area_footnotes          = 
| area_magnitude          = 
| area_total_sq_mi        = 7.08
| area_total_km2          = 18.33
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_ft            = 
| population_footnotes    = 
| population_as_of        = 2011
| population_total        = 10,758
| population_rank         = 
| population_density_sq_mi= 1,519
| population_note         =
| postal_code_type        =
| postal_code             =
| area_code               =
| blank_name              = 
| blank_info              =
| blank1_name             = 
| blank1_info             = 
| website                 = http://www.btmcommunitycouncil.com
| footnotes               =
}}

'''Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen''' is  a [[community (Wales)|community]] and an [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|electoral ward]] in the county borough of [[Caerphilly (county borough)|Caerphilly]], constituting the villages of [[Machen]], [[Trethomas]], [[Bedwas]], and Upper and Lower [[Graig-y-Rhacca]]. It lies in the Caerphilly Basin in the shadow of [[Mynydd y Grug]] and [[Mynydd Machen]]. All villages in the area grew as a result of the coal mining industry, which carries its legacy on today.

== History ==
{{Infobox historic subdivision|
   |Name=              Bedwas and Machen
   |HQ=                [[Bedwas]]
   |Status=            [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|Urban district]]
   |Start=             1912
   |End=               1974
   |Replace=           [[Rhymney Valley (district)|Rhymney Valley]]
   |Image= 
   |PopulationFirst=     4,936
   |PopulationFirstYear= 1911
   |PopulationLast=      12,540
   |PopulationLastYear=  1971
   |AreaFirst=           {{convert|6520|acre|km2}} 
   |AreaFirstYear=       1912
   |AreaLast=            {{convert|6179|acre|km2}}
   |AreaLastYear=        1961
}}
Bedwas and Machen Urban District was formed on 1 October 1912 from the [[civil parish|parishes]] of [[Bedwas]] and [[Machen Upper]], previously part of [[St Mellons Rural District]].<ref>County Census Report, Monmouthshire 1921</ref> In 1935 the boundaries were altered when it exchanged areas with the neighbouring [[Mynyddislwyn Urban District]]. The urban district was abolished by the [[Local Government Act 1972]], becoming part of Rhymney Valley District in Mid Glamorgan.

On the abolition of the urban district, a community with identical boundaries was formed, and a community council established.<ref>''Local Government in England and Wales : A guide to the New System'', HMSO, London 1974</ref> On 16 March 1989 the community was renamed Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen.<ref>[http://www.lgbc-wales.gov.uk/community/communityboundarychanges_e.htm Changes to Community and Ward Boundaries from the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013114431/http://www.lgbc-wales.gov.uk/community/communityboundarychanges_e.htm |date=2006-10-13 }}</ref> On 1 April 1996 the Rhymney Valley District was itself abolished, and the community has been part of the [[county borough]] of [[Caerphilly (county borough)|Caerphilly]] since that date. At the 2001 census Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen had a population of 10,428

The urban district council began operating a bus service in 1922. The UDC was one of the smallest municipal bus undertakings in the [[United Kingdom]], with an average fleet size of seven vehicles.<ref>A. M. Witton, ''Buses of South Wales'', Manchester, 1982</ref> The bus livery was powder blue and cream. The fleet was merged with those of Caerphilly and Gelligaer UDCs in 1974, when Rhymney Valley District Council was formed.

==Present-day==
Today the area is quite densely populated, with the exception of the mountain area. There are some transport links, with a bus service from Newport to Bargoed running through the community, and two other services running from Graig-Y-Rhacca to Caerphilly town centre. A school serves the villages, as well as [http://www.btmbrassband.com BTM Brass Band].

==External links==
*
* [http://www.welsh-transport-heritage.co.uk/bedwasmachen.htm Details & Photos of Bedwas & Machen UDC bus operation]
* [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp;jsessionid=7A626FA16F1DA65B6C368D79DECD46E7?u_id=10114871 Bedwas and Machen UD at Visionofbritain.org]
*[http://www.petergould.co.uk/local_transport_history/fleetlists/bedwas1.htm Bedwas & Machen UDC bus operations]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Caerphilly}}

{{coord missing|Gwent}}

[[Category:History of Monmouthshire]]
[[Category:Communities in Caerphilly County Borough]]