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I LOVE WHERE I LIVE
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Everything we need is accessible in a small area – we didn’t have that in London!
I was brought up over the mountain, in Blaenavon and we
used to visit Abergavenny frequently. I lived and worked
in London for about 40 years and when we retired, my
husband and I decided to come back and we now live
within walking distance of the town centre.
What makes the surrounding area special?
The landscape is wonderful. Abergavenny is surrounded
by seven hills, including the Blorenge, Sugar Loaf, Great
Skirrid and Little Skirrid. The Brecon Beacons are on the
doorstep. There’s also the Brecon and Monmouthshire
Canal and the River Usk. We enjoy walking and one of
my favourite places lies in between Abergavenny and
Blaenavon. It’s called Keepers Pond. It’s a man-made pond,
built for industrial purposes but now it’s a local beauty spot
and popular for wild swimming.
For you, personally, what’s the best thing
about living in Abergavenny?
It’s delightful to be able to walk to the Borough Theatre in
the evening or to the jazz club at the Melville Centre for
the Arts or to the Baker Street Cinema and then to be able
to walk home again. Everything we need is accessible in
a small area – we didn’t have that in London – we had to
catch the last tube home!
The town centre is really buzzing. There are a lot of
I love where I live…
Abergavenny
Abergavenny’s Mayor, Cllr Anne Wilde, moved from London during Covid and
has found a warm welcome in the friendly and vibrant market town that she
remembers from childhood.
independent shops which give it its charm and they
seem to thrive. We are also spoilt for choice with pubs,
restaurants and cafés.
Do you ever feel the need to go further afield
for entertainment?
We sometimes go to the theatre in Cardiff, but that’s an
exception.
What else makes Abergavenny a great place
to live?
It has good sports facilities, including a rugby pitch,
football stadium, swimming pool and leisure centre
and two nearby golf courses - Wernddu and The
Monmouthshire Golf Club. For those who enjoy art and
crafts, there are several galleries in town.
We are also served by a district general hospital, a train
station and a bus station.
What sort of people does Abergavenny
attract?
I think a lot of people like myself, who retire here. It
seems to attract people who like gardening, walking, dogs,
baking…people who are socially aware and like to get
involved in protecting the environment. As a town, we
have long been involved in Wales in Bloom and this year,
for the first time, we were finalists in Britain in Bloom and
received an Award for Sustainable Gardening. There are a
lot of people who are very active in the community and in
caring for the community and there are many charities that
operate here.
Describe the vibe in your favourite local
café..
There is so much choice that we can go where the mood
takes us. Coffi Lab is popular and in the summer we like to
go to Fig Tree Espresso because they have a nice garden at
the back.
Where would you go for a casual evening
out?
Probably The Kings Arms Hotel because it is full of historic
character and they do good food.
Where would you book up for a celebratory
meal?
It would depend how big the celebration was! We have the
Michelin-starred The Walnut Tree nearby and a friend has
just gifted us a visit to The Whitebrook, in the Wye Valley.
What would you do locally to “blow the
cobwebs away”?
We’d go for a walk on the Sugar Loaf or the Blorenge, or
from our door we can go to Castle Meadows for a stroll
along the River Usk.
What leisure pursuits do you enjoy locally?
I haven’t had time for much leisure lately! But I do enjoy
reading and I belong to a local book club and we are also
very active in our church, Abergavenny Baptist Church.
Where would you shop for a dinner party?
For meat I would go to Neil Powell Butchers and I’d do the
rest of the shop in the nearby Waitrose.
Where would you shop for day-to-day
groceries?
Morrisons or Aldi, or for fresh fruit and vegetables I might
go to the market in Abergavenny Market Hall.
What’s the social life like in Abergavenny?
There is all sorts you can do. There are good comedy clubs
at The Kings Arms and a lot of the pubs have live music.
The Chapel hosts some excellent speakers and events,
Abergavenny has its own community symphony orchestra
and there are lots of singing groups.
What’s the most fun you have had at a local
event?
As Mayor, I get invited to many wonderful events. We just
had a great time at two pantos, one by the Abergavenny
Pantomime Company, at The Borough Theatre and the other
in a nearby village, which we went to because a friend was
in the cast.
How would you advise someone new into
the area to get to know the locals?
Join something or volunteer for something. Not long after
we arrived, I volunteered for the Food Bank and I still
help out there.
If adult friends were staying with you,
where would you visit with them?
There are lots of historic sites on our doorstep, including
Abergavenny Museum and Castle, St Mary’s Priory Tithe
Barn and the Priory Church. We might also take visitors to
Raglan Castle, Big Pit or Blaenavon Ironworks.
When you have your grandchildren to stay,
where do you take them?
We go to Bailey Park and there are often children’s
activities in places like the museum.
What’s the best time of year in
Abergavenny and why?
Summer, when there is outdoor theatre in the castle
grounds.
Facts and Figures
Set against the backdrop of the Black Mountains, in the south east corner
of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, the ancient market town of
Abergavenny has a population of about 14,000. It’s a mecca for foodies,
with the annual Abergavenny Food Festival (September 21 and 22, 2024)
now one of the highest profile food events in Britain. The town is also
a wonderful base for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors, including
walking, cycling and fishing. It’s accessible, too, served by regular trains
on the Newport to Shrewsbury Line with easy connections to Manchester,
Cardiff and Bristol. Frequent bus services connect with local towns and
cities and both Cardiff and Bristol are within a 50-mile car journey.
Bordered by the River Usk, the town has many, lovely, open spaces
including Castle Meadows, Linda Vista Gardens and Bailey Park, a sports
park, which is also the venue for an annual Steam Rally (26 and 27 May
2024) and a Shire Horse Show in July.
On market days, the historic Abergavenny Market Hall is a bustle of
activity – it hosts everything from general markets and farmers markets to
craft fairs and flea markets.
For more information: www.visitabergavenny.co.uk
Tell me a little-known fascinating fact about
Abergavenny…
During World War Two, Adolf Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess
spent three years in captivity at Maindiff Court Military
Hospital, near Abergavenny.
Sharon Chilcott
Share the love
If you would like to share what
makes your home town or village
a special place to live, then Sharon
would be delighted to hear from you.
You can get in touch by emailing:
core.concepts@btinternet.com,
putting I Love Where I Live in the
subject line.