Projects
Exploring Abergavenny
When the Civic Society was revitalised it was apparent that it needed a much better understanding of the distinctive character of the town if it was to comment on planning proposals. An appraisal of the central Conservation Area had been prepared by consultants for the County Council, but the character of the rest of the town, including Mardy and Llanfoist, was unrecorded and probably under-appreciated.
Luckily the Civic Trust for Wales had received a Heritage Lottery Fund grant for a project to develop a manual and toolkit that would enable communities to conduct their own urban character surveys and analyses. Abergavenny was selected as one of three pilot projects.
Urban characterisation aims to identify the historic and physical character of settlements that is fundamental to local distinctiveness and pride of place. Suburban housing estates, byelaw terraces and leafy areas built for the better-off have features that give them individuality – the age, scale and layout of the buildings, architectural details, materials used, walls and fences, trees and green spaces, focal points and outward views, and much more. Recording these characteristics is not only useful for assessing proposals for change, suggesting features to be protected or echoed in sympathetic new development; the involvement of local residents as surveyors and informants opens eyes to what is good and bad and encourages civic pride and engagement, often pinpointing opportunities for enhancement. Studying old maps, photographs and other records provides an historical context and often suggests scope for further research.
The full study, exhibited in 2017, is available HERE
‘Take a Look at Abergavenny’
A by-product of the above project was the publication of a 70-page paperback-sized £5.00 book introducing the reader to the story of the growth of Abergavenny from a town of 2,500 in 1801, many living within its medieval walls, to today’s small conurbation of about 15,000. It describes 200 years of changes in the style and materials of local building and suggests where to explore to see the more interesting parts of the town’s suburbs. The book, fully illustrated in colour, aims to increase awareness of the varied and distinctive character of the town, to introduce the reader to something of the history of domestic architecture, and to promote enjoyment of our urban surroundings with a critical eye. It is available for £6.00 (inc p&p) via abercivsoc@gmail.com.
Over the years the Society has completed many small projects, often in partnership with the town and county councils and other community groups. In the early 2010s a photographic competition, ‘The Good, Bad and the Ugly’ and an ‘Abergavenny is Not an Ashtray’ campaign helped to publicise the re-birth of the Society.
In 2018 we replaced an unsightly disused trolley park at the pedestrian crossing from the Fairfield car park with raised flower beds and seating. Tidying up green spaces around the town evolved into participation in the town’s recent Award-winning Wales in Bloom and Britain in Bloom entries. With the help of schoolchildren and others, our replanting of the beds beside Tesco received a 2025 ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ certificate and Tony Konieczny was presented with a special award for his contribution to Wales in Bloom, initially as Town Mayor.
The Society has been keen to engage in a partnership approach to the improvement of the condition of the Gavenny river and the potential to enjoy its margins; a new initiative is hoped for in 2026.