Gilwern

Gilwern is a village within the Brecon Beacons National Park in Monmouthshire, Wales. Historically in Brecknockshire, it extends to either side of the River Clydach on the south side of the Usk valley. Its position beside the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal led to it being an important industrial centre at one time.

==Location== Gilwern is a village historically in Breconshire now in Monmouthshire about west of Abergavenny, close to where the A40 trunk road and the A465 Heads of the Valleys road meet. The River Usk and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal are close to the village. Gilwern Hill lies to the south of the village. It is partly tree-clad and has a mast on top. The name of the village translates from the Welsh Y Gilwern (from cil-gwern) as "the recess (or bend) of the alders", probably a reference to its position at the point where the Clydach Gorge opens out into the Usk Valley and the River Clydach flows into a sharp bend in the River Usk. The village is within the Llanelly parish ward of Monmouthshire County Council. The church of Llanelly, dedicated to St Elli, is on the hillside above the village, and parts date back to the 12th century.