Dixton
| |
|---|---|
 St Peters Church in Dixton | |
  Dixton Location withinMonmouthshire | |
| OS grid reference | SO519136 |
| Community | |
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MONMOUTH |
| Postcode district | NP25 |
| Dialling code | 01600 |
| Police | Gwent |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
| |
Dixton (Welsh:Llandydiwg) is a small village located 1 mile (1.6 km) north east ofMonmouth, on the banks of theRiver Wye, inMonmouthshire, south eastWales. The parish originally comprised the two manors of Dixton Newton andDixton Hadnock, on either side of the river.[1]
According to theantiquarianSabine Baring-Gould the name Dixton ultimately derives from that of the saint Tydiwg, or Tydiuc, to whom the parish church was dedicated. The Welsh nameLlandydiwg became, in English, Dukeston and later Dixton.[1] The parish originally comprised the twomanors of Dixton Newton and Dixton Hadnock on either side of the river.[1] In 1868 Dixton was described as being named Dixton Newton but containing the hamlets of Dixton Hadnock and Wyesham. The village name was also offered as Newton-Dixton.[2] By 1901 the name was clearly Dixton but with Dixton Newton still offered as an alternative.[3]
Theparish church of St Peter is on the site of aCeltic church ormonastery dedicated to St. Tydiwg, or Tadeocus, which was in existence in the eighth century.[4][5] The oldest parts of the current building date back at least as far as the 12th century and much of the building dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. It wasrestored and extended in the 19th century.[6]
The church remains part of theDiocese of Hereford and the Church of England despite being in Monmouthshire, Wales. With Monmouth it was transferred to theDiocese of Llandaff in 1844. However, avote by the parishioners in 1915[7] decided that it should not join theChurch in Wales when it becamedisestablished, but stay as part of the Church of England; it returned at that point to the Diocese of Hereford.[8][9]
Newton Court is aneo-classical house situated on the hillside above Dixton. It is aGrade II* listed building. The association of the Griffin family began whenAdmiral Griffin bought land here in the 18th century.[10] Newton Court was built in 1799-1802 for George Griffin, possibly to the designs of architectAnthony Keck (d.1797) ofKing's Stanley,Gloucestershire.[6] The Court's barn, stables and gardens are also alllisted structures.[11] Nearby Newton Hall, also a listed building, probably dates from the 17th century, but was altered in the 19th century.[10]Newton Court is still lived in by the Griffin family as at 2013.
Dixton Mound is an ovalearthwork of unknown origin about 2m high and 40m diameter at its widest point. It has ditch running around the perimeter. Anarchaeological dig in 1848 found 11th and 12th century material. Roman material has also been found dating from the 2nd century.[12]Cadw have scheduled the Mound as anancient monument and it has been classed as aMotte.[13]
Dixton was served by trains atMonmouth May Hill across theRiver Wye. TheRoss and Monmouth Railway betweenRoss-on-Wye andMonmouth Troy between 1873 and 1959 through the scenicWye Valley.
