{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox UK place | label_position = bottom | country = Wales | coordinates = {{coord|51.7232|-3.1279|display=inline,title}} | official_name = Six Bells | welsh_name = Chwe Chloch | community_wales = Six Bells | unitary_wales = Blaenau Gwent | lieutenancy_wales = Blaenau Gwent | constituency_westminster = Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney | constituency_welsh_assembly = Blaenau Gwent | post_town = ABERTILLERY | postcode_district = NP13 | postcode_area = NP | dial_code = 01495 | os_grid_reference = SO221032 | static_image = Six Bells and Cwm Nant-y-groes - geograph.org.uk - 201950.jpg | static_image_caption = Six Bells and Cwm Nant-y-groes | population = 4,797 | population_ref = (Llanhilleth) (2011) }} '''Six Bells''' ({{langx|cy|Chwe Chloch}}) is an electoral ward and neighbourhood in Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent, Wales. It was originally a village that grew up around the local coal mines. The ward elects two county councillors to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council.
==History and description== thumb|alt=|The former Colliery at Six Bells The village of Six Bells developed in part of Llanhilleth parish during the mid-19th century, with the growth of the coal industry in the area. It may have gained its name from the Six Bells public house. Employment would originally have centred around the Hafod Fan pit, which was later replaced by the larger Arael Griffin colliery, which opened in 1898<ref name=abertilleryonline>{{cite web|url=http://www.abertillery.net/picpages/sixbellspast.html|title=Six Bells past - Hen Six Bells|publisher=Abertillery Online|accessdate=23 June 2018}}</ref> and later became known as Six Bells Colliery. The village was incorporated into Abertillery Urban District and, in the early years of the 20th-century, Alexandra Road and Richmond Road were built which joined Six Bells with Abertillery town to the north.<ref name=abertilleryonline /> Most of the houses of Six Bells lie immediately east of the River Ebbw.
Six Bells Halt railway station closed in 1962.
Six Bells is the most Easterly Human settlement in Blaenau Gwent.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Streetmap.co.uk - Map of 322101,203373 | url=https://streetmap.co.uk/map?x=322101&y=203373&z=120&sv=322101,203373&st=4&mapp=map&searchp=ids | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123124158/https://streetmap.co.uk/map?x=322101&y=203373&z=120&sv=322101,203373&st=4&mapp=map&searchp=ids | access-date=2024-12-27 | archive-date=2023-11-23}}</ref>
According to the 2011 census the population of Six Bells was 2,396 (with 198 being able to read, speak or write Welsh).<ref name=2011census>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/six-bells-w05000765#sthash.dxqm6F1i.dpbs|title=Six Bells - Key Stats |website=UKcensusdata.com|accessdate=23 June 2018}}</ref>
===Six Bells Colliery disaster=== {{See also|Six Bells Colliery}} thumb|''Guardian'', overlooking Six Bells On 28 June 1960, 45 men were killed<ref name=abertillery6bellsmine>{{cite web|url=http://www.abertillery.net/picpages/sixbellscolliery.html|title=Six Bells Colliery – Pwll Glo Six Bells|publisher=Abertillery Online|accessdate=24 June 2018}}</ref> by an explosion at the Six Bells Colliery. On the 50th anniversary a 20 metre high memorial sculpture was unveiled by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury on the colliery site. Called ''Guardian'', the monument was described as the Welsh answer to Antony Gormley's Angel of the North.<ref>Steven Morris (28 June 2010) [https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/jun/28/six-bells-disaster-memorial-abertillery "Memorial marks Six Bells colliery disaster"], theGuardian.com. Retrieved 24 June 2018.</ref> The colliery closed in 1988.<ref name="abertillery6bellsmine" />
==Governance== Six Bells is in the Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney parliamentary constituency for elections to the UK parliament and Blaenau Gwent for elections to the Welsh Senedd.
===Town Council=== Six Bells is a ward of Abertillery and Llanhilleth Town Council, electing three town councillors.<ref>[http://www.abertilleryandllanhilleth-wcc.gov.uk/Core/Abertillery-Llanhilleth/Pages/Councillors__2.aspx Councillors], Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town Council. Retrieved 24 June 2018.</ref>
===County Council=== thumb|alt=|Jubilee Road The Six Bells county ward elects two county councillors to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. It is bordered to the north by Abertillery and to the south by the Llanhilleth ward. To the east is the Abersychan ward of Torfaen.<ref>[https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ Election maps], Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 23 June 2018.</ref>
At the May 2017 elections the ward elected two Independent councillors, Denzil Hancock and Mark Holland.<ref>{{cite news|author=Alison Sanders| url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/independents-gain-back-control-traditional-12989664 |title=Independents gain back control of traditional Labour heartland Blaenau Gwent |date=5 May 2017 |work=Wales Online |accessdate=23 June 2018}}</ref> Since 1995 the ward has elected a mixture of Labour, Independent and Plaid Cymru representatives, with Cllr Hancock being elected for Plaid Cymru in 1995 though subsequently standing as an Independent.<ref name=electionscentre>{{cite web|url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Blaenau-Gwent-1995-2012.pdf |title=Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Election Results 1995-2012 |publisher=The Elections Centre |accessdate=24 June 2018 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="7" align="center" valign="top" | County councillors 1995 – date <ref name=electionscentre /> |- |- ! valign="top" | Election | {{party color cell|Independent politician}} ! align="center" valign="top" | Independent | {{party color cell|Welsh Labour}} !align="center" valign="top" | Labour | {{party color cell|Plaid Cymru}} ! align="center" valign="top" | Plaid Cymru |- | 2017 | !align="center" valign="top" | '''2''' | !align="center" valign="top" | - | !align="center" valign="top" | - |- | 2012 | !align="center" valign="top" | '''1''' | !align="center" valign="top" | '''1''' | !align="center" valign="top" | - |- | 2008 | !align="center" valign="top" | '''2''' | !align="center" valign="top" | - | !align="center" valign="top" | - |- | 2004 | !align="center" valign="top" | '''1''' | !align="center" valign="top" | '''1''' | !align="center" valign="top" | - |- | 1999 | !align="center" valign="top" | '''1''' | !align="center" valign="top" | '''1''' | !align="center" valign="top" | - |- | 1995 | !align="center" valign="top" | - | !align="center" valign="top" | '''1''' | !align="center" valign="top" | '''1''' |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}{{Blaenau Gwent}} {{Commons}}
Category:Abertillery Category:Wards of Blaenau Gwent Category:Mining communities in Wales Category:Neighbourhoods in Wales Category:Populated places in Blaenau Gwent