The
church of
Saint Bridget or Brigid is set in quiet countryside, adjoining the site of a
deserted medieval village. It was traditionally founded by Brochwael, the son of
Meurig of
Gwent, in the 10th century. The church tower dates from the 13th or 14th century, but the body of the church was rebuilt in the 19th century after it became dilapidated. Hung in the tower is one of the oldest inscribed bells in the country, cast in 1290, 22 inches in diameter and slightly oval in shape. It is inscribed "AVE MARIA GRATIA PLN" and is still in use today. The parish was part of the
medieval lordship of
Striguil. It is so named to distinguish it from the village of
St Brides Wentloog, to the west of
Newport. "Netherwent" is the English name given from the
Norman period onwards to the Welsh
cantref of
Gwent-is-coed (Gwent beneath the wood, i.e.
Wentwood), with "-went" deriving from the
Roman town of
Venta which became Caerwent. Aside from today's farmhouses outlying the clustered centre, St Brides Netherwent was abandoned in the 18th century. == Local schools ==