A History of the Welsh Language in Gwent PART TWO by Alan Roderick CHAPTER V. "Monmouthshire is as properly as any other a Welsh County, for in no County do the Welsh language and manners more prevail; no County of Wales has so large a portion of it wherein the English language is not understood." (Iolo Morganwg around 1800) "Monmouthshire is at present considered an English county, though certainly with little reason, for it not only stands on the western side of the Wye, but the names of almost all its parishes are Welsh and many thousands of its population still speak the Welsh language." (George Borrow, "Wild Wales", 1854) "I don't see that we have anything to do with this, as we do not live in Wales. We are not classified with Welsh School Boards. The Blue Book puts us in Monmouthshire outside of Wales." (Rev. E. Davies, Non-Conformist minister in Rhymnev, 1877) The nineteenth century would see tremendous changes in the life of Monmouthshire. What was still a rural, semi-isolated community would be transformed into an industrial powerhouse, new towns would emerge where before scattered sheep farmers had eked out a meagre living. Attracted by the new industries and by the high wages to be earned in them, immigrants would swarm into the county from all parts, irre- vocably altering the social and linguistic structure. As more and more immigrants streamed in, Monmouthshire resembled nothing so much as an America in miniature. The population increased hugely. The Welsh language would be displaced, gradually at first, but from the 1850's onwards the slow retreat escalated fast. By the end of the century, the Welsh language which had played a dominant role in the social and cultural life of Monmouthshire for centuries would be relegated to the sidelines.