Map of Crosskeys (1879)

The Rivers Ebbw and Sirhowy are the local Parish boundaries . South of the Sirhowy River is Parish of Machen , West of Ebbw River is the Parish of Mynyddislwyn and East of the River Ebbw is the Parish of Risca (1881 Census) From the map above it can be seen that :- The Rock Vein Colliery and the Blackvein Colliery (out of view) were situated in the Parish of Machen whereas the North Risca Colliery was situated in the Mynyddislwyn Parish . Just how the new colliery and new town got the name North Risca remains a mystery to me but seems to be tied up with the Risca Cuckoo story . At least that's what a little bird told me ;-) Earliest rows of houses include :- Forester's Row and James' Row - now part of High Street Woodland Place - now part of Risca Road New Rows - now Hall's Road Terrace Tredegar Street and Llanover Street (later renamed to Tredegar Terrace) were constructed sometime after 1875 to house the miners employed at the New Pit . The earliest chapel in Crosskeys being the Methodist Chapel High Street and the earliest public houses being the Eagle Inn and the Cross Keys Inn (later renamed Hotel) also on High Street. It is highly probable that the village of Crosskeys got its name from the Inn