Devauden () is a village and community in Monmouthshire, southeast Wales. It is located between Chepstow and Monmouth near the top of the Trellech ridge on the B4293 road. The community covers an area of . The community includes the villages of Itton and Wolvesnewton, Llanfihangel-tor-y-mynydd and Newchurch. History There is evidence that an ancient ridgeway between Monmouth and the coast at Mathern passed through Devauden. Roman coins from the period of Antoninus Pius were found in the village in 1840. Devauden was said in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle to have been the place where the Britons were overwhelmed and defeated by the combined forces of the Anglo-Saxon monarchs, Æthelbald of Mercia and Cuthred of Wessex, in 743. The name may be derived from the Welsh Ty'r ffawydden, or "house of the beech tree". Until the mid-20th century the village was often known as The Devauden. Devauden and the nearby hamlet of Fedw or Veddw (from Welsh Y fedw, birch grove) were originally clusters of illicit cottages built as a base by woodcutters, mule drivers, quarrymen and labourers linked to the wireworks at Tintern and the Angiddy valley. The village was historically part of the parish of Newchurch. On 15 October 1739, John Wesley preached his first sermon in Wales on the village green at Devauden. He wrote in his journal: "Upon a pressing invitation, some time since received, I set out for Wales. About four in the afternoon I preached on a little green at the foot of the Devauden ... to three or four hundred plain people on "Christ our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." After sermon, one who I trust is an old disciple of Christ willingly received us into his house.." James Davies (1765–1849) was schoolmaster at Devauden for over 30 years during the early 19th century and was responsible for establishing a village school in 1815. In 1830 the school was converted into a chapel and a new schoolroom was built next door. Davies gained a strong local reputation for enduring personal hardship in order to help the poor in the community. The school closed in 1986. The small parish church is dedicated to St. James. Devauden Manor is a Grade II* listed Arts and Crafts style house dating from 1902. Demographics Devauden's population was 1040, according to the 2011 census; a 7.44% increase since the 968 people noted in 2001. The 2011 census showed 11.4%