To provide you with the best experience, cookies are used on this site.  Learn more

Allow cookies
Pontypool

Book Tickets Online

About

Pontypool (pop 36,000) is situated on the Afon Llwyd river in the county borough of Torfaen. Located on the edge of the South Wales coalfields, Pontypool is regarded as an industrial town with former industries including iron and steel production, coal mining and the growth of the railways.

Pontypool town centre has the usual high street shops, a great indoor market and an historic park right in the middle of town! Pontypool Park is home to a dry ski slope, a shell grotto and the Folly Tower.

The town grew principally from the manufacture of iron. Although iron was made from 1425 in Pontymoile, now a suburb of Pontypool, Pontypool grew only when Richard Hanbury bought land locally during the Elizabethan period in 1588 and constructed an ironworks. The Hanburys pioneered the production of iron Pontypool Japan-ware with its decorated, lacquered style.

The Hanbury family lived in what was to become Pontypool Park, and much of the town's history comes from this family of industrial pioneers. The Napoleonic Wars were kind to the Hanburys, with increased prosperity due to the demand for munitions and armaments. With this increased wealth, Capel Hanbury Leigh extended Pontypool Park House between 1779 and 1840. Highly elaborate, wrought iron gates can be seen at the entrance to the park. These were made in the 1720s and remodelled in 1835 by Thomas Deakin. They were a gift to Major John Hanbury (1664-1734) by the Duchess of Marlborough.

Map & Directions

Road Directions

A4042 between Abergavenny and Newport.

Accessible by Public Transport: Pontypool & New Inn station is 2 miles away.

Pontypool

Type:Town

Torfaen, NP4 8SJ

Add Pontypool to your Itinerary

Close window

Call direct on:

Tel01633 648306

What's Nearby

  1. Pontypool Park

    Pontypool Park is locally known as the People’s Park, covering some 64 hectares with…

    0.2 miles away
  2. Torfaen Museum

    The Museum houses a collection of local artefacts with an outstanding display of…

    0.34 miles away
  3. Greenmeadow Community Farm has been a working farm for over 250 years. Set in 120 acres,…

    3.2 miles away
  4. The new Visitor Centre at Llandegfedd Reservoir spans beautiful, rolling landscaped…

    3.3 miles away
  1. St Illtyd's Church

    A restored medieval church, originally built by the white monks of the Cistercian Abbey…

    3.85 miles away
  2. Goytre Wharf is a 200 year old industrial heritage site that includes a busy visitor…

    4.16 miles away
  3. Abertillery & District Museum

    Discover the history and heritage of the Abertillery area at Abertillery and District…

    4.33 miles away
  4. Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway

    The line is the highest and steepest in the country, climbing through the Blaenavon World…

    5.34 miles away
  5. The small town of Blaenavon and its surrounding landscape at the head of the Eastern…

    5.36 miles away
  6. Cwmcarn Forest offers something for all the family. Spectacular 7 mile forest drive set…

    5.37 miles away
  7. The famous ironworks at Blaenavon were a milestone in the history of the Industrial…

    5.6 miles away
  8. Discover Wales' rich mining heritage in this award-winning interactive museum is set in…

    5.63 miles away
  9. Blaina Heritage Museum

    A Museum which has many artifacts including mining memorabilia, military memorabilia,…

    6.62 miles away
  10. The Fourteen Locks Canal centre is situated on the Crumlin arm of the Monmouthshire &…

    7.05 miles away
  11. Step back in time at the National Roman Legion Museum and explore life in a far-flung…

    7.36 miles away
  12. The site of the 50-acre (20.3ha) Roman legionary fortress of Isca, the permanent base of…

    7.37 miles away
Previous Next

Don't Miss

Don't Miss

Don't Miss