Visit Pontypool Places

Welcome to Visit Pontypool Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Pontypool

  

Pontypool Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Pontypool

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Pontypool history

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Pontypool has a notable history as one of the earliest industrial towns in Wales. The name of the town is said to have originated from the erection of a bridge over a floodplain. The original Welsh name would have been ‘Pont-Y-Pwll’

Industrial development

The Afon Lwyd valley, in which Pontypool is situated, provided an abundance of resources for the manufacturing of iron, including coal, iron ore, charcoal and waterpower. The wider technological developments of the Tudor period allowed for the greater exploitation of the mineral resources of south Wales. Forges, where cast iron could be converted into wrought iron, were also developed. By the early nineteenth century, south Wales was the most important centre of iron production in the world.

Urban and civic development

Pontypool was a little village within old Trevethin parish in the ancient hundred of Abergavenny of the County of Monmouth. In 1690, during the reign of William III and Mary II, the Crown accepted a petition for a market to be established in the village. A market hall and assembly rooms were erected in 1730–31, thereby elevating the civic position of the community. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the town had clearly developed, providing employment, housing and a commercial role.

Transport

Monmouthshire Canal connected Pontnewynydd to Newport and later connected with Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal at Pontymoile in 1812. Tramroads and canals were superseded by the railways in the mid-nineteenth century. The only passenger line still operating within Pontypool is at an unmanned station in New Inn.

Pontypool Park

Pontypool Park was the historic seat of the Hanbury family, who established a deer park in the early 1700s. The park became a venue for recreation and enjoyment for the family and their associates. In 1920, the house and its park entered public ownership, and this allowed for the site to be developed as a public amenity.

You can visit Pontypool places with Walkfo Pontypool to hear history at Pontypool’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Pontypool has 37 places to visit in our interactive Pontypool map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Pontypool, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Pontypool places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Pontypool & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 37 audio facts unique to Pontypool places in an interactive Pontypool map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Pontypool Places Map
37 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Pontypool historic spots	Pontypool tourist destinations	Pontypool plaques	Pontypool geographic features
Walkfo Pontypool tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Pontypool

  

Best Pontypool places to visit

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Pontypool has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Pontypool’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Pontypool’s information audio spots:

Mynydd Twyn-glas Mynydd Twyn-glas is a sprawling 472-metre-high mountain in South Wales. It lies southwest of Pontypool, west of Cwmbran and east of Newbridge. The thickly afforested northern slopes of the hill drop down steeply into Cwm y Glyn.

Talywain Talywain is situated in Garndiffaith, Abersychan and Pentwyn in Torfaen in south east Wales. It is within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire.

Pentrepiod Halt railway station (Monmouthshire) Pentrepiod Halt, Monmouthshire is a former railway station that was located 2 miles north of Pontypool. It was located approximately 2 miles. north of. Pontypools in the area.

Shell Grotto, Pontypool Shell Grotto – (Welsh: Groto Cregyn) – (sometimes called the Shell Hermitage) – is a Grade II* listed, cylindrical, slate roofed shell grotto decorated with shells and animal bones on the interior. It stands on a prominent ridge 700 ft (213 m) above sea level in Pontypool Park, Torfaen in south Wales.

Cwmynyscoy Cwmynyscoy is a suburb of Pontypool town in the district of the County Borough of Torfaen, south east Wales.

Blaendare Road Halt railway station Blaendare Road Halt railway station served Pontymoile and Cwmynyscoy to the south of Pontypool town centre in Torfaen, South Wales, UK.

Pontypool Park Pontypool Park is a 150-acre (0.61 km) park in Torfaen, Wales. It was laid out in the closing years of the 17th century for John Hanbury, an ironmaster, who is closely associated with Japanware. The grounds contain a number of structures including a double ice house, the Folly Tower and Shell Grotto.

Folly Tower, Pontypool The Folly Tower – (Welsh: Tŵr Ffoledd) – is a folly located within the grounds of a working farm, close to Pontypool Park, Torfaen, South Wales (Grid ref: SO 2954902550) It is a prominent local landmark above the A4042 Pontypool to Abergavenny road.

Church of St Illtyd, Mamhilad The Church of St Illtyd, Mamhilad, Monmouthshire, is a Grade II* listed building. It is a parish church with its origins in the 11th century. Renovations took place in the 19th century and again in 1999–2000.

Persondy, Mamhilad Persondy (the Priest’s House), Mamhilad, Monmouthshire is a former parsonage dating from the late 16th century. The adjacent barn, now a separate residence called Ysguborwen, has its own Grade II listing.

Visit Pontypool plaques