Pontypool Park
Encyclopedia
Pontypool Park is a 150 acre (0.607029 km²) park containing predominantly mature trees with some open meadowland located in Pontypool
, south Wales
. The park was formerly the grounds of Pontypool House and was laid out in the closing years of the 17th century for Major John Hanbury
, the local ironmaster, who is closely associated with Japanware
. The grounds were purchased by the local authority in 1920, while the estate house was leased, and later sold to the Sisters of Holy Ghost, to become St. Alban's RC High School.
and Pontymoile Basin
and finishes to the north close to St Alban's RC High School and Pontypool Museum
(formerly the Hanbury's family house). To the east it rises to the Folly Tower
and the Shell Grotto
. Its western border follows the Afon Llwyd
river and Pontypool Leisure Centre and the Italian Gardens are located close to the western periphery. The park has footpaths leading into the Brecon Beacons
National Park and to the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
. A national cycle route also runs through the park.
s. There are landscaped areas such as the Italian Gardens (refurbished in 2006) and the Nant-y-Gollen Ponds (originally one large millpond used to power a forge downstream). There are three main avenues that divide the park that all merge at the leisure centre near the park's centre. A single path then meanders through a shaded avenue to the main Park Gates.
is located within the park and was refurbished from 2003 to 2006. In 1975 a dry ski slope was constructed in the park and remains in use. The park also has outside tennis
courts, bowling
green and netball
courts. Pontypool RFC
also has its home here and the park has a 8,800 capacity stadium.
There is also a bandstand http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/258641 that forms part of the venue (along with nearby Pontypool Museum) for the annual Jazz in the Park festival.
The park hosts an annual fireworks display every November 5. It is organised by Pontypool Round Tablehttp://www.pontypoolroundtable.co.uk. The fireworks are synchronised to music. It attacts a very large crowd and is the largest in the Torfaen area.
, a three-storey tower near the eastern edge of the park. A short distance from this folly is the Shell Grotto
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/252799, an old Hanbury summerhouse of 19th century origin whose interior is lavishly decorated with shells and bones. Both sites are open to the public on weekends through May to September.
In 1923 the Gorsedd stone circle
created in time for the park to host the 1924 National Eisteddfod of Wales
. There are also the ice houses
near the old Pontypool House and Pontypool Museum.
Pontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
, south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The park was formerly the grounds of Pontypool House and was laid out in the closing years of the 17th century for Major John Hanbury
John Hanbury
John Hanbury was one of a dynasty of ironmasters responsible for the industrialisation and urbanisation of the eastern valley through which runs the Afon Llwyd in Monmouthshire around Pontypool....
, the local ironmaster, who is closely associated with Japanware
Pontypool japan
Pontypool japan is a name given to the process of japanning with the use of an oil varnish and heat which is credited to Thomas Allgood of Pontypool. In the late 17th century, during his search for a corrosion-resistant coating for iron, he developed a recipe that included asphaltum, linseed oil...
. The grounds were purchased by the local authority in 1920, while the estate house was leased, and later sold to the Sisters of Holy Ghost, to become St. Alban's RC High School.
Location
The park occupies a large area to the east of Pontypool town centre. The main park starts at Pontymoile Gates near New InnNew Inn
New Inn is a village and community of approximately 3,000 households located to the south east of Pontypool, within the County Borough of Torfaen in Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire.- Location :...
and Pontymoile Basin
Pontymoile Basin
Pontymoile Basin is a mooring point and canal junction on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.-Location:The basin lies on the Pontypool stretch of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in the Pontypool suburb of Pontymoile in the historical county of Monmouthshire in south east Wales, now part of...
and finishes to the north close to St Alban's RC High School and Pontypool Museum
Pontypool Museum
Pontypool Museum - formerly the Valley Inheritance Museum - is a museum located in Pontypool, Torfaen, south Wales. It situated in a Georgian stable block that once formed part of residence of the Hanbury family - local ironmasters during the 18th and 19th centuries.- The collections :The museum...
(formerly the Hanbury's family house). To the east it rises to the Folly Tower
The Folly Tower
The Folly Tower - - is a folly located within Pontypool Park, Torfaen, South Wales . It is a prominent local landmark above the A4042 Pontypool to Abergavenny road and overlooks Pontypool to the west and rural Monmouthshire to the east...
and the Shell Grotto
The Shell Grotto
The Shell Grotto - - is a late-18th-century stone built, slate roofed grotto decorated with shells and animal bones on the interior. It stands on a prominent ridge 700 ft above sea level, within the boundary Pontypool Park, Torfaen in South Wales. It is considered to be the best surviving...
. Its western border follows the Afon Llwyd
Afon Llwyd
The Afon Lwyd is a small river in south Wales which flows from its source north of Blaenavon, through Abersychan, Pontypool and Cwmbran before flowing into the River Usk at Caerleon, which subsequently flows into the Bristol Channel in Newport. The name is Welsh, meaning "Grey River".Historically...
river and Pontypool Leisure Centre and the Italian Gardens are located close to the western periphery. The park has footpaths leading into the Brecon Beacons
Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons is a mountain range in South Wales. In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of popular peaks south of Brecon, including South Wales' highest mountain, Pen y Fan, and which together form the central section of the Brecon Beacons National Park...
National Park and to the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is a small network of canals in South Wales. For most of its length it runs through the Brecon Beacons National Park, and its present rural character and tranquillity belies its original purpose as an industrial corridor for coal and iron, which were brought to...
. A national cycle route also runs through the park.
The Landscape
The park is set mostly to open grassland and mixed woodland with many old sweet chestnutSweet Chestnut
Castanea sativa is a species of the flowering plant family Fagaceae, the tree and its edible seeds are referred to by several common names such Sweet Chestnut or Marron. Originally native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, it is now widely dispersed throughout Europe and parts of Asia, such as...
s. There are landscaped areas such as the Italian Gardens (refurbished in 2006) and the Nant-y-Gollen Ponds (originally one large millpond used to power a forge downstream). There are three main avenues that divide the park that all merge at the leisure centre near the park's centre. A single path then meanders through a shaded avenue to the main Park Gates.
Facilities
Pontypool's main leisure centreLeisure centre
A leisure centre in the UK and Canada is a purpose built building or site, usually owned and operated by the city, borough council or municipal district council, where people go to keep fit or relax through using the facilities.- Typical Facilities :...
is located within the park and was refurbished from 2003 to 2006. In 1975 a dry ski slope was constructed in the park and remains in use. The park also has outside tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
courts, bowling
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
green and netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
courts. Pontypool RFC
Pontypool RFC
Pontypool Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in the town of Pontypool. Pontypool RFC has a long history within Welsh rugby and is one of the most notable clubs, being present at the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1881, but disbanding before the turn of the 19th century...
also has its home here and the park has a 8,800 capacity stadium.
There is also a bandstand http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/258641 that forms part of the venue (along with nearby Pontypool Museum) for the annual Jazz in the Park festival.
The park hosts an annual fireworks display every November 5. It is organised by Pontypool Round Tablehttp://www.pontypoolroundtable.co.uk. The fireworks are synchronised to music. It attacts a very large crowd and is the largest in the Torfaen area.
Follies & Curiosities
The park is home to the Folly TowerThe Folly Tower
The Folly Tower - - is a folly located within Pontypool Park, Torfaen, South Wales . It is a prominent local landmark above the A4042 Pontypool to Abergavenny road and overlooks Pontypool to the west and rural Monmouthshire to the east...
, a three-storey tower near the eastern edge of the park. A short distance from this folly is the Shell Grotto
The Shell Grotto
The Shell Grotto - - is a late-18th-century stone built, slate roofed grotto decorated with shells and animal bones on the interior. It stands on a prominent ridge 700 ft above sea level, within the boundary Pontypool Park, Torfaen in South Wales. It is considered to be the best surviving...
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/252799, an old Hanbury summerhouse of 19th century origin whose interior is lavishly decorated with shells and bones. Both sites are open to the public on weekends through May to September.
In 1923 the Gorsedd stone circle
Gorsedd stones
Gorsedd Stones are groups of standing stones constructed for the National Eisteddfod of Wales. They form an integral part of the druidic Gorsedd ceremonies of the Eisteddfod...
created in time for the park to host the 1924 National Eisteddfod of Wales
National Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
. There are also the ice houses
Icehouse (building)
Ice houses were buildings used to store ice throughout the year, prior to the invention of the refrigerator. Some were underground chambers, usually man-made, close to natural sources of winter ice such as freshwater lakes, but many were buildings with various types of insulation.During the...
near the old Pontypool House and Pontypool Museum.