Pontypool Park

Gates at the Pontymoile entrance

This park, once part of the grounds of the Hanbury Estate, was donated to the people of Pontypool. It has two sets of wonderful wrought iron gates. 

Pontymoile was the original entrance to Pontypool Park House. There was a lodge adjacent to the river which was demolished in the 1950s. 

The gates here are Grade II listed by CADW and affectionately known as the 'Sally' gates.  'Sally' was the Duchess of Marlborough. Local legend has it that the gates were a present to the Hanbury family for their help with the execution of her husbands estate. 

Research has shown the columns and gates were made around 1850 but were altered in later years as can be seen by the dog bars. These were possibly to allow larger carriages and then motorised vehicles  into the park.

An article in December 1993 Free Press stated that Dr T E Deakin produced the specification for the gates in 1835. This was found in the papers of Mr Stanley Tudor Roderick, a well known Pontypool musician and band master. (The bandstand in the park is erected in the memory of Mr Roderick and the musical contribution he made to the town.)

Bandstand erected in memory of Stanley Tudor Roderick

Of particular interest are the columns either side of the Pontymoile gates. They are adorned with grapes and vines which would have been gilded, along with the acanthus leaves and finials at the top of the gates themselves.

The original colour of the gates was likely to have been green, maroon or blue, hence the verdigris green colour today.  (I can remember when they were renovated several years ago. They were painted black with gilding on the grapes and vines and looked even more grand than they do today.)

Details from the gate opposite the Town Hall

A second set of gates greets visitors entering the park opposite Pontypool Town Hall. They display poppy wreaths for Remembrance Sunday, and help to illustrate the grandeur of a once wealthy Pontypool. Wealthy from iron and coal, now both long gone.

A pensive actor playing Lord Hanbury
standing in front of the gates
during a talk on Chartism by Les James