Figure Four Exhibition, South Wales

Pontypool Museum is attempting to recruit 1000 new members, their membership fees will help finance their collection and the work they do.


For more information on the exhibition or the Museum itself telephone 01495 752036. Please check the opening times before visiting.

Why not combine your visit with a stroll around Pontypool Park. Donated by the Hanbury family and once probably the best park in South Wales, it is still a fantastic space with points of interest dotted around. This is the site of Pontypool Rugby Pitch, the home of the Legendary "Pontypool Front Row."

Pontypool Park History

Pontypool park covers some 64 hectares and was originally laid out around 1703 as a private estate, belonging to the Hanbury's.

An old ‘map’ informs us that  avenues of sweet chestnut and beech follow the contours of the valleys up towards the Folly Tower.

 

A really old tree on the walkway to Pontymoile entrance

Many of the veteran sweet chestnuts are still visible, surrounding the Nant-y-Gollen ponds and close to the Gorsedd Stone Circle and are reputedly the largest specimens this far north. They were originally planted to produce charcoal for the iron forges along the Afon Lwyd river.

During the next 100 years, new plantings of chestnuts, oak, beech and yew were introduced obscuring the formal avenues and creating the wooded areas along the river and main path to Pontymoile. (Site of those wonderful gates.)

Conifer plantations were introduced during the 1950-60’s and left unmanaged and this combined with the growth of many of the original plantings, has altered the landscape to a predominantly mature wooded park with some open meadowland.

In the middle of the 20^th century the Park passed into public ownership for the benefit of the community of Pontypool.

The Park contains a number of historic areas including the Italian Gardens, Tramway Tunnel, Ice Houses and Shell Grotto. The Shell Grotto was built around 1829 by Molly Mackworth as a summerhouse, some 200m above the surrounding area and enjoys stunning views across open countryside and the Severn Estuary.

The Grotto and close-by Folly Tower are both open to the public on special days through the year.

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

Pontypool Park, South Wales

Pontypool Park remains one of my childhood's lasting memories as a place of wonder and excitement. There was the cherry tree walk in spring, collecting chestnuts with my Dad in the autumn, swinging on the swings at any time of the year, watching the bowls with the teams kitted out in white.

After this wet winter, everything looks a little sad and soggy, but with a few fine days and a little breeze I'm sure things will perk up.

I recently found a treasure hiding behind the renovated pond. Rather green and slimy, but nevertheless, carved stones in remembrance of the now demolished Pontypool & District Hospital. As a child, walking up to the large wooden front doors of this grand gothic piece of architecture, you couldn't help but know you'd be cured of whatever it was that ailed you.

The white plaque in this picture provides a rough idea of the stature of the original structure.  Standing high above the road it was a really majestic building.

These stones, sited probably a mile away from the original site may not even be noticed for anything more than a few bench seats by the casual passerby. But for those who knew the hospital in its heyday, nurses scurrying about long green painted corridors, doctors with stethoscopes around their necks disappearing through closed doors, these stones will always be a reminder, no matter how hard nature tries to conceal them.

Pontypool Museum, South Wales

Cross over Pontypool Town Bridge and turn right through the park gates and you will find Ice Houses on your left (see my blog of March 2012), and the old stable block on your right, which has now been renovated to contain Pontypool Museum.

As well as the obligatory large mangel, fireplace overmantle and treadle sewing machine, there are several interesting displays which make it well worth a visit.  

The coffee shop often holds exhibitions of work from local artists, and until 31 August you can see water colours and pen & inks by Mary Challenger, a close observer of local landscape and people.  In this display she shows her enjoyment of studying other observers as they take in other works of art.

Pontypool was famous for Japanware, a highly decorated, laquered tinplate.   Often coloured foils were included in the layers of laquer to immitate gold produce delicate patterns.   Later, as the company split, Usk became known for its paper mache version of Japanware.   The museum according to its literature, holds the National collection of such wares, consisting of  teapots, occasional tables, trays, nut crackers, etc.

Do you own an antique clock?   Check out whether it is a 'Charles Vaughan.'   There are only fifty known at present - could yours make it fifty-one?   The museum hold a few examples on display, and W Linnard has written a limited edition book on the subject, available at the museum.  

Around the walls of a small conference room hang photographs of British Nylon Spinners (BNS).
Situated in Mamhilad because of the pure, clean air, this large factory was taken over by ICI in the 1960s and later du Pont.   It finally closed its doors on 31 July 2012.

Until 29 September 2012 there is a large display of Pontypool Rugby Football Club memorabilia.   The exhibition consists of photographs, trophies, jerseys, caps and flags collected over many years.

Budding musicians of all ages can try their hand at various instruments, or just enjoy the international display as well as details of Leo Abse.

A wide variety of books on local history and events, as well as bric-a-brac are available for purchase at this accredited & award winning museum.   The Torfaen Museum Trust is a registered charity and is always looking to increase its membership.

Opening hours:   Tuesday to Friday 10am-5pm,  Saturday & Sunday 2pm-5pm
There is a small admission fee, but entry is free to Torfaen Library cardholders.

Amgueddfa Pontypool Museum is searching for the history of the buildings in Pontypool and the surrounding area.   A database of information is to be accumulated from scanned images of documents collected from the public.   Documents, artefacts and photographs can be taken to the museum for inclusion in this project.     For more info. Tel Mary or Peter 01495 752036 or e-mail ptcp@live.co.uk.

The Folly Tower, Pontypool (see my blog March 2012).
Pontypool Ice Houses (see my blog March 2012).
www.pontypoolmuseum.org.uk
Charles Vaughan of Pontypool published by Tathan Books, PO Box 6044, Radyr, Cardiff CF15 8YS

The Folly, Pontypool, built 1765.

The original
Folly Tower

Built by John Hanbury, the local iron master who owned Pontypool Park, in 1765, the tower appears to have been renovated by Capel Hanbury Leigh around 1831. It is reputed to have been used as a lookout for the local hunts and as a summerhouse for the family.

These postcards show the tower from the same viewpoint, but years apart.                 

It has commanding views of the surrounding countryside and on clear days it is said that you can see 7 counties from the top.

At the onset of the Second World War, the tower was demolished on 9th July 1940, as it was felt to be a landmark for enemy aircraft trying to locate the ordnance factory at Glascoed.                                   

A landmark viewed from the Brecon & Monmouthshire canal

The rebuilt Folly Tower

By September 1993, the Folly Tower had risen to approximately 20ft and was then a visible sight on the ridge. During the winter months the work to continue building the next stage of the Folly Tower was placed out to tender and awarded to Davies and Jenkins, a local builder.

On 22nd July 1994, the Prince of Wales performed the official opening ceremony and the Folly Tower once again stood proudly on the ridge as a landmark for all.                 


How do I access the Service?                 

Access to the Folly Tower is available to all, including schools and walking groups.

Opening Times (Please check before travelling):

The Folly Tower is open from 2 - 5pm on the following dates:

April - Fri 22nd, Sat 23rd, Sun 24th, Mon 25th, Fri 29th, Sat 30th                 
May - Sat 28th, Sun 29th, Mon 30th

June - n/a

July - Sat 30th, Sun 31st                 
August - Sat 6th, Sun 7th, Sat 20th, Sun 21st, Sat 27th, Sun 28th, Mon 29th

Groups of 10+ by appointment only at other times.

Access to the Tower is from Folly Lane Car Park (Follow the brown viewpoint signs from Pontypool). Access involves walking through a field with livestock present, so dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.

                    

For further information on the Folly Tower, contact the Pontypool Park Manager.

http://www.torfaen.gov.uk/ServiceDirectory/Services/FollyTower.aspx