Pontypool Park

Pontypool Park ( _cy. Parc Pont-y-pwl) is a 150 acre park that was previously the grounds of Pontypool House, Pontypool, Wales. It was the seat of the esteemed Hanbury family, most famous for their japanware.

Location

The park is situated near the centre of Pontypool and is divided into several areas. The main park starts at Park Gates near New Inn and finishes to the north at Pontypool House (now St. Alban's R.C. High School). To the east it finishes at the Folly Tower, a summer house built by John Hanbury and to the west at Pontypool Leisure Centre and the Italian Gardens. It has footpath links to the Brecon Beacons National Park, the national cycle route and the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.

The Landscape

Pontypool Park is set mostly to lawn or conifer woodland. There are landscaped areas such as the Italian Gardens (revamped in 2006) and the Nant-y-Gollen Ponds. There are three main avenues that divide the park that all merge at the leisure centre near the park's centre. The single path then meanders through a shaded avenue to the main Park Gates. Much of the park was formerly home to deer but they have since been moved on.

Facilities

Pontypool's main leisure centre is located in the park. The Council started refurbishment in 2003 and finished in late 2006. It contains squash courts and badminton courts, swimming pool, gymnasium and health spa. The park also has outside tennis courts, bowling green, golf putting course 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 also boasts an outdoor dry ski slope.

Follies & Curiosities

The park is home to the Folly Tower, a small, three-storey tower near the edge of the park. Nearby to this is the locally famous Shell Grotto [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/252799] , an old Hanbury summerhouse of 18th century origin whose interior is lavishly decorated with shells and bones. Both sites are open to the public on weekends through May to September. There are also the Ice Houses near the old Pontypool House and Pontypool Museum.