Pontllanfraith
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pontllanfraith (Welsh: Pontllan-fraith) is a large village located in the Sirhowy Valley in Caerphilly county borough, south-east Wales.
[edit] Location
It is situated immediately next to the town of Blackwood, with the River Sirhowy passing through both locations.
[edit] History & amenities
Formerly part of Monmouthshire, it was home to a Welsh coal mining community during the early to mid 20th century, providing homes for men working in a number of local pits such as Wyllie, Penallta Colliery, etc.
Pontllanfraith is home to a secondary school with a long tradition. The school was originally opened as a grammar school back in 1926 before becoming a comprehensive school in 1976. A number of former Welsh rugby union internationals attended the school, including John Jeffery and the British Lions forward Alun Pask, as did the current Glamorgan cricketer Ryan Watkins. The school was criticised in an Estyn report in December 2006 and was placed in special measures; following successful re-inspections these were lifted in March 2008.
Pontllanfraith Rugby Football Club run a number of teams, with the first fifteen playing their home matches at Islwyn Park. The club has been in existence for many years and the first entry on the captain's board relates to the season 1958-59.
The Penllwyn Manor, an old stone building which is now a public house, was originally part of the Lord Tredegar Estates and is believed to be the original home of the family of Henry Morgan.
The community is also home to a leisure centre, as well as various pubs, chapels and churches.
Famous people from Pontllanfraith include the lead singer from the Manic Street Preachers, James Dean Bradfield and Julian Hodge, founder of The Bank of Wales. Neil Kinnock, the Labour politician, also has a house in the village.
