Pontllanfraith
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pontllanfraith (Welsh: Pontllan-fraith) is a small village located in the Sirhowy valley of south Wales, United Kingdom. It is situated immediately next to the town of Blackwood, with the River Sirhowy passing through both locations. It is also located upon the gateway to the renowned "Cavarn of Dreams".
It was home to a coal mining community during the early to mid twentieth century, providing homes for men working in a number of local pits such as Wyllie, Penallta, 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 in 1976. A number of former welsh rugby internationals attended the school, including John Jeffery and the British Lions' forward Alun Pask. The school, rather surprisingly, was criticised in an Estyn report in December 2006 and is now on special measures.
"The Granny", a run down grandstand in Islwyn Park and a hangout of the local chavs, can be an exciting place to go for a night of asbo related fun. Sadly though, it has become a place of great sorrow for the residents of Pontllanfraith due to some very unfortunate events.[citation needed]
The community is also host to a rugby union club with a number of sides, as well as a leisure centre, various pubs, churches and local shops.
