Ponthir

Ponthir (Welsh: Pont-hir) is a village and community at the south-west of the county borough of Torfaen on the boundary of the counties of Monmouthshire and Newport. It is approximately six miles from Newport city centre and 3½ miles from Cwmbran, lying between the settlements of Caerleon and Llanfrechfa.[3]

Ponthir Welsh: Pont-hir
Entering Ponthir from Llanfrechfa
Ponthir Location within Torfaen
Area	3.43 km^2 (1.32 sq mi) [1]
Population	1,482 [2]
• Density	432/km^2 (1,120/sq mi)
OS grid reference	ST 327 928
Community	Ponthir
Principal area	Torfaen
Ceremonial county	Gwent
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NEWPORT
Postcode district	NP18
Dialling code	01633
Police	Gwent
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Monmouth
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament	Monmouth

Etymology

The Welsh language placename indicates the correct pronunciation; i.e. saying the 't' and 'h' separately. The name first appeared in print as Pontheere in 1605 and again as Pont hir in 1677. The name means 'long (hir) bridge (pont)' and refers to a previous bridge over the Afon Lwyd, the present one having been built in 1800.[4]

History and amenities

Ponthir is primarily a residential area, with several new housing estates around the older village. It has a primary school, (Ponthir Church in Wales Primary School) which was for some time under threat of closure but was reprieved, and it now has the best SATs results in Torfaen. It also changed its category to a Voluntary aided school (church) school.[5]

Ponthir has many amenities such as two nurseries, two children's playgrounds, two churches, a village hall, a cricket club, a football club (Ponthir AFC), 2 pubs - The Ponthir House and The Star, a grocery shop, a doctor and a dentist. There used to be a railway station but it closed in 1962. The railway is still in use. It is surrounded by the rolling hills of Monmouthshire, many farms, and a few rivers, streams and brooks that surround or run through the village, such as; The Afon Llwyd (meaning "grey river")[3] as well as The Sôr Brook, Cwm-ffrwd Brook and Candwr Brook

A Welsh Water sewage and water treatment plant for the surrounding area is located here, and this was where bacteria were first used to treat sewage sludge using an electrically powered aerator to circulate the sludge and ensure good microbial digestion. This process saved the local authority money as well as reducing noxious odours.[6]

Notable people

Notable people who were born, resided or were schooled in Ponthir, include the following:

• James Ball (cyclist), Great Britain Para-cyclist
• James Botham, Welsh international rugby union player, who currently plays for the Cardiff Blues. Grandson of England cricketer Sir Ian Botham, and son of former Cardiff RFC player Liam Botham
• Liam Botham, Professional sportsman in Rugby Union, Rugby League and Cricket. Son of England cricket legend Sir Ian Botham
• Maggot (rapper), (real name Andrew Major) is a Welsh rapper, formerly of the Goldie Lookin Chain
• Natasha Cockram, Current Welsh marathon record holder and 2020 British Marathon Champion
• Percy Montgomery, South African international rugby union player
• Raymond Parsons, Former Chairman of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club

References

1. "2011 Census:Quick Statistics:Population Density for Ponthir". Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
2. "2011 Census:Key Statistics:Key Figures for Ponthir". Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
3. Concise Road Atlas: Britain. AA Publishing. 2015. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7495-7743-8.
4. Owen, Hywel Wyn; Morgan, Richard (2007). Dictionary of the Place-Names of Wales. Gomer. p. 388. ISBN 978-1-84323-901-7.
5. "Ponthir Church in Wales School". WalesOnline. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
6. "Sweet smell of digesting sludge". New Scientist. 14 July 1983. Retrieved 2 May 2016.