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Ponthir

Ponthir
Entering Ponthir from Llanfrechfa - geograph.org.uk - 1768474.jpg
Entering Ponthir from Llanfrechfa
Ponthir is located in Torfaen
Ponthir
Ponthir
Ponthir shown within Torfaen
Area 3.43 km2 (1.32 sq mi) 
Population 1,482 
• Density 432/km2 (1,120/sq mi)
OS grid reference ST 327 928
Community
  • Ponthir
Principal area
Ceremonial county
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town NEWPORT
Postcode district NP18
Dialling code 01633
Police Gwent
Fire South Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK Parliament
Welsh Assembly
List of places
UK
Wales
Torfaen
51°37′50″N 2°58′23″W / 51.630425°N 2.972997°W / 51.630425; -2.972997Coordinates: 51°37′50″N 2°58′23″W / 51.630425°N 2.972997°W / 51.630425; -2.972997

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.

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 River Llwyd, the present one having been built in 1800.

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.

Ponthir has many amenities such as two nurseries, two children's playgrounds, two churches, a village hall, a cricket club, a football club (Ponthir United), 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 the Afon Llwyd (meaning "grey river") runs through the village.


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