Editing Pontypool (section)

===Pontypool Park===
[[Pontypool Park]] was the historic seat of the Hanbury family, who developed a permanent residence in Pontypool in c. 1694 and, under the direction of Major John Hanbury, subsequently established a deer park in the early 1700s. The park became a venue for recreation and enjoyment for the Hanbury family and their associates.<ref name="Cadw 2012, p.48">Cadw (2012), p.48</ref> An example of the luxury and display demonstrated by the family is the ornate shell grotto summerhouse within the park, completed and decorated during the 1830s.<ref>Barber (1999), p.81</ref>

Pontypool Park House was gradually extended and modified, with major changes being carried out in the mid-18th century, the early 1800s and 1872. Alterations were also made within Pontypool Park during the 19th century and included the dismantling of the old ironworks in 1831, the reconstruction of the park gates by Thomas Deakin of Blaenavon in 1835, the planting of trees to increase the privacy of the family from the gaze of outsiders, and the development of the American Gardens in 1851.<ref name="Cadw 2012, p.48"/>
[[File:Pontypool Museum.jpg|thumb|Amgueddfa Torfaen Museum]]

In 1920, the house and its park entered public ownership, and this allowed for the site to be developed as a public amenity. Developments during the 1920s witnessed the introduction of public tennis courts, a rugby ground and a bowling green. A notable event was the [[National Eisteddfod of Wales|Royal National Eisteddfod]], which took place in the park in 1924.<ref>Lloyd (2009), p.137</ref> A bandstand was added in 1931, allowing the townspeople the opportunity to listen to music in the open air. A leisure centre and artificial ski slope were introduced in 1974.<ref name="Cadw 2012, p.48"/>

Pontypool Park House was sold to the Sisters of the Order of the Holy Ghost in 1923, who utilised the building as a girls' boarding school. It eventually became [[St Alban's Roman Catholic High School, Pontypool|St. Alban's R.C. High School]]. The adjacent stable block was used for a variety of purposes during the 20th century but ultimately became home to the Valley Inheritance Museum in 1981, which was set up by Torfaen Museum Trust (est. 1978) to accommodate, safeguard and present the collections relating to the heritage of the Afon Lwyd valley.<ref>Barber (1999), p.79</ref>