Pontllanfraith
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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 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, Penalta, etc.
Pontllanfraith is home to a secondary school with a long tradition. The school was originally opened as a grammar school back in 1926. A number of former welsh rugby internationals attended the school, including 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 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.
