The
South Wales Argus visited Pontypool Active Living Centre to see what preparations have been made ahead of the reopening. People are now only going to be allowed in to the centres if they have booked their activities. They are asked when booking their activity if they have displayed any coronavirus symptoms. When they arrive, there is a hand sanitiser station and they will also be temperature checked. They will then have to queue – socially distanced – in the separate queues set up in the reception area waiting for an instructor or lifeguard to bring them through to their booked activity.
The Pontypool to Crumlin canal at Trosnant in a late eighteenth century (1790s) print. Picture: Torfaen Museum. A FEW years ago, the museum was sent a copy extract of American industrialist, James Patterson’s diary. He sailed from New York in October 1827 to visit relatives in Ireland and then onwards to industrial sites in England and Wales – where he hoped to gain information ready for the opening of tinplate works in Pennsylvania. The diary extract is fascinating reading and highlights of the Patterson’s trip are visits to all Capel Hanbury Leigh’s works and others around Pontypool, Abersychan (The British) and Blaenavon.