A bird's eye view of past (From Free Press Series)

A bird's eye view of past

CWMBRAN Writers have put together a detailed and moving account of the town's history in a new book, Cwmbran And Other Routes As The Crow Flies.

It was launched a couple of weeks ago and is likely to appear in many Christmas stockings this year.

Evocative tales and memories are combined with photographs, both old and new, to bring the past to life for even the youngest reader.

The comprehensive book describes the landscape from the summit of Twmbarlwm to the villages of Pontnewydd, St Dials, Llanyrafon and Upper Cwmbran, and the centre of the area and what became Wales's first new town.

Local historian Chris Barber took many of the more recent photographs that appear and a number of old black and white photographs have also been reprinted.

Articles by Anne Reeve recount the personal memories of people who lived locally in years gone by. Readers will also be reminded of buildings like the Lyceum Theatre and the Corn Exchange.

Audrey Donoghue tells of growing up in a Pontnewydd grocery shop and Michael Phelps has a spooky tale.

Ken Marshall also has a couple of entries, including the history of Llantarnam Grange. There are details of transport and industry, including the workings of mills which employed so many.

Other authors include Vashti Brown, Maisey Parker, Carol Wheeler, Grenville Williams, Beryl Blanks and Andrew Phillips.

The Cwmbran Writers Group received financial help to publish the book from Awards For All Wales.

Copies of Cwmbran and Other Routes As The Crow Flies are available at WH Smith in Cwmbran.