THIS week we have chosen photographs from the digital archives of Pontypool Museum looking back at Pontypool Park, which has been nominated as one of the best parks in Wales.

In one of the photos, taken in 1935, the chair of the Pontypool Urban District Council, WC Watkins, is planting an oak tree in the park.

The Pontypool UD Council was first created in 1895 under the provision of the Local Government Act 1894 in Monmouthshire at the time.

It was expanded in 1935 to include the Abersychan and Panteg wards, but was closed in 1973 following the creation of Torfaen.

The other images shows the Italian Gardens, and the fountain which can be found there.

Captured on photograph in 1950, it is believed that the gardens were built in1850, and a number of the plants that were laid there originate from Italy.

The garden are based on the Isola Bella Gardens in Lake Maggiore, which served as the second honeymoon location of Capel Hanbury Leigh.

These images were donated by the Pontypool Museum as part of its digital archive, which aims to preserve historic documents, images and records from the area.

To find out more about the digital archive, contact the museum at pontypoolmuseum@hotmail.co.uk or call 01495 752036.

The Free Press thanks Pontypool Museum for allowing the paper to use these images.