About Torfaen

You may be curious about the name Torfaen. Today it describes the eastern valley from Blaenafon at it's head through Pontypool to Cwmbran near the Newport boundary. It comes originally from an 18th Century description of the fast-flowing Afon Llwyd which runs down the valley. Torfaen literally means 'rock breaker' and Afon Llwyd is translated as 'grey river' which very aptly describes the colour of the river when it is in flood.

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