page_title: Pontardawe
section_title: Landmarks
hierarchical_section_title: Pontardawe / Landmarks
caption_attribution_description: English: Three bridges at Pontardawe Old stone bridge between two modern bridges
context_page_description: Pontardawe is both a town and a community in the Swansea Valley in Wales. With a population of 6,800, it comprises the electoral wards of Pontardawe and Trebanos. A town council is elected. Pontardawe forms part of the county borough of Neath Port Talbot. On the opposite bank of the River Tawe, the village of Alltwen, part of the community of Cilybebyll, is administered separately from Pontardawe, but has close ties to the town. Pontardawe is at the crossroads of the A474 road and the A4067 road. Pontardawe came into existence as a small settlement on the northwestern bank of the Tawe where the drovers' road from Neath and Llandeilo crossed the river to go up the valley to Brecon.
  The National Cycle Route 43 from Swansea to Builth Wells passes through the town and the recreation ground. First Cymru provides a bus service linking Pontardawe to Swansea, Neath, and Ystradgynlais.
context_section_description: The best-known landmark is the tall spire of St Peter's Church which dominates the centre of the town from its site on a high point of the valley floor close to the Swansea Canal.
  The town includes two sections of the Swansea Canal with a total length of 2.5 miles (4.0 km). The old stone bridge of Pontardawe was built by William Edwards of Eglwsilan, a famous bridge builder. He also built the Old Bridge at Pontypridd, which was the longest single-span bridge in the world when it was constructed, as well as the bridge at Cenarth. Edwards was also responsible for the design of Morriston, a new town developed by the Swansea Valley industrialist Sir John Morris.
caption: Three bridges at Pontardawe.
  The old stone bridge was built by William Edwards of Eglwsilan
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