Population 3,239 (2011) Community Llanyrafon Country Wales Area 3.02 km² | OS grid reference ST 304 946 Sovereign state United Kingdom Dialling code 1633 Post town NP postcode area | |
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Llanyrafon is a suburb of Cwmbran and a community in the county borough of Torfaen in south east Wales. It lies within the boundaries of the historic county of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent.
Contents
Map of Llanyrafon, UK
Etymology
Sometimes written on old maps and documents as Lan-yr-avon, Llan-yr-avon, or Llanyravon, the name literally translates as "Church by the River". However, Llan meaning "Church"' is usually followed by a saint's name, and the resulting name is usually associated with a parish church. Neither is true for Llanyrafon, so the older meaning of Llan as "an enclosed piece of land" may apply.
See also: Llan (placename element)Location
Llanyrafon lies to the east of the Afon Llwyd and Cwmbran town centre, west of the A4042 dual carriageway and south of Croesyceiliog.
History
Built in the late 1950s, Llanyrafon is mainly residential but does include a municipal golf course; 3-star Hotel (Commodore Hotel on Mill Lane - closed in 2011 and now demolished to make way for a new housing development); small shopping precinct known as Llanyrafon Lakeside Shops and the large Boating Lake Park & South Fields. The Boating Lake Park includes (as the name suggests) a large lake which is home to various wildfowl birds such as swans, mallards and moorhens. There is also a large adventure playground as well as various football and rugby pitches. In recent years, the addition of a skateboarding/roller blading park was made to this area. Most recently there has been a re-vamp of the Boating Lake with the addition of an island. There is one public house, 'The Crow's Nest', that serves 'pub-grub' food.
The X24, a major bus service operated by Stagecoach South Wales, runs through Llanyrafon from Cwmbran town centre to Newport.