Named after the newspaper’s owner and publisher, the Henry Hughes building was built in 1912 and soon after the words ‘Read the Free Press’ adorned the red brick of the press house. What once housed a busy pressroom now boasts nine affordable flats for the area.

The Pontypool Free Press had been based in Pontypool for 150 years until owner Newsquest shut the office and moved staff to its regional base in Newport in 2011.

The Abergavenny, Chepstow and Monmouth editions were amalgamated into one edition called The Free Press, and the Pontypool Free Press continued as a separate edition.

We have brought the building back to life and created nine bright contemporary, affordable homes in Torfaen”

The building has seen many changes over the years, having housed a taxi firm and a solicitors since the newspaper left in 2011. The housing project was led by Bron Afon, a housing association in Wales, as part of a wider project to bring 450 new affordable homes to the area.

Alan Brunt, chief executive at Bron Afon, comments: “We sensitively restored Henry Hughes House, keeping historic features like the iconic ‘Read the Free Press’ sign on the back of the building. We have brought the building back to life and created nine bright contemporary, affordable homes in Torfaen, which is a top priority for us.

“Transformations like the one carried out in Henry Hughes House, will make a big difference to the high street and the town. I’m proud we were able to help.”

Bron Afon worked in partnership with Torfaen Council on the project with funding from the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places fund.

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