Formerly called Pontypool, the seat, which comprises many former mining communities as well as the new town of Cwmbran, coincides with the boundaries of the Torfaen local authority area. The area around Blaenavon, formerly a coal-mining, iron and steel town, has been nominated by the UK Government for United Nations recognition - other landmarks already on the list of World Heritage sites are the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China.