in the 1948 campaigns started to collect public donations to rebuild the Folly Tower; however, an attempt to get local council funding was thwarted during a local council meeting in July of that year. The council's priority at the time being post-war house building programs in the local area. Rebuilding At the beginning of 1990, a number of local historians and conservationists decided it was time to restore the Folly Tower to its former glory. A committee was set up to canvas various funding bodies as well as open negotiations with the National Park Authority. The creation of the Campaign for the Reconstruction of the Folly Tower (CROFT) then achieved sufficient backing so that the required £60,000 was raised to rebuild the Folly Tower. Contributions were made by The Prince of Wales' Committee and European Regional Development Fund. In April 1990, the original foundations of the tower were unearthed and the original dimensions of the tower were obtained. Planning permission for the reconstruction was given by Brecon Beacons National Park authorities in October of the same year. In May 1991, 175 tons of dressed stone from the recently demolished Cwmffrwdoer Primary School was donated to the campaign by Torfaen Borough Council. Rebuilding work commenced on the tower by a local building company (Davies and Jenkins) during November 1992. Building work ceased during the winter and resumed in the spring of 1993. The tower stood at approximately 20 ft (6 m) by September 1993 before work ceased again for the oncoming winter. Work restarted in the spring of 1994 and by July work on both the interior and exterior was complete. The tower was officially reopened by the Prince of Wales on July 22,1994. A plaque on the side of the tower commemorates the opening and reads: "Folly Tower, Rebuilt 1994. This scheme has been financed by the European Regional Development Fund, Torfaen Borough, Croft Pontypool, Gwent County Council, The Prince of Wales' Committee" Visitor information Access to the Folly Tower is via a field which is part of a working farm. Livestock is often present, not only in this field, but on the common land surrounding the council car park. A barrier was erected in 2010 to protect the area to prevent campers and other visitors overstaying. References CROFT, Pontypool, Tower of Strength On a Hill of Dreams - The Campaign to Rebuild the Old Folly Tower, Pontypool. Official Souvenir