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Oakdale sits on a plateau high above the Sirhowy Valley, just over a mile east of Blackwood. Unlike many of the surrounding villages that grew organically around seventeenth-century farmsteads, Oakdale was a meticulously planned "model village" built in the early 1900s to house workers for the local colliery. This history is still visible in its distinct character; the central horseshoe layout and large gardens were designed to provide a healthier, more spacious environment than the cramped terraces typical of the South Wales coalfield. Though the colliery closed in 1989 and the iconic primary school has since been replaced by modern housing, the village retains a strong sense of community. Its geographic position provides a bit of a buffer from the busier local towns, yet it remains practical for daily life, with the reclaimed colliery site now serving as a major business park and the nearby Pen y Fan Pond offering a popular spot for walking.