In the Cwmbran Corporation Masterplan of 1951 for Cwmbran New Town, a square was proposed at the north end of the main town centre shopping are, in conjunction with Civic Square at the south end. It was proposed that around this square might be located a department store, the health centre, post office, market, inns, two cinemas and the police offices. This is the current Gwent Square.

Notable buildings around the Square include the Congress Theatre, Gwent House and its associated murals by Henry Collins, the public library and the David Evans (currently House of Fraser) department store. The square inlcudes a mixture of hard landscaping (renewwed from the original geometric deocrative paving) and soft planting, as awell as an octagonal bandstand taht was built as a focus for community activity.

There is currently an application in for remodelleing of the square and its associated buildings, including the demolition of the bandstand.

S Fielding RCAHMW May 2018