You are here:
Aberfan
Aberfan maps
Historic maps of Aberfan and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Aberfan maps
Aberfan area books
Displaying 1 of 2 books about Aberfan and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Aberfan
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Aberfan.
Add your memory of Aberfan
or of a photo of Aberfan.
Stories my Mother Told me
My mother Mildred was born in Aberfan in 1910. She had an older brother and sister, Myra (born 1906) and Harry (born 1908), their surname was Watts. Their mother was called Emily Roberts and Emily's mother was the local midwife who lived at 10 Bridge Street. Mildred was born at 6 Barrington Street and Myra and Harry were born in Moy Road, they all attended Pantglas school. Their father was Bill Watts who went to Aberfan in about 1899 with two friends from London, Charlie Catley and Bill Maynard, to work down the coal mines. My mum used to tell us that in nearly every street they had relatives and they had a very happy childhood. My grandmother Emily had six brothers and sisters and one of her sisters was called Mary-Anne and she had three daughters called Bessie, Nellie and Katie, and they lived at 23 Crescent Street, Aberfan. We took a trip down to Aberfan in about 1992 and she could not find one relative and... Read more
Best Friends
My name was June Carpenter, I used to live at 36 Aberfan Crescent. I had three best friends, Dulsie Berry, Rosina Kinsey and Denver Davies. My memories of Aberfan was great. I used to swim in the river as I lived on the river bank. I was broght up by my grandmother and my two uncles, Billo and Alfie Carpenter, known as Slogger. They were all happy times and good memories I had of Aberfan. I was taken to Penrhiwceiber to live with my mother when I was nine years of age but my memories will always be with Aberfan.
Aberfan Memories by Joy Adams
my name is Joy Adams and I used to live in West End House, Angus Street, Aberfan with my parents (Elsie & Mervyn) and my two elder brothers (Derek and Jeffrey) until 1966. I was born in 1952, Jeff 1947 and Derek 1942. I had a very happy childhood in Aberfan - my best friend was Yvonne Williams - she lost her younger brother in 1966 - David williams; she had an elder brother - Eric. I remember the infants school at the top of the junior school playground and we had separate playground from the boys. I remember the Nant - at the bottom of Aberfan before the Grove bridge - catching sticklebacks/newts. I attended Pantglas Infants/Junior and senior schools - we left Aberfan in 1966 to move to Swindon but I still have a school report or two somewhere. One of my teachers was Mr Goldsworthy - he only had one arm and boy could he put some power into whacking you with... Read more
Mid Glamorgan memories
My Mother
I am trying to create the memories that I don't have of my mother Ethel Lewis who was born in 1924 and lived at 58 Mount Pleasant, Merthyr Vale. I know she attended the primary school which is a couple of minutes' walk away.
If anyone has any information or memories of this era I would be really interested.
My Childhood in Bedlinog
During the second world war when I was about three years old my parents thought it would be safer for me to leave London and live with my mother's parents in Bedlinog. We lived in the High Street and I have such happy memories with my grandparents, Tom and Hannah Blackwell. I remember shopping daily with my grandmother, going to the Co-op (Station Terrace??), the butchers near the top of the High Street, and post office - what a climb to the top - and an icecream parlour called, I think, Lanzo's. There was also a little corner shop run by Mrs Jones nearby. I attended the infants school at the bottom of the Coombe Hill when I was old enough and my teacher was called Miss Jenkins. I thought she was quite beautiful!! I can still remember the smell of the chalk and polish! We had to have a rest on small mats during the afternoons and then sing a song that started... Read more
Duffryn House
I can remember having lessons in Duffryn House, top floor. The walls and stairways were amazing, thick handrails curving from top to bottom. An amazing building which in my opinion should have been listed.
Dai Boyce,
MACS 1981 -1985
Playing Fields
My name is Martin Flower. I lived in 21 Bailey St. The field at the back of our house is where I would spend most of the day. There was a crowd of us and we would make Dutch arrows, yes you cannot use them today. If you could see forty arrows in the air it was some sight. And when there was a flood Nieno's cafe lost all his stock. The grown ups would be in the water getting fags, tobacco and any beer barrels that were from the Baileys Arm. The treat in the summer would be loading a pram with bread, butter, cups and jam, bats, football, and then it was a long walk over the cwm where there was a stream. Have a few pictures of me and my gran. When I saw this picture of the swimming baths it reminded me of a boy that lived in Bailey St that drowned there, eddie he was out skinny dipping. His mum was dad ran a shop... Read more
