Abergavenny memories
Here are memories of Abergavenny and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Abergavenny or a Abergavenny photo.
Mayor of Abergavenny 1907
Interesting to read about William Williams who was Mayor three times, lately in 1908. My great grandfather Samuel Deverall was Mayor in 1907 and owned a greengrocery in 44 Cross Street. He was married to Georgina and had two sons, Edmund and Albert. Sadly he was found hanged in 1910 at a farm in Pontypool. I have been told it wasn't suicide but don't really know.
Favourite Outing
My family and I often walked to the River Usk, going down Pentre Road and crossing the Brecon Road. We used to have picnics on the side nearest St. Mary's church in Llanwenarth, and look in the water for tiny fish and insects. I particularly liked the flowers I found in the meadows nearby and picked large bunches to take back to my grandparents' house. On the banks grew quantities of a flower I now know to be called "Jumping Jack, "Touch-me-not" or "policeman's helmet", but which I called a "netflower". At one point there was a chain ferry, with a sort of flat punt-like boat, and it was fun crossing the river in it.
Abergavenny "Mountains"
The Deri, Rholben, Llanwenarth Breast, Big Skirrid, Little Skirrid etc. would be regarded as hills when compared to the mountains in Germany and Switzerland, but for us children they were real mountains, and we loved climbing them. This view of the Deri was practically the same as the one we had from our grandmother's garden in Albany Road, and in the foreground the cricket ground can be seen.
Churchgoing in The 40's
My grandparents lived in Abergavenny since 1934 in a beautiful dressed stone house called Maisemore in Albany Road, and every summer after the war my family and I went to stay with them for a month, that is, until my grandfather died in March 1950, when this happy time came to an end. During the war my mother, brother and I were evacuated there, as our home was in Sunderland, which was a target for bombs, and if my grandparents hadn't taken us in, they would have had to put up evacuees from Cardiff. We used to go to this church in Llanwenarth on Sundays, and I can remember having to be taken out during the service one Sunday in 1949 because I wasn't feeling well.
Ascent of The Blorenge 1949
This picture reminds me of a photo my father took from the top of the Blorenge when we climbed it in August 1949. To start, we had to take the railway (closed in the 50's) to Gilwern or Govilon (I can't remember which!) and then begin our climb from there. When they reached the top, my father and brother built a cairn from the stones lying around - I wonder whether it's still there? I have a photo of my brother standing next to it. Unfortunately I didn't climb to the top on that occasion as I wasn't feeling well, so I stayed with my mother, who wasn't so keen on mountain climbing, in a field on the way up.
Cattle Market
As far as I can remember, my brother and I were taken to this market only once, in August 1949, and we were most interested in the cattle. I have lovely photo of us stroking a calf there.
Town Hall
I think this a picture of Abergavenny Town Hall, but am not sure. When we were staying in Abergavenny we lived outside, in Albany Road, on the way to the Rholben and the Deri, which we often climbed and as we didn't go into the town awfully much, only when my mother needed something, I have only vague memories of it. My great-grandfather Williams was Mayor of Abergavenny in 1905, and he wrote an autograph in my grandmother's album, which I still have. My mother's mother's family originally came from Abergavenny, which is why my grandparents went to live there after my mother married in 1934.
Frogmore Cafe
My parents Monica and Jack Garrett ran the Frogmore Cafe from 1954 until 1978 when it became a dry cleaners when they then sold it to Sketchleys in 1980. I was their only son Richard.
Ye Old Hereforshire
My parents ran Ye Old Herefordshire (a pub) in 1963 for three months. It was a rough old place and the police would come in at closing time to make sure there was no trouble. Next door was the Kai Nam restaurant. I was at boarding school in Cardiff, and I remember being called 'chinky lover' because I would eat with the owner and his family at weekends. It is a restaurant now, next to Tescos - that land was stables when I lived there. At that time there was a local group named the Stuccatos Sp? Wonder what happened to them?
Nanna
Annie Tranter was born in Abergavenny in 1884 at 2 Chapel Road. Her brother David had a flower shop in town. I have traced the Tranters back to 1750 in Abergavenny. I have been there to visit, great town.
Memories of Gwent
School Camp at Govilon in The Early 1930s
The children of the unemployed were taken to school camp in Govilon for a week. At the time there was an R.A.F. camp being built, after which we knew as St. Athens. When went to the beach we were told to each bring a pebble ready to put where the ofices were to be built. Best Regards. Idris Bowen
Evacuee From Folkestone
I was evacuated to Llandewi on 2nd June 1940. I was billeted with Mrs Smith at Upper House, Coed Morgan. I will never forget the kindness shown, both by Mrs Smith and daughter Irene and also son Alan and his wife who had a small farm further up the road. I was only there for three months before having to pass on to the Grammar School, which had been evacuated to Merthyr Tydfil. The difference between the two places, and the people were like Heaven & Hell. I didn't return home until after four years had passed - just in time for the doodle-bugs.
The Old Primary School
I attended the old primary school via School Lane through the 1930s and early 1940s, the teachers were E L Richards (head), Mr Withers, Miss Austen, Miss Lewis. The school by the old canal was a very happy school, and through the last war we had a big school garden where we grew food and shared it in the village. We also had to help on the local farm (Jim Llewellyn's, at Ty Gwyn) at potato picking time, we had good food and got paid, we enjoyed that. I left school in 1945 but enjoyed my years there. I still visit the village as often as I can, it brings back memories of home. The other memory I have is of Gooding the canal boat owner, where we made ourselves some pocket money by rowing people up the canal that could not row. These were very happy times. I would like to hear from anyone who is old enough to remember them, my email address is bachen95@yahoo.com
Grand Uncle
My grandmother's eldest brother was the Reverend Evan Davies, BA. A native of Carmarthenshire he was appointed Vicar of Llanofer in 1891 and was parish priest there until his death in 1934. According to Kelly's Directory for Monmouthshire (1901) his salary was £190 per annum with residences and 18 acres of glebe.
My Great Grandfather's Memories
This is an excerpt from Frederick Rosher's diary written while on a visit to Trewyn Court, a family home, in 1850.
Sunday, 28th April. Went to Llanvihangel church in the carriage. There are no architectural beauties about it, it being within, perfectly plain and free from ornament, but its perfect simplicity and quietude is much more favourable for devotion than the splendid and crowded edifices of London. Mr. Price is the minister. He preached a very plain, good, simple sermon on the parable of The Good Samaritan. The church was without an organ until a year ago when a small one was presented by Mr. Rodney. I should think the attendance was below 30 putting aside Mrs. Rodney's school in the organ loft. I saw there the tablets of my Great Grandfather and the tomb of Mr. Golding.
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