Barry memories
Here are memories of Barry and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Barry or a Barry photo.
Old Village Barry
Not wishing to sound pedantic, but (with reference to another 'memory' posted about this photo) I'm pretty sure the photo shown is of the cottages on Old Village Road Barry, and not buildings adjacent to Cadoxton school which is a few miles away. These cottages are still in existence though I think one or more may now be slated not thatched.
Favourite Place
My family moved from Salford (Manchester) to Barry in 1957. We lodged with a very kind lady called Mrs Beck for a few months while we waited for our new semi-detached house to be built on Maes-y-Coed road, Cold Knap. The house was right behind Glan-y-Mor, at the bottom of a grassy hill. If I remember, Glan-y-Mor was a Y.M.C.A and bus loads of Seniors and students came and stayed in the summer months. We knew the caretakers well. I used to take exercise classes run by my neighbour Olga Evans in one of the rooms. I loved living there... I just had to walk over the bank and I was on the pebble beach. When the tide was out you could walk around to Porthkerry...up the steps...back along the top and down the grassy bank back to the house. I often picked blackberries on the way. After we left, condominiums were built at the end of the road but you could still get down to the beach. We named the... Read more
Wedding Day
I got married in All Saints Church, having lived in Barry all my life. It was a wonderful day and I remember the vicar wouldn't allow confetti to be thrown until we were outside on the pavement!!
Lunch Time From Romilly School
Fish & chips from Harveys in Vale Street and a walk to Barry castle with the "girls", long time memories of Romilly Boys School.
Boats on The Lake
As kids we'd sail our toy boats on the feeder to the lake. Simple pleasures, great fun, without computers !
Fun at The Park
Romilly Park not only housed the annual Barry Show, but often the circus, when real animals were allowed! Great to see the parade coming down Holton Road making its way to Romilly Park as "the circus comes to town"
The Barry Show was altogether different, vegetables, flowers & horses. The best bit was the goodies we were given at the end of the show after doing St John Ambulance first aid duties there. Fond memories of George Harris and his 3 wheeler Bond together with Frank Johnson who looked after me......
Golden Stairs
We used to climb the Golden Stairs when I was a s child. They seemed never ending. I bet they won't have changed much!
Zena
I remember these cottages. A girl my own age lived in one of them. Her name was, "Zena."
They were, very sadly, demolished, some years ago.
Cadoxton school is just across the road from where these lovely little cottages were situated.
DAYS GONE BY
My name is Moira Marshman. I used to live in North Walk and went to Gladestone School. I left in 1949. I got married in 1955 and moved off. I am now living in Bridgend, and have lived there since 1975. I have been to Barry lots of times but have never ever seen any old friends from school or on our frequent trips to RAF St Athan to the dances. If anyone out there remembers me, please get in touch.
Bernard (Colin) Booker, my Dad, Who Grew up in Barry Died on Tuesday Aged 87
I have fond memories of visiting Barry as a young child, my mum's parents owned a sweet factory and shop in Main Street, and my mum, Rita Pennington, and also my dad, Colin Booker both lived there till after the war. My dad died this week, here in Bourmenouth, we will return to Barry to scatter some ashes at some stage soon.
Cissies's Memories
Cissie's memories: I came to Barry in 1900. Holton Road was muddy and planks of wood were put down to enter the shops. We had a shop in 26 Holton Road, and later at the bottom of the block on spare ground Johnson's opened a portable theatre.
They played drama and had a pantomine in which I took part as a chorus girl. On the other side of the road was a family called Langley. they lived in a caravan and had swings and a coconut shy.
I can remember going over to Barry Island with my stepfather and mother to see the bonfire and roasting of the ox for the Relief of Mafeking. The docks were always full of ships and plenty of foreign people about from them.
Mr Jones had an undertaker's shop in Holton Road and there was Mr John the butcher, Hicks the chemist, Folicks the pawnbroker, Tibbets the grocer and Maypole grocers shop.
Horses and carts were used then and later on Whites ran a... Read more
More of Cissies Memories
On the 24th May 1900, which was observed as a general holiday in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday and as a celebration of the relief of Mafeking, Cissie as a young child, was taken down to Barry Island, accompanied by her stepfather Joseph. She would have been amongst the 10,000 crowd who witnessed a grand display of fireworks on Barry Island where an ox was roasted, cut up and distributed to the town's poor.
Lloyds, Holton Road
My mother worked in Lloyds in Holton Road. They had two shops, one which she usually worked in selling Lino, beds and furniture, and china etc. The other shop was the largest of the two and my mother used to shop there a lot. Entering this building on the right hand side was the men clothes, on the left hand side was a beautiful staircase built with lovely mahogany wood. Beside these stairs on the left, ladies underwear was on sale and towards the back of the shop ladies clothing would have been on display. Upstairs as you turned right, was the coats and dresses department, and up some more stairs took you into the hat department where hats of all colours were displayed on stands. Near the back of the shop shoes were on sale. The counters were glass and had matching shelves and items of clothing was laid out on these counters where customers could examine goods before buying... Read more
Granny
I remember going to school, 1st. St. Barucs, then Romilly school, and
then high street.
We my sister and had a little group of friends, Diane Williams, Gillian
Dennis, Janet Dunkley we did lots of things together.
On Sundays we used to go to All Saints Church as a family.
My father george John, Marjorie and Granny, grandpa used
to read the lessons and my father was a sides-man.
Inspector William Hole
Does anybody remember my Great-grandfather on my Father's sdie of the family, Police Inspector William Hole? He had a few children, one being my grandfather Walter Trevor Hole, another being Police Sergeant Harry Hole. I know William Hole was in the Tonypandy Riots as a Policeman and Harry Hole was a Policeman in Tonypandy sometime after 1935, as my father remembers him.
I would be greatful for any memories people are prepared to share with me.
Sincerely,
Caroline Scott.
Memories of South Glamorgan
Jamaica Planter
I have been told some information about the Jamaica Planter which was sunk off the Port of Barry, but cannot remember all the details. Is anyone able to help me? My father-in-law was aboard her on the two occasions she came in to the Port to be repaired. He was discharged from her company before she was holed the third time, thus surviving to marry and father five children, four of whom survive him!
Sincerely,
Caroline Scott.
Barry Island in The 50s And 60s
I traveled to Barry Island every summer because it was the nearest seaside to Brynmawr where we lived. The excitement of seeing the sea was overwhelming, and every time I would be sick on the old coach taking us there. We would first spend a few hours on the beach, then a walk around the shops, hoping for the biggest stick of rock possible. Then we spent an hour or so at the fair. I don't know how I ever went on the rides, I couldn't now! Then it was back to the coach. I was always OK going home, so it was just the thrill of being at Barry Island, something nice to look forward to. Barry Island has brought pleasure to thousands of people, may it continue to…
I Lived at Nells Point
I lived at the Navy station Nells Point around 1943 to 1947. I went to school at Clive road and attended sunday school at st Johns. I remember the army camp,and at the end of the war the squatters moved in the huts.I allso remember the U.S army giving us children lovelypartiesand eating my first donut. the one with the hole in. Pat Perring nee Nurse
Barry Island
I was born and bred Barry Island. My mother and father had a fish and chip shop under the Western shelter. I can remember wonderful summer days, playing on the sands and making friends with children from the valleys. They thought my life wonderful! Can anybody remember the Gwalia cafe built on the rocks at Nells Point and the swimming pool below it that filled up at high tide? Oh such happy days! Mary Morgan (nee Lewis)
Roller Skating at Barry Island.
Some of my best memories of Barry Island are from the week-ends I used to go to the skating rink which was situated above the block of shops on the sea side of the pleasure park overlooking the prom and sea. Three of us waited all week for this wonderful evening. We were, me, Pat Baker (Overstreet) Christine Pearce and Jackie Felix. We all saved hard to buy our own spanking new, white leather roller boots although, impatient to actually wear boots and not simply strap on skates, I bought a second hand pair from a girl called Roberta (Scott - I think) who made a wonderful and graceful dance partner with a very handsome young man, Arnold, I seem to remember. We all attempted (and failed) to emulate them! When we did buy our own boots we whitened them before each visit. What a pleasure it was to go home on the 10 past 9 'bus (because we had to!) with our skates thrown over our shoulders, tired out,... Read more
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