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Derwen
Derwen maps
Historic maps of Derwen and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Derwen maps
Derwen photos
We have no photos of Derwen, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Clawddnewydd| Melin-Y-Wig| Pwllglas| Corwen| Bontuchel| Carrog| Ruthin| Maerdy| Glyndyfrdwy| Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd
Derwen area books
Displaying 1 of 0 books about Derwen and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Derwen
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Clwyd memories
Childhood Memories
I used to stay with my nain in Clawddnewidd and have very fond memories. Mrs Watson lived next door and used to pop in every night with some fruit for us. At that time there was a top shop run by Mr Lake and his wife, they were always so nice to us. We used to go to the chapel for service and my nain and a few other villagers used to pluck pheasants. My Uncle Emrys lived in Nant Farm and used to call at nain's every morning with fresh milk from the farm. We went on many walks picking rasberries for nain to make a pie but my favourite was always her ginger cake. I was told never to go to the pond at the bottom of the village as it had a whirlpool in it but of course I had to find out. Once a year there was a show and my nain always dressed up in her Welsh lady outfit. I still visit Clawdd now to... Read more
Cyril Evans
Does anyone remember my father Cyril Evans, and his family. I think he left the village around the 1940s at the age of 14???
My Uncle And Auntie
My Uncle Brian and my Auntie Doreen used to live here along with their 4 girls - Lynda, Pam, Debby, and Trisha I will never forget the first time we visited - coming from then the built-up area of the Wirral, we lived near Port Sunlight, it was like going back in time - the little post office, the shop full of tellies, and the weather-boarded houses. We stayed for a weekend, visited the school, and listened to the service going on in the chapel, while we paddled in the stream (which was freezing!) What was the name of the nearest pub? - a happy childhood memory My Uncle and Aunt moved, first to Ellesmere Port, and they now live in Ewloe. If anyone remembers them, drop me a line.
Going to School at Llanelidan
I went to Llanelidan school in the 1950 s with my cousin Gwyn Rowlands from Sowrach, I was from Betws yn Rhos, Colwyn Bay.
The 1950s
Though I have some recall of the 1940s - eg starting school in 1948 at the age of three and a half and being reluctant to get off a rocking horse on the first day, it was the 1950s that really kicked in - to the accompaniment of songs like 'McNamamara's Band', 'Open the Door, Richard', and 'Lovely Bunch of Coconuts'. We were still on rations, and it was common for my sister and I to share a divided egg, we had very little jam on the bread, and there were perhaps occasional small bags of 'Dollly Mixture' sweets but we did ok. There were also radio programmes like 'Twenty Questions', 'The Billy Cotton Band Show' and Uncle 'Someone' with 'Children's Favourites'. Towards the mid 1950s we had the wonderful 'Journey Into Space' with the heroic Jet Morgan that Dad and I listened to, but Mum disliked. Also there were the radio soaps - 'Mrs Dale's Diary', 'Meet the Huggets', 'Life with the Lions', and who could forget the wonderful... Read more
1965 Era
I was 20, following a stint as a trainee mechanic (I only took the job there as Mick Becker was there) at the Druid Garage and us starting pop group. Affected garage+ not enough work, so following being fired by Mr Davies ("Reluctantly, lad", he said) I got a job after short spell unemployed at Hafod y Calch limestone quarry. Battle between Rolling Stones and Beatles for top of the charts - Beatles won ('I Feel Fine' - good song), but being rather non-comformist I preferred the Stones, Yardbirds, Downliners Sect and suchlike. During this era there was a lot of rain, but we did have better summers then! Dreadful floods at Corwen, mainly due to poorer water control up Bala way. There was a milkbar, Ormonde House I think, where 'Ecclestons' cake shop is now. It was run by one we called Glyn, all revolving stools, expresso coffee (made with horrible 'slurping' noises!) and two circular glass tanks, one for orange cordial, and one for blackcurrant -... Read more
Life at Corwen
I have lived here all of my 65 years and can't imagine living elsewhere unless fate dictates otherwise. Corwen had reached rock bottom at one stage, but,as they say - the only way is up! Hopefully, I will live to see the railway back here, I had two uncles working on the railway here in the 1950s up to the Beeching axe in the mid 1960a - the late HARRY GRAVES, booking clerk, and the late FRANKIE DAVIES, on track maintenance, and many may recall them as renowned sportsmen, namely football and cricket. Corwen need not be a dying town, that can only happen if we allow it. Before the railway returns, the young as well as us older ones will hopefully welcome visitors here, I like to act as unofficial guide to show what the area has to offer such as walks, etc. If this is done without alienating or encroaching on visitors who look lost there is every chance they may visit again, so, fellow Corwenites, LET'S MAKE... Read more
