Fairbourne memories
Here are memories of Fairbourne and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Fairbourne or a Fairbourne photo.
Blissful Holidays
In the early 1980's my husband decided that he would like to buy a caravan. I had to admit I did not relish the idea of towing a caravan, let alone spending holidays in one. However, we aquired our first caravan, and joined the 'Caravan Club'. When the first magazine arrived, I read it, mainly to find out what exactly the fascination was with caravanning. One item caught both of our imaginations, and, always liking a challenge, I took on the task of finding the location, in Wales, of what sounded to us as an idyllic location.The owner of the caravan site had a pseudonym to hide their true names, and made no mention of nearby towns, so my task was doubly hard. But, after studying the coastline, details of rivers etc etc - I found the location on the shores ofthe River Mawddach. Our first holiday there was absolutely perfect - the beautiful scenery, peace, fishing for my husband, walks to the nearby... Read more
Fairbourne Holidays!
I remember [I am not sure how old I was then, maybe no older than 11 (1971)] going to Fairbourne with my school as a school trip a couple of times, at the time this was with lots of children from schools in my area. I remember staying in a place with teachers and fellow pupils. My memories are very sketchy,but I remember that the staff were lovely, especially the dinner ladies! The food was great! I remember the staff taking us up the hills to see the slate mines. I don't even remember what the place I stayed in was called, but I'm sure if you are a local you would remember lots of children!!
Fairbourne
I first went to Fairbourne when I was probably only about 6 months old. My mother's parents lived in Friog. Hendoll Bungalow up Fford Hendoll was to be a holiday destination for many years after that, right up to 1995 which was the last time I was there. I had always promised my daughter that we would visit one day and show her the Dragon's Teeth, the Blue Lake and the train. It was this year in August that we returned. Stayed in the Springfield Hotel and showed her all the sights. Strange to be back there after all this time and almost nothing had changed. My daughter even commented on how I could remember the way up to the Blue Lake after all this time.
We will certainly be returning again, not leaving it so long next time. Does anyone have any memories of the Shaws who lived at Hendoll Bungalow?
1950's
My first introduction to Fairbourne I think was in 1953 (the same week that we heard that Everest had been conquered and the Coronation). As a child resident of St Christopher's Railway Orphanage in Derby, we went camping for the first time ever. The site was in a field by Fford Yr Ysgol (Google map search). We camped in ex-army bell tents, I think there were at least four tents, boys, girls, staff and food/equipment. The ladies in charge were a Miss Bisset and Miss Whitfield (I think there might have been a male minder as well, but I'm not too sure though). We had a great couple of days there, then one night the heavens opened and we were flooded out. I seem to remember at least one tent collapsed, and everything was either soaked or ruined. I think a meeting was called by the villagers the following day, but the outcome was that we were invited to spend the rest of our stay in the Green Village Hall.... Read more
The Best of Times
My Mum and Dad first brought me to Fairbourne when I was born in 1966. My father and his father before him had been coming to the same bungalow (Min-y-Don on the Coast Road - Penrhyn Drive South) all their lives. Mum Dad and my sister visited Fairbourne every summer till I was 16. What happy memories. Each morning we would walk to the bakery for bread rolls - I can smell them now. If the weather was fine we played on the beech, went rock climbing or took the little train to the Barmouth ferry. Each year we did the same trips, to the butcher in Dollgellau, stopping off for a coke and a packet of crisps at the George III in Penmaenpool on the way back. Maybe a trip to Aberdovey to go crabbing from the pier, or a day spent at Harlech castle. But the highlight every year was a walk to the Blue Lakes where we bounced stones across the water. I can still remember... Read more
Barmouth, my Barmouth
My mum and dad used to take me and my younger brother to this wonderful holiday destination once a year till 1980. We used to stay at a caravan site called Tally Bont . I have many happy memories of these times. We used to spend our time there visiting some wonderful narrow gauge railways. Harlech Castle was always a must see destination, as was the Snowden cafe for chips, pie and peas. The highlight of every night was going down to the shingle covered beach just before sunset, where my father would build a magnificent sand castle. My mother, younger brother and my father would then sit and watch as the sea slowly washed it away. These were the happiest times of my childhood.
Our Summer Holidays
Every year since the 1970s we went to Fairbourne for our holidays either with our mom and dad or our aunt and uncle. Our nan and grandad owned a bungalow in Llewellyn Drive. It was right next to the golf house across the road from the beach. Every year we would go on the little steam train up to the point then get a ferry across to Barmouth. Sometimes we would walk across the bridge to Barmouth. The last time I was in Fairbourne was in April 2006, it still looked exactly the same. The memories of Fairbourne are happy times, we had a brilliant time when we were there and always looked forward to going. Every year we would walk up to the blue pool, and throw stones in to see how deep it was, we never found out. We would also go into the arcade called The Penryn, I think it's still there now.
The War Years
I now reside in New York but during the war I was evacuated from London to Fairbourne. It was the first 5 years of my life but I still remember much of it. I went to school there as well as Barmouth. The vicar was called Mr Hopkins and his daughter was Noeline. I would help ringing the bells on sunday. My best friend was called Geraint and he taught me a few Welsh words. I remember the concrete 'teeth' on the beach to stop enemy tanks. I remember a flood but my favourite memory is of the baby lambs born each year. I did manage to go back there with my mother a while ago and I remembered more than she did. The library in Barmouth was my old school but nobody knew it except me. There are so many memories of that beautiful green land. If anyone has any recollections of this period I would love to hear them.
Happiest Time of my Life
Me and my family would always come to fairbourne for our summer holiday, staying for weeks at a time with friends. Friends of mine would ask what there was to 'do' there and I would answer 'nothing'. Fairbourne is so beautiful and coming from the inner city to a place like fairbourne was the biggest thrill. We Didn't need arcades and donkey rides, I could explore the beach and the sand dunes, slip down the pebbles to the beach, poke jelly fish, go fishing from the barmouth bridge, get sucked in by quick sand, make little fires on the beach, fantastic memorys. I come back whenever I have time, sit on the wall overlooking the sea and always feel like I've come home. Thanks Fairbourne xx
Memories of Gwynedd
'The Rock Shop' 1960's
I have many fond memories of Barmouth. My parents, 2 brothers and myself spent our holidays in a caravan at Williams'. No T.V, gas light (those damn mantles!) but what wonderful times we had. We would go 'over the beach' at night armed with shrimping nets and scour the rock pools, climb over those huge rocks and cross the railway track and stroll back to the caravan to eat our chips. Does anyone remember the little girl dressed in Welsh costume giving out samples of rock outside the Rock Shop? Happy Days !!
Grandfather's Birthplace 1908
My grandfather Edward 'Ted' Powell was born in Barmouth in 1908 and lived in Tai Croesion, Llanaber. His mother was Sarah and father Evan Ellis, and he had a sister Bessie. His grandparents owned the grocery store in the village Powell & Sons. When he was a toddler he ran out into the road and was hit by a passing car, these days to see a car was very rare let alone to be hit by one! My grandfather was seriously injured and needed surgery immediately, coincidently the passenger in the car was a top neuro-surgeon from London. He was operated on and thankfully made a full recovery to later go on to tell the tale. When he was 8 years old the cottage was sold to the Hooper family from Llanaber.
I have very fond memories of Barmouth and have been fortunate to hear many tales from my grandfather. In 2005 we visited the town but now he was in a wheelchair, we still wrapped him up and... Read more
Wharton & Son, High-Class Grocers And Provision Merchants
My grandmother, Isabella Graham Wharton, was the proprietor of Wharton & Son in the 1930s in Barmouth. I believe she sold the store to WH Smith c1936 when her son, my father, returned from boarding school and they moved to Liverpool. I would be interested to know if anyone recalls my grandmother's shop and if in fact WH Smith did purchase the store and this is it in the 1960s photo. There was also a house called 'Cremlin'? behind the shop in which my grandmother lived.
Rock Shop
The Welsh costumed young lady outside the Rock Shop had an unlimited supply of Pwllheli Number 8 rock. A joy to eat, unlike so many of today's softer offerings at other seaside resorts. On a day visit to Barmouth from my home village of Dyffryn the three main events were the Rock Shop for a free sample, the Milk Bar for lunch and an hour or so on the seafront before catching the Crosville service home. Barmouth has changed quite considerably since then but has managed to retain its charm, some old and some new and inovative. O.K so no more green Crossville buses, double deckers in summer, no more steam trains including The Cambrian Coast Express or the occasional Sunday excursion trains from the midlands. Changes do happen and some not for the best but I believe Barmouth has evolved well and its inhabitants are as ever welcoming. I rarely visit these days but my heart has very fond memories of this seaside resort which has much to offer, even wild winds on... Read more
MY PARADISE
Way back in my childhood, brothers two and then plus me,
Mom and Dad said let us pack our bags, and go down to the sea,
Down to the railway station, our entourage did go,
Comic books within our hands, cause, four hours, they went so slow
Now as the train pulls into town, his whistle he did blow,
To warn the people off the tracks, so he could pull in, real, real, slow
When we had helped to pitch the tent, and all was most secure,
The three of us crossed the promenade, to play upon the shore
We walked a little way and saw, men making pictures in the sand,
And sitting close a Harpist, playing songs of this Welsh Land
At evening time, we`d walk to town, buy fish and chips in a pack,
And as the old saying goes, twas a finger lickin snack.
We came upon the harbour, what a lovely sight to see,
All the little pleasure boats, bobbing gently... Read more
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